Agency: HSCA
Originator: HSCA
From: FBI
Document date: 6/5/78
Document type: OTHER TEXTUAL

## Page 1

JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

Date:

10/14/20

AGENCY :

RECORD NUMBER :

HSCA

180-10100-10018

RECORD SERIES :

NUMBERED FILES

AGENCY FILE NUMBER: 009494

Document Information

ORIGINATOR:

FROM:

TO :

TITLE:

HSCA

FBI

DATE:

PAGES:

SUBJECTS :

06/05/1978

8

CIVELLO, JOSEPH FRANCIS

RUBY, JACK, BACKGROUND, ASSOCIATES AND RELATIVES

ORGANZIED CRIME

FBI, FILES

DOCUMENT TYPE : OTHER TEXTUAL

CLASSIFICATION : Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS: Consulted

CURRENT STATUS:

Withhold

DATE OF LAST REVIEW : 06/18/1993

OPENING CRITERIA:

COMMENTS:

FBI file review 174-9 typed notes. Box #:174.

v9.1

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## Page 2

FBI FILE

L.W. - 6/5/78

Joseph

Francis Civello

009494

VOLUME I

1.

File no. 92-2824-100

7/3/63

Dallas

pil-Sources indicate Civello spends most of his time

at his residence, 5311 Denton Drive or at the Airway

Liquor store on Mockingbird Lane operated by his

brother-in-law-Ross Musso and brother Charles Edwin

Civello.

2.

File no. 92-2824-101 1/31/64

Dallas

cover p. B-

"On 1/14/63, Civello was contacted by

SAS Ivan D. Lee and John T. McMurter concerning his

possible acquaintance with Jack Ruby, subject in

Dallas major case file 44-1639. Civello advised

at that time he was not well acquainted with Ruby

and knew nothing of his background or his activities

in the Dallas area during the recent years."

no info re interview in the rest of

the report)

3.

File no. 92-2824-104 12/15/64 Dallas

p.2 -

On Nov. 10, 1964 Civello visited Charles Sansone.

Charles Sansone is

a detective in the Auto Theft

Section of Dallas P.D. and is a cousin of Joseph

Civello.

Sansone has been assigned to auto theft

section due to his being related to Civello and so he

won't be in an position to obtain info from P.D. file.

4.

File no 92-2824-106

Airtel 3/3/65

p. 3

- Civello was arrested in Dallas on 1-8-37 for

violation of Harrison Narcotic Act: sentenced 4-2-37 to

15 years imprisonment in Leavenworth on 1 count and to

5 years on 2nd count.

Civello was paroled in 3-26-44.

Expiration date of parole 4-1-57.

Sentence commuted

11-6-48;

arrested 5-21-59 by FBN - conspiracy to

obstruct justice. Convicted on 11-18-59 and on 1-13-60;

received

5 year sentence.

On 11-28-60 conviction

reversed.

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• Notes: Joseph Francis Civello

2

5. File no. 92-2824-107 4/9/65 Dallas

local informants advised that included

among Civello's close associates in Dallas area

are John Brazil Grissaffi, aka Johnny the Dago,

Luke A. Cortemeglia, Frank LaMonte, and Louis

Mentesano:

DOB 2/3/02

6. 92-2824-125 11/30/66• Dallas

p. 4 On October 14, 1966, DLT-6 positively

identified a photograph of

John ross Patrono,

aka Johnny Ross, Dallas police dept. No. 27256,

as being identical to the individual from Texas

he had met several years ago who had been intro-

duced as a

"member" of the

La Cosa Nostra. Patrono

has been an associate of Civello for many years as

was his

father Ralph Patrono prior to his death.

7. 92-2824-127 3/28/67

It was noted that from January 27, 1967,

to January 31, 1967; Santo Trafficante, Jr.,

Commission member of the LCN, from Tampa, Florida,

stayed at the Fontainblenu Motor Hotel under the

name S. Mancuso.

8. 92-2824-132

9/21/67

Dallas

Cover p. "D"

on 8/18/67

advised that

Civello is definitely the leader of the "Dallas"

group and among his associates in this group are:

Charles Civello, Ross Musso, Joe Ianni, Johnny

Ross Patrono, Joe and Sam Campisi, Phillip Bosco,

Sam Lomonaco, Frank Lobianco, Peter Interrante.

p. 14 Interview of Luke Anthony Cortemeglia 8/25/67.

States that Joe and Sam Campisi are, to his knowledge,

not running a game of any kind.

John Ross Patrona is

not doing anything

"other than living off his mother."

Stated Patrono still owes him $1500 borrowed in 1959

when Patrono was down and out.

p. 15 Joge Civello is recognized in Dallas as the

leader of a group of Italians in Dallas.

DOD - 1/17/70

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_Notes:

Joseph Francis Civello

3

VOLUME 2

1.

73

Report - 9/21/56 Dallas

"Application for Pardon after Completion of Sentence."

•. 3 Character affidavits - one from Bill Decker.

p. 4 In 1948 - Civello and Ross Musso repurchased

the Love Field Grocery and kept it until around 1952.

Then organized Civello's Imports, 4236-38 Oak Lawn

Ave.

DOB

2-3-1902 or 3

POB Baton Rouge Parish, La.

Port Allen

SSN

452-40-1454

FBI #1222605

2. Deleted:

A. Bureau of Narcotics, Chief Inselligence Division

(DIR: I: DAL-JMC: ra?): 12/16/57

3 pp.

Bufile

92-2824-19

B. Bureau of Narcotics, DIR: I: DAL-KES: ?

12/12/57 3 pages

BuFile

92-2824-19

C. BN, DIR: I: DAL: LJP: ec 12/10/57 3 pages

D. 12/16/57 l page

3.

Airtel 2/21/58 File no. 92-2824-36? Dallas

p. 1 James Robert Todd - Informant advised on 2/19/58

that Todd was associated with Robert Payne, a lawyer

in the Fidelity Union Building, Dallas and

two other

individuals by the name of Frank Case and George Owens.

He had reliable info that these four were traveling

by plane from the Red Bird Airport to Midland, Texas

on weekends.

4.

p. 2 He had also heard they had made trips into Mexico.

Todd

"hung out" at Payne's office considerably.

Payne--active in criminal law practice representing

prostitutes and police characters in Dallas.

Deleted "Info from U.S. Attorney's office": 3/6/58

2 pp. BuFile 92-7874-31.

VOLUME 3

1. 92-2824-54

6/23/59

Dallas

- informant advised the original head of the

Mafia in Texas

was

• Carlo I. Piranio = (DOB: 5-8-1876)

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Notes: Joseph Francis Civello

4

and that Carlo held that position until his death

in 1930.

At that time his brother, Joseph I. Piranio

became the leader; committed suicide in 1956 and

Joseph Civello became the head man.

On May 21, 1959, Civello was arrested by FBN

charged with conspiracy to commit per jury.

p. 7 On May 28, 1959, Civello was given a removal

hearing at which time Civello's attorney, Lester May,

said he

would fight removal.

VOLUME 4

1. Civello is in Ruby File

at serial 966, p. 16.

2. Deletion Dept. of Justice memo from Mellon R. Wessell,

Special

Assistant to the Atty. General.

Subj: Italian

Companies. Dated 10/21/58

12 pp.

Subject Civello

on enclosure at p. 10

BuFile #60-5160-30.

Food

3. File no 62-9-573 Memo 1/26/61 To Mr. Parsons from

A: Rosen.

"Nine-man Commission: Organized Crime and

Racketeering."

Source identified members of commission

as Thomas Luchese, Joseph Profaci, Vito Genovese, Carlo

Gambino, Joesph Bonanno and "the one in Chicago."

Bosses

identified:

Santo Trafficante and Joseph Civello.

Civello is said to report to Michelino Clemente.

4.. File no 62-9-12-481

• 3/27/64

"Crime conditions in

the Dallas Division" p. 5

on 1-3-64 1n the early

morning, an explosion demolished a night club operated

by Johnny Ross Patrono.

Patrono was deeply in debt

to several Italian associates in Dallas.

p. 43 - "Graft and Corruption" - In October 1963,

Dallas Police Dept. Vice Squad detective Bill J. Gee

was demoted in rank to that of patrolman and suspended

for 30 days for secretly. having business ties with

two Dallas lounges..

Gee was also a known close

associate of Dallas gambler Bobby. Joe Chapman.

Also, according to informant,

there is a close association

between Dallas private detective and

of the Special Services Bureau, Dallas P.D.

Whenever

Denson needs info re a person, he

will give

the name to

who has information

developed by officers assigned to the SSB without

their knowledge of the purpose.

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Notes: Joseph Francis Civello

5

5. 62-9-12-516 9/15/64 "Crime conditions in Dallas :

Division" p. 56 - The officers of the Tarrant County

Crime Commission are elected in January of each year.

group had irregular meetings and is not a very

active organization. Edwin T. Phillips is listed

as general counsel.

p. 56

- Starts to discuss a newspaper article in

the "Dallas Morning News" containing a quotation of

LHO's diaty."

Subsequent investigation by the Dallas

FBI office to ascertain the source of

p. 57

not there:

6. Justice Department Memo Milton R. Wessel Special

Assistant to Attorney General

Subj: Task Force Subjects

8/11/58 3 pages.

Bureau File no 62-28280-340 (enc)

Deleted

7. Deleted Justice Dept.

Lloyd E. Dunn. Special Assistant

to Attorney General

File no. 62-28280-444.

8. FBI Memo 92-4213-9 7/1/66 - Dallas "Rosario Musso"

p. 2

During the 1920's, a

"group" of Italians was

organized in Dallas.

The "boss" was Carlo Piranio and

the no. I man under Carlo was Joseph Piranio who took

over when Carlo died in about 1930.

Members of this

group included Joseph Civello, Ross Musso, Frank Janni,

Ralph Patrono, Joe Civello's father (Phillip), Carlos

Campisi, Pete

Duca, and Ross Interante.

All of the

rackets in Dallas were at that time controlled by non-

Italians.

Civello identified one connection to East as Rocco

Pellegrino.

In late 1930's Civello imprisioned.

Civello told informant that gambling and prostitution

were extremely lucrative rackets in Dallas during the

1940's, but were entirely under the control of non-

Italian hoodlums.

The Italian group at that time

was not strong enough, nor big enough, to take over

Dallas,

"and Civello had noted that even an organization

from Chicago was unsuccessful when it tried to move in,

and take over Dallas."

Beginning in early 1950's; all organized criminal

activity in

Dallas came to an end.

Many of the Italians

in the 1940's invested in real estate, liquor stores,

and restaurants. Civello remarked that during the 1950's

p.? practically all of the original group died.

(Joseph

Piranio committed

sucide in 1956. Pete Duca died in

1949. Frank Ianni died in 1958, Philip Civello died in

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Notes:

Joseph Francis Civello

6

1959.

Ralph Patrono died in 1955, Ross Interrante

died in 1953. Carlos Campisi died in 1964.

Civello

became the boss after Joseph Piranio died. Civello

is highly respected by most of the Italians in Dallas

and especially the sons of their dead

associates,

such as Johnny Ross Patrono, Joe Ianni, Joe Campisi, and

Pete Interrante.

Civello has requested:

slowly, but surely, get rid of all non-Italians from

the bookmaking operation.

Civello told

he could

not use Ianni because of his bad heart, and could not

use Joe Campisi because of his "big mouth."

9. John Ross Patrono 11/8/61 File no. 92-5693-1

Dallas

p. 2

Patrono is reportedly well acquainted with Peter

Pellegrino from White Plains, N.Y. Patrono's association

with Pellegrino reportedly developed through his association

with Joe Ianni.

Patrono was previously part owner of the Johnny Ross

Liquor Store at 4910 Capital, Dallas, but sold out his

interest to his cousin - Frank Edward Lobianco.

1951 - employed in a liquor store at 2604 Ross

Ave.

July 14, 1953 - employed at Johnny Ross Liquors.

March,

1961

- employed

at Patrono Meat Co.

DOB 1-25-25 POB: Dallas

FBI # 3242960

10.

File no. 92-5693-13

• "John Ross Patrono". 11/7/66

Patrom formerly was owner of the Sportsman's Club in

Dallas which was destroyed by an explosion of 1/3/64.

Rumors that it was blown up to

get insurance.

Edward Wilson Fletcher ("Big Bob") FBI #1042358

William Ernest Fletcher, "Little Bob" FBI #265576?

VOLUME 5.

1. FBI interview of Samuel Mannarino - 6/23/59 report

Interviewed on 3-14-58

Mannarino indicated he had been in Cuba (Camaguey)

"three weeks ago.". Stated he learned about pineapple

business and was

thinking of investing. Mannarino

stated he had been in Chicago recently. He explained

that for the past several months he has been locating

slot machines in the "tri-state area" for Norman

Rothman. Stated a large share of slot machine profit

goes into a so-called widows pension fund operated by

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Notes: Joseph Francis Civello

7

Mrs. Bastista.

Stated Castro has no intention of

changing

anything and only wants to

get in for the

power.

Anon. letter

IO FBN

VOLUME 6

1. Interview of Joseph Civello 1-2-58 Report dated 6-6-59.

File no. 92-4225-14.

Civello stated that prior to 11-14-57, he and his

cousin Frank Desimone, who lives in los Angeles, went

to New York.

Purpose: business connected with.food

and liquor business in Dallas.

Desimone asked Civello

to go with him to Appalachin. Did not know purpose of

the meeting.

"Civello admitted being a long-time

acquaintance and friend of Carlos Marcello of New Orleans."

Deleted

Bureau of Narcotics

1 page

File no 92-4225-25

Teletype

6/4/59

Deleted Bureau of Narcotics Report 6/10/59

File no. 92-4225-25

2 pages

4.

Deleted Bureau of Narcots Reports..

Dates

5/28/59

Pages

No Date

5/21/59

5/21/59

5/21/59

5/21/59

5/21/59

5/21/59

5/22/59

5/25/59

5/25/59

5/25/59

5/25/59

5/26/59

5/26/59

5/21/59

5/22/59

1

2

1

1

1

VOLUME 7

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• Notes: Joseph Francis Civello

8

VOLUME 8

1.

Deleted - Memo to Director, FBI, From: Malcolm R.

Wilkey, Asst. A.G., Criminal Division Dated 8-26-59

1 p.

File no 92-4225-69

VOLUME 9

1.

Deleted Asst. A.G.

Memo 10/14/59 1 p.

File no. 92-4225-102

2.

Memo to Asst. A.G. from Dir. FBI Oct. 19, 1959

states that the FBI Laboratory had examined the

tape recording of interview between Chief Hansson

of Dallas P.D. and Joseph Covella. Transcription

or tape not

in file.

VOLUME 10

2.

Deleted Asst. Attorney General Memo

10/28/59

1 page File No. 92-4225-147.

Deleted Asst. Attorney General Memo

10/20/59

l page File No. 92-4225-148.

Deleted Asst. Attorney General Memo 10/20/59

5 pages File No. 92-4225-149.

Deleted Atty. General's Special Group 10/6/59

3 pages

File No. 92-4225-154.

VOLUME 11

HW

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