Originator: FBI
From: WELTE
To: ROSEN
Document date: 04/13/1961
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

Date:

6/2/2015

AGENCY:

RECORD NUMBER :

FBI

RECORD SERIES :

124-90110-10050

HQ

AGENCY FILE NUMBER: CR 87-58729-29

Released under the John F. Kennedy

assassination Records Collection act of

1992(44 USC 2107 Note]. Case#:NVy

54Ta Date: 12-14-2022

Document Information

ORIGINATOR:

FROM:

TO :

TITLE :

FBI

WELTE

ROSEN

DATE : 04/13/1961

PAGES:

3

SUBJECTS :

JOSEPH RAYMOND MEROLA

DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION: Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS: 4

CURRENT STATUS : Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 08/06/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE

COMMENTS :

MEMO, INC ADMIN PAGE

v9.1

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## Page 2

Quit

талона кам по. 10

UNITED STATES

cor

- NMENT

Memorandum

Halone

TO

FROM

:

Mr. RoBen Re

r. B. Helte)

DATE: April 13, 1961

Trotto

V.C. Balllron -

Tale. Room _

ingress

SUBJECT:

UNKNOWN SUBJECTS (2); Armed Robbery of

Approximately $117,200 Jewelry and Cash,

Residence of Edith and Fritz Werner

vorigo, Hallandale, Florida, March 20, 1961

INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION OF STOLEN PROPERTY -

MAJOR THEFT

This is to advise of a complaint made to the United States

Attorney's (USA) Office, Miami, by O. B. Cline, a former Assistant

United States Attorney now in practice of criainal lav In Miant, that

the FBI had intimidated Joseph Merola by insisting that he becone a sti

pigeon or his probation would be revoked and people would be advised hi

was an informant. The SAC, Miami, obtained an affidavit from

So i. Wayne swinney who intervieved Merola and the action o1

SA swinney Indicates he used poor judgment in the intervier.

BACKGROUND:

Victing Edith and Fritz Werner Dorigo who own and operate

the Hofbrau Haus restaurant, Hallandale, Florida, on the evening of

3/20/61 were robbed by tro

armed white bandits who wore gloves and had

stockings over their faces.

Miami Informant Chester Gray advised he believed

Joseph Merola's "two boys" had committed this robbery.

He based this

the fact that immediately following the robbery Merola had in his

possession expensive jewelry. Merola has a gun equipped vith &

silencer and this type weapon was used in the robbery.

Merola has an extensive criminal record dating back to

1947. He is now serving & two-year probationary sentence 1n

connection with an Inmigration and Naturalization Service natter.

Merola until recently was an informant of the Miami Office and has

An phe pa to unished alormation primarily concernie lee a.

shipments to Cuba.

INTERVIET OF JOSEPILMEROLA:

B APR 26 1961•

Merola voluntarily appeared at the Miami office

and was thoroughly interviewed by SA Swinney as a suspect in this

case.

He denied participation in the robbery or any knowledge of it.

He refused to subnit to a polygraph examination or furnish an allbi.

Enclosure

1 - Administrative

vies

1 - Mr. C. A... Evans

1961

(8)

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