Agency: FBI
Originator: FBI
From: SAC, CV
To: DIRECTOR, FBI
Document date: 9/7/63
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection AOt of 1992 749 054 2107 MoreT.

DATE: 11-14-2017

JFK Assassination System

Date:

5/14/201

Identification Form

Agency Information

AGENCY: FBI

RECORD NUMBER :

124-10286-10385

RECORD SERIES: HQ

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

92-6054-422

Document Information

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM:

TO :

TITLE :

SAC, CV

DIRECTOR, FBI

DATE:

' PAGES:

SUBJECTS:

09/07/1963

11

LCN, MAFIA, ASSOC, AP, LEADERSHIP, TEAMSTERS UNION,

FINANCES, CRIMINAL A/O GAMBLING ACT

DOCUMENT TYPE:

CLASSIFICATION:

PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS :

4

CURRENT STATUS :

Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 06/23/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE

COMMENTS :

v9.1

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## Page 2

-Teased under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hotey.

DATE: 11-14-2017

ORM NO. 10

12

- WiTED STATES

Go

INMENT

Memorandum

TO

DIRECTOR, FBI

DATE:

September 7 = 1963

FROM

CLEVELAND (92-748) (137-1130)

SUBJECT:

LA COSA NOSTRA

TOP -ECHELON CRIMINAL

INFORMANT PROGRAM

advised that he had read the

at he nat dead the Saturday even no tasted adele

on La Cosa Nostra.

Informant, who has lived around Cleveland,

15 O, all of his Ille, among the hoodlum element, and who

ex-convict, having done time for burglary and robbery

at the Ohio State Penitentiary, furnished the following

Information regarding what he termed as "the outfit!"

Informant explained that while others may refer

to it as La Cosa/Nostra,

the Mafia, of the syndicate, he has

always referred to it as "the outfit.

JOHN SCALISH (Apalachin attendee from Cleveland)

Is definitely a partner in the Desert Inn in Las Vegas and

ca.d

REC- 94

— New York (INFO)

- PIttsburgh (INFO)

26 - Cleveland (1-92-748) (1-137-1130)

(1 - 137-1401) (1 - 137-1570) (1-92-167)

92-168)

1

-

92-176

92-169)

- 92-171

92-179

-

92-280

92-282

92-397

92-399

1

92-400

92-477

92-500

92-501

92-530

1

92-563

92-565

- 92-650)

- 92-8107 SEr 9 1403

1

92-846)

(92-869) 1-165-276)

92-6056-4482

JJB: JEB/ jmo

(37)

+ 8 SEP20

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## Page 3

eleased under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hosey.

DATE: 11-14-2017

CV 92-748; CV 137-1130

probably not only gets money off the top from Vegas but

probably has "points" through MORRIS KLEINMAN or one of the

others

JAMES LICAVOLI, aka., Jack White, of Cleveland,

CORDON of Miami, and the lates. i O

JOHN DE MARCO of Cleveland (Apalachin

all had a plece, one way or another, of the Desert Inn and

the Beverly HIlls Country Club which formerly operated in

Southgate, Kentucky. It is noted that informant and GEORGE

GORDON have been close over the years.

With regard to "the

outfit," Informant feels JOHN SCALISH is the "big man"

and

that he Inherited his status from his late brother, TOM

SCALISH, who in turn inherited his position from "BIG AL"

POLIZZI, formerly of Cleveland, and now of Miami. Informant

feels JOHN SCALISH's Ileutenants in "the outfit" would be

JOIN DE MARCO, FRANK BRANCATO and NICK SATULLO, all of Cleveland!

He named the following as in his opinion being additional

members of "the outfit" in Ohio:

LOUIS "BABE FRISCARO of the Teamsters Union

JOHN NARDI of the Teamsters

SAM

"SWEFTS" POLEOFICO, Who works for a

Cleveland bookmaker

ANGELO

LONARDO, brother-in-law of JOHN SCALISH

TONY and JANES LA FAICH of Akron, 0h10

nswers to JAVES LICAVOLI

ANTHONY "WHITEY" BESASE of Toledo

ANGELO: AÑATO, a cement contractor of Cleveland

CHARLES CASSARO, formerly of Buffalo and now of

Cleveland, and possibly CHARLES CASSARO, JR.

Informant mentioned that he felt that JAMES LICAVOLI,

who controls trumbull county through TONY DELSANTER, and

"WHITEY" BESASE Of Toledo answer to PETE LICAVOLI in Detroit.

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Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (14 USC 2107 Note)

DATE: 11-14-2017

CV 92-748; CV 137-1130

Informant further revealed that in his ethion,

SAM "SWEETS" POLEOFICO has been on the payroll of

outfit" for years and would be the type of individual used

if they wanted somebody "knocked off.

He revealed that

POLEOFICO "gets respect and has a good standing in the outfit,"

In addition to which he is very close to JOHN I. SCALISH.

With regard to ANGELO LONARDO, Informant advised

that while he feels ANGELO is definitely a member of "the.

outfit," his two brothers, DOMINIC and FRAVk LONARDo, who are

engaged in the bail bond business in cleverend, are not

members although it is entirely possibie they have "the

outfit's" money behind them through their brother, ANGELO.

Informant stated that ANGELO, who operates the Frolies Club,

a "girlie joint" on Vincent Avenue in Downtown Cleveland,

has plenty of money and is highly respected by "the outfit."

FRANK and DOMINIC LONARDO are sons

of the late "BIG JOE" LONARDO, Old-time Cleveland bootlegger

who was murdered in 1927•

With regard to LOUIS "BABE" TRISCARO, President

of Teamsters Local 436, Cleveland, Ohio, Informant stated

that he grew up with TRISCARO, who was nothing but a punk

fighter and who is not too bright. He stated that "the

outfit" put "BABE" in his current position with the Teamsters

and that

"the outfit" controls the Teamsters, as well as the

Laundry, Dry Cleaning and Dye House Workers International

Union Local #1, Cleveland, Ohio, JOHN/ZITTELLO, JR.,

President.

Informant stated that JOHN T. SCALISH WAS ELe

to place his son, FRANK SCALISH, In a good job in this latter

union.

control the Hotel Service Workers and Miscellaneous Restaurant

Employees Local 274, Cleveland, Ohio, President JOEXPOLO,

aka,, Joseph Poliafico, Business Manager JACK-UBIN, who

brother-in-law of the wife of JOHN I. SCALISH,

and who

is very close to SCALISH.

With reference to LUBIN, informant

revealed that LUBIN also works as a pari-mutuel clerk at the

"Nicky D.,"

"six for five

basis. "some

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Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hotey

DATE: 11-14-2017

CV 92-748; CV 137-1130

Informant stated that "the outfit" also controls

the Vending Machine Service Employees Union Local #410,

JOSEPH FONTANA, President, and JOHN NARDI, Business Agent.

Informant feels that JOHN NARDI Is a member of "the outfit,"

but does not think FONTANA is.

He stated that NARDI is

"the real strength in this union" and commands a tremendous

amount of respect among the Italian hoodlum element.

recently operated "Toys," the after-hours liquor spot on

Mayfield Road In "Iittle Italy," used to hate each other but

now are on speaking terms.

Informant revealed that DI GRAVIO

and JOHN "CURLY" MONTANA are operating a prosperous "Ioan

shark" business and it is possible that JACK WHITE might have

a piece of this. Informant stated that DI GRAVIO and MONTANA

also have a piece of the Doan Machinery Company, which 1s a

legitimate outfit in Cleveland. Informant also

mentioned

that ROCKY MARCIANO, a former heavy-weight champion of the

world, likewise has an interest in this Doan Machinery

Company and is a close friend of DI GRAVIO.

Informant stated that he does not feel that

DI GRAVIO is a member of "the outfit."

He stated that

With further regard to JACK WHITE, Informant

mentioned that WHIlE plays cards in the evenings in a spot

near the Roman Gardens Restaurant In "Iittle Italy" and

frequently plays golf in the daytime with an individual

named "CHICKEN" (INU), who drives a cab in Cleveland

trade, and NICK JOHN RAVEY, aka.,

JOY PALE,

Department #04605), whom he described as

"WHITE's towel

boy."

When asked if he thought 'the outfit" had any control

over the numbers racket in Cleveland, Informant stated that

while this definitely was true a number of years ago, he

does not feel that it 1s true today.

He stated that the

only Italian he can think of offhand currently in the numbers

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"Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act 01 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hotey.

DATE: 11-14-2017

CV 92-748; CV 137-1130

business in Cleveland is TONY

PANZARELLA, Who is closely

associated with ALFX SHONDORXBIRNS In the numbers business.

He added that the numbers business in Cleveland is operated

almost exclusively by Negroes, except for the clearing-

house layoff which has been handled by BIRNS.

He stated

that in his op the outeroes would not stand still for

any payofis to

in the Cleveland area since

business has been bad for a number of years and they just

could not afford 1t.

He added that another reason, in his.

opinion, "the outfit" Is not in the numbers

business in

Cleveland is the fact that they do not need it and they do

not want the headaches it would cause since apparently

JOHN T. SCALISH, through his interest in the Desert Inn

In Las Vegas, gets enough to take care of himself and his

associates In Cleveland without resorting to the numbers

business.

With regard to TONY and JIMMY LA FATCH, who he

feels are definitely members of "the outfit" in Akron,

Ohio, these individuals used to control the numbers business

in the. City of Akron and today probably exert some control

over bookmaking in that city.

With regard to Trumbull and Mahoning Counties in

Ohio, Informant stated that in his opinion this is the

territory of JAMES LICAVOLI, aka., Jack White. He stated

in his opinion, WHITE inherited this territory from

FRANK CANMARATA, WhO

was ordered deported several years ago.

He stated that it has always been his impresion that WHITE

answers to PETE LICAVOLI In Detroit rather than JOHN I.

SCALISH In Cleveland.

He added that WHITE Is never seen with SCALISH.

He stated that WHITE does, however, make occasional trips

to Florida and Hot Springs, Arkansas.

He stated that it was his understanding that WHITE

was given the Warren and Youngstown, Ohio, territory by PETE

LICAVOLI, and that TONY "DOPE"

DET SANTER iS WHITE'S

lleutenant in that territory and 1s probably a member of

"the outfit."

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Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Notey.

DATE: 11-14-2017

CV 92-748; CV 137-1130

In this regard, he stated 'the outfit's" man in

Toledo Is ANTHONY "WHITEY" BESASE, who llkewise, he feels,

answers to PElE LICAVOL.

He stated that it has always been

his understanding that "YONNIE" LICAVOLI was the real boss

in Detroit, but that PETE Is only acting for "YONNIE" since

"YONNIE" 1s currently in the Ohio State Penitentiary serving

a life term for murder.

Informant revealed that a number of years ago,

DE- ANGELO, whom he described as "the outfit's

man

in

Columbus,

IRVING LICHTERMAN, aka., Irving Light, who is a nationally

known fence.

In connection with this concern, there was a

finance company known as the Domestic Loan Company.

He

stated that neither of these firms is any longer in

business.

Informant revealed that GEORGE GORDON, formerly of

Cleveland and who is currently residing in Miami Beach,

Florida, and who spends a good deal of his time in Las

Vegas,

put money into the E & A Sales Company about ten

years ago in Cleveland. He stated that IRVING LICHTERMAN and

EDDIE WIGODSKI were associated with this firm, which

ostensibly was to be a large appliance discount house, but

which handled hot merchandise and merchandise out of

bankruptcies.

With regard to Lake County, Informant stated that

"the outfit's" man there is LOUIS CARIERRE. It should be

noted that Lake County is the next county to Cuyahoga

wherein Cleveland is located, and according to informant

there is not too much activity in this county at the present

time, although ten or fifteen years ago there were a number

of active gambling establishments.

Informant mentioned that approximately ten years

Virginia.

KILAS, who 1s in control of all rackets in the Wheeling

area,

is under the jurisdiction of the LICAVOLIS in Detroit Inasmuch

as when the informant was in the Wheeling area ten years ago

LIAS made weekly trips to Detroit to report on his activities

in Wheeling.

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Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Aot of 1992 (41 USC 2107 Hotey.

DATE: 11-14-2017

CV 92-748; CV 137-1130

Informant stated that he has heard from more than

one source of late that "the

outfit" wants nothing to do

with either narcotics or prostitution.

Informant revealed that a number of years ago

around Cleveland there was considerable difficulty between

the Italians and the Jews and a number of murders

beatings resulted In the fight for control of the rackets.

He stated that finally MOE DALITZ, who 1s currently in Las

Vegas, was credited with making peace with "the Dagos" and,

In Informant's opinion, this is the way SCALISH got his

"piece" of the Desert Inn in Las Vegas.

In this regard, informant stated that he has

always felt

that FRANK BRANCATO, who he feels is definitely

a member of

"the outfit," gets money regularly from SCALISH.

*

CV-553-PC was Interviewed on August 29, 1963, at

Cleveland, Ohio.

This was the initial Interview with this

Individual and because of certain circumstances, no effort

was made to conduct an exhaustive interview with this

Informant.

This Informant was contacted at this time in an

effort to obtain information concerning JAMES LICAVOLI, aka.,

Jack White, subject of an Anti-Racketeering investigatin of

the Cleveland Division.

Informant related that he is the owner of a restaurant

In Cleveland and he has been losing money regularly in this

restaurant.

In May, 1963, he went to the

Ohio State Penitentiary

at Columbus, Ohio, and

visited THOMAS "YONNIE" bICAVOLI, who

Is serving a life term for murder in the State of Ohio.

purpose of this visit with "YONNIE" was to try to get approval

for borrowing some money in an amount between $5,000

He said he related his problems to "sonNIe", and

#YOnta" sald he would approve the loan and Inatructed the

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Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Horey.

DATE: 11-14-2017

CV 92-748; CV 137-1130

Informant to contact his cousin, JAMES LICAVOLI, In

Cleveland to obtain $5,000.

Informant said that he subsequently contacted JAMES

LICAVOLI, who told him he would not make the loan to him

even though "YONNIE" had given his approval.

The informant

returned to Columbus, Ohio, and Informed "YONNIE" of the

decision of JAMES LICAVOLI.

At this point of the interview,

the informant displayed a letter written on official

put son stationer from "yore" dated liay In the letter

letter was addressed to the informant and in

"YONNIE"

the money could not be

obtained, but that he,

aLd he at tonyone would make further assort

to see that the informant did get some financial help.

Also mentioned In this letter was the fact that "YONNIE"

was glad that the informant was able to meet with PETE and

LEO.

Informant was questioned as to the identity of

PETE and LEO, and he said that PETE,

referred to in the

letter, 1s PETE LICAVOLI from Detroit, and LEO 1s LEO MOCERI

from the Cleveland-Akron area. Informant said that he met

these individuals at the time of his visits with "YONNIE"

in Columbus at the residence of MIKE DE ANGELO, in columbus,

who 1s

"Mr. Big" in the Columbus area.

He said LEO MOCERI

had this meeting with PETE in an effort to obtain money to

Invest in gambling in the Bahamas. PETE claimed not to have

the money and told that it was necessary for him to

• sell his

ranch in Arizona, properties in Mexico and in Detroit in

order to obtain money to meet his fiancial needs.

In connection with the

attempt to borrow money,

referred to above, informant said he also contacted LOUIS

"BABE'' TRISCARO,

President of Local 436, Teamsters Union,

in Cleveland. He said TRISCARO likewise turned him down.

The informant also related that about eight or ten

years ago he had contacted "YONNIE" LICAVOLI at the Ohio

State Penitentiary in Columbus in an effort to borrow some

money.

He said at that time "YONNIE" told him to return.

home and he would be contacted. Following this visit,

Informant said he was contacted by NICK SATULLO and TONY

or TOMMY BONTEMPO (both well-known Cleveland racket figures) •

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Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (14 USC 2107 Hotey.

DATE: 11-14-2017

CV 92-748; CV 137-1130

They questioned informant as to his financial

told him they would make a report to "YoNNin ""eans and

"YONNIE"

subsequently told the informant that he had received a report

that the informant had money and did not need any more.

"YONNIE" said he would not approve the loan in view of

this

report.

Informant remarked that he had read the recent

article in the "Saturday Evening Post" concerning La Cosa

Nostra and he said he always referred to the nation-wide

organization as the "Commission."

He said that years ago in

Cleveland, Ohio, FRANK MILANO was the head man of the

"Commission" but that he is sickly now and lives In either

Mexico or Los Angeles,

He said FRANK MILANO has a brother,

TONY MILANO, who llves in Cleveland, but that TONY has no

power and might be considered on the fringe. He said TONY

Is an old man who still commands a good deal of respect

because of his brother FRANK.

He said that at the present

time, JOHN SCALISH is the top man in the Cleveland area and

that

JOHN DE MARCO is his Ileutenant.

He commented that

these two attended the Apalachin meeting in 1957, and that

the reason there were so many in attendance at the Apalachin

meeting was because each "Commission" member brought along

bodyguards because they always fear for their lives and

ranted somebody commissior" their own protection. Informant

said that the

insists of about 20

members and

they are located clear across the United States.

With regard to JAMES LICAVOLI, aka., Jack White,

0h10, in 1922

FRANK MILANO brought LICAVOLI to Cleveland and subsequently

was given certain powers in the Youngstown, Warren and

Cleveland areas.

He said LICAVOLI does not come under

SCALISH but that SCALISH certainly holds more power than

LICAVOLI.

He said he also met IICAVOLI while the informant

and LICAVOLI were serving terms in the United

States

Penitentiary at Levenworth many years ago.

During the Interview, the name AL POLIZZI was.

mentioned and informant said that POLIZZI is now living in

the Miami area and he has severed all relations with

contacts with racketeers. He said he is extremely active in

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Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (411 USC 2107 Hotey

DATE: 11-14-2017

CV 92-748; CV 137-1130

church affairs and contributes heavily to the church. He

said 'that according to recent information he obtained,

POLIZZI 1s presently visiting in Sielly.

Informant related that he was in contact on

August 28, 1963, with LOUIS CARIERRI,

who is the racket boss

of Lake County, Ohio. Informant related that CARIERRI In

about 1955 operated a gambling joint named the Martinique

club, and the gambling was wide open.

He said that JAMES

LICAVOLI moved In on CARIERRI and took a piece of the action

at the Martinique.

Informant mentioned this as an example

of the "special powers" of JAMES LICAVOLI.

He said that

LOUIS CARIERRI at the present time is on the outs with JAMES

LICAVOLI and also that CARIERRI is having financial

difficulties in that he has little or no action going for

him.

He said that CARIERRI discussed with him the contemplated

purchase of a large restaurant at Mentor-on-the-Lake and

CARIERRI told the Informant that if he had any money to

out eat him an one

Invest, he would take him in on the operation of this restaurant.

During the interview with this Informant, he related

that he was born in 1904 in Italy and came to the United

States when he was 15 years old.

He said he was in Detroit

from about 1924 to 1930.

He discussed an incident which

occurred in Michigan in about 1928 to 1930 in which two

policemen were killed and that his car was observed at the

murder scene.

He said he was not involved in the murders

but knew he was hot and so went to Canada to hide out.

He

sald later the individuals responsible for the murder were

1dentified and all were apprehended, except one ANGELO

ANGELICA (ph). He explained that he had loaned his car to

an individual and he does not know how it came to be used

on the murders.

He felt that ANGELICA was responsible for

Implicating him in the murders and heard he was hiding out

In Brooklyn so he went from Canada to Brooklyn, New York,

100king for ANGELICA to "gun him down,"-

got killed in doing this since one of the idividuals he

contacted in Brooklyn was a compare of ANGELICA.

he was not aware of this relationship and the compare

Informed ANGELICA and efforts were made to set up the informant

to be killed; however, he avoided this.

He casually mentioned

that while in the New York area he met VITO GENOVESE. He

did not discuss the extent of this relationship.

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Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Aot of 1992 111 USC 2107 Horey

DATE: 11-14-2017

CV 92-748; CV 137-1130

He said that while In New York City, he was

involved in a robbery for which he claimed to be innocent.

He said he was sentenced to 25 to. 40 years on this robbery

charge and served a considerable amount of time at sing

Sing Prison.

He said that in about 1928 or 1930, while In

Detroit, he had opened a ka..

He said the second day the bar

was open he was arrested for possession of narcotics for

which he served a sentence of 22 years. He mentioned that

while in Detroit he met ANGELO MELI.

He did not discuss the

extent of this relationship with MELI.

From the above information furnished by this

informant, it 1s obvious he has tremendous potential in

furnishing Information concerning La Cosa Nostra and particularly

Information concerning the LICAVOLI family, information

concerning top Italian hoodlums in the Cleveland area,

possibly information concerning the New York City area.

The files of the Cleveland Division show that this

Individual had numerous criminal contacts in the Buffalo,

New York, area.

The above information was obtained in an initial

Interview under circumstances which prohibited any further

interrogation for details of the information set out above.

It is believed this individual can be developed into a

Top Echelon Informant and every effort will be made to develop

him along these lines. Any Information obtained from this

Individual will be furnished to the Bureau and disseminated

to pertinent offices.

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