Originator: FBI
From: PG
To: HQ
Document date: 07/31/1959
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

Date:

6/2/2015

AGENCY: FBI

RECORD NUMBER : 124-90100-10230

RECORD SERIES: HQ

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

52-72398-194

Document Information

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM: PG

TO: HQ

TITLE :

DATE: 07/31/1959

PAGES:

60

SUBJECTS :

JOSEPH RAYMOND MEROLA

STUART SUTOR

DOCUMENT TYPE :

PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION: Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS: 4

CURRENT STATUS:

Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 07/29/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE

COMMENTS :

RPT

Released under the John F. Kennedy

Assassination Records Collection Act of

1992 (44 USC 2107 Note). Case#:Nw

58252 Date: 09.22.2022

v9.1

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PG 52-1687

12 million dollars worth of Canadian Government Bonds, Jewelry

and Cash from a burglary of the Brockville Trust and Savings

Company, Brockville, Ontario, Canada, on 5/3-4/58.

Canadian

bonds stolen from the Brockville Bank had been cashed throughout

North America and in Europe.

MANNARINO was apprehended on the basis of a bench warrant

issued by the U. S. District Court, Chicago, Illinois, on

6/30/59, following

the return of a secret indictment by a

Federal

Grand Jury In Chicago the same day charging MANNARINO

and NORMAN ROTHMAN with aiding and abetting WILLIAM W.

RABIN of Chicago in the use of a wire or radio communication

no to be

for the purpose of defrauding a swiss bank, through the

pledging of $140,500 worth of the stolen 'Canadian Government

Bonds.

MANNARINO and ROTHMAN were also charged in the

indictment with alding and abetting RABIN in the concealment

of $9,000 worth of the stolen bonds which were transported

from Brockville, Ontario, Canada, to Chicago, Illinois, during

January-February, 1959.

GUISEPPE COTRONI, deseribed by one of the eo-conspirators,

in the EZHAYA case as

the leader of a large narcotics

ring in Canada and head of the Canadian "Mafia"

and one of

his lieutenants, RENE ROBERT, were also named in the secret

Indictment returned by the Chicago Federal Grand Jury.

The

U.S. Attorney in Chicago 1s now seeking their extradition

through the RCMP. As a matter of information COTRONI and

ROBERT were arrested by the ReMp during 7/59, on charges of

conspiracy, Possessing and Trarlicing Heroin valued at

8 million

dollars.

The RCMP have advised that the arrests

culminated an extensive investigation with the cooperation

of Narcotics Bureau authorities in the United States.

ROBERT

and COTRONI were remanded to custody without bail during 7/59,

and according to the RCMP, the seriousness of the charges

against them may preclude successful extradition in the

EZHAYA case.

copies (Cont d)

3 - Chicago (52-3498)

= Jacksonville. (52-125) (Info)

2

- 11am A g1-32902-7543)

- New York (52-5814)

- Phoenix

3

- Washington Field (52-5612)

- Pittsburgh (52-1687)

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PG 52-1687

WILLIAM RABIN was also arrested by Bureau Agents in Miami,

Florida, with ROTHMAN on 7/2/59, anc. they are now at liberty under

$5,000 bond along with MANNARINO.

RABIN, during previous Interviews with Bureau Agents in the

EZHAYA case, has stated that he

received the bonds pledged

In Switzerland and Chicago from one ALFREDO GARCIA, not

further identified, In return for his services andanticipated

purchase of weapons for FIDEL CASTRO. On the basis of

investigation in the EZHAYA case, It appears that the

bonds were

turned over to the MANNARINe combination in Montreal,

Canada, in late August, 1958, by RENE ROBERT.

It has been

determined from one of

the co-conspirators that sometime in

1957, MANNARINO, ROTHMAN and their confederates received certain

gambling rights in Cuba from the BATISTA Government and

reportedly moved 2,000 slot machines into the Havana area.

During the ensuing period, up to the summer of 1958, the slots

became less and less profitable due to larceny from

the machines

and also because of the increasing charges placed upon the

operation of the machines by the BATISTA Government.

Accordingly,

MANNARINO began watching the activities of FIDEL CASTRO and

his 26 July Movement with a view toward gaining favor with

him in the event the Rebellion was successful.

The MANNARINO

combine desired to secure a large sum of money which would

- be used to purchase a bank in Europe and the eventual purchase

of arms and ammunition for the Cuban Rebellion.

It is

Indicated that these hoodlums considered the possibility that

CASTRO might be defeated.

Consequently, they laid plans

simultaneously for furnishing military aid and assistance to

the BATISTA forces.

Apparently, during 195T, a plan was

formulated to transfer 3 million dollars to a bank in Europe

for the purchase of arms.

The transfer was to be handled

by WILLIAM W. RABIN, a Chicago, Illinois, business consultant

and fomer front for MANNARINO in an unsuccessful venture into

the jukebox manufacturing business in Chicago during 1947.

As plans further developed, RABIN reportedly planned to transfer

10 million dollars to a European bank in exchange for a fee of

$250,000.

Dr. JAMES THORNTON MCCLOWRY, MD,

a PCI of the Pittsburgh

office, on 7/2/59, advised

SA THOMAS G. FORSYTH, III, that

he had examined SAM MANNARIN@'S medical records

on file at the

Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. It is recalled that MANNARINO

-B-

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PG 52-1687

underwent surgery at Mercy Hospital during the summer of

1958, for the removal of an alleged cyst from his intestinal

tract.

Dr. McCLOWRY pointed out that the medical record

he examined on MANNARINO showed only that an exploratory

operation was performed by Dr. GEORGE REGIS MILLER, Chief

Surgeon at Mercy Hospital, and that the medical report while

describing the surgieal techniques invold in some detail,

made no mention whatever of the reason ur the exploratory

operation.

Dr. McCLOWRY deseribed this as somewhat of an

unusual recording since It was obvious that the physician

performing the operation did not want his findings made

a matter of record.

Dr. McCLOWRY went on to say that in

the interest of obtaining a clear picture of MANNARINQ'S

state of health, he was able to discreetly obtain a copy

of another medical record on MANNARINO in the private office

of Chief Surgeon GEORGE REGIS MILLER. According to Dr.

MCCLOWRY, this record discloses that MANNARINO is suffering

from a spreading cancer in his lower abdomen which was

discovered during the operation in the summer of 1958.

The record indicates that MANNARINO is undergoing radiation

and cobalt treatments at Mercy Hospital and Dr. McCLOWRY's

diagnosis is that MANNARINO will probably die sometime within

the next 12 months.

Dr. McCLOWRY, on 7/23/59, advised SAS FORSYTH and DOUCE that

SAM MANNARINO got in touch with him several days ago and

requested that he become his personal physician. Dr. McCLOWRY

said that the introduction to MANNARINO was arranged by the

Reverend NICKOLAI FUSCO, Pastor of the St. Peters Roman

Catholic Church in New Kensington.

Dr. McCLOWRY mentioned

that he had discussed the possible treatment of MANNARINO with

Father FUSCO who appeared to be very concerned that MANNARINO

might have cancer and he wanted Dr. McCLOWRY to become his

physician as soon as possible and conduct necessary examinations

and tests in an effort to confirm his suspicions.

Dr. MeCLOWRY

told Father FUSCO

that he would examine MANNARINO at the first

opportunity.

MAJOR PEDRO LUIS DIZ LANZ

"Time" Magazine, July 13, 1959, Issue, carried an article

concerning the dismissal of Major LANZ as Commander of the Cuban

Air Force because of his outspoken attitude regarding

, the

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alleged communist infiltration in the Cuban armed forces.

"Time"

Magazine described Pilot LANZ as one of the authentic

heroes of the Cuban Rebellion who flew weapons from the

United States Into rebel territory.

The article stated that

LANZ was the object of a nation-wide man-hunt in Cuba following

11/2he inter States -Committee

his resignation and since news broadcasts in Pittsburgh on

7/12/59, pointed out that Major LANZ had been granted asylum

in the United States and would appear before the Senate

Internal Security Sub-Committee on 7/13/59, the Pittsburgh

Office requested Bureau authority for Washington Field to

conduct a complete interview.

The Bureau has since authorized an interview with Major

LANZ when he concludes his testimony before the Senate Sub-

Committe and the Committee has no further interest in Major

LANZ.

Previous investigation in this case indicates the possibility

that Major LANZ may be acquainted with JOSEPH MEROLA and

NORMAN ROTHMAN, both of whom are exceptionally familiar with

the Cuban interior in connection with MANNARIN® slot machine

interests in Camaguey and santiago de Cuba.

As a matter of

Information, Camaguey 1s located some 75 miles from CASTRO's

wartime command post in the Sierra Maestra Mountain Range.

BURGLARY OF THE NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY, CANTON, OHIO, 10/14/58

PCI FRANCIS LA CAMERA on 6/25/59, advised SA HOBART C. LOVETT

that his brother, CHARLES LA CAMERA, aka.,

"RED", (also a PCI

of the Pittsburgh Office) and JOHN MOLDOVAN of Farrell,

Pa., told him several months ago that they had been approached

by JOHN and PHIL SCARDINA of Sharon, Pa., to pull the Armory

job in Canton.

PCI further advised

that his brother and MOLDOVAN

refused to accept the score but referred the SCARDINA brothers

to JAMES ZIMMERMAN and WILLIE NAPOLI.

PCI pointed out that

ZIMMERMAN and NAPOLI also refused to accept the job because 1t

involved a Federal violation but added that ZIMMERMAN and NAPOLI

made arrangements for the SCARDINAS to contact SANDY NAPLES of

Youngstown, Ohio.

PCI stated that he

did not know the identity

of those who actually pulled the score at the Armory but he is

- D.

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positive that SANDY NAPLES hired the men for the job. According to

PCI, CHARLES CARABBIA, brother of RONALD CARABBIA, who was

recently apprehended by the FBI for Unlawful Flight to Avoid

Prosecution for the crime of Burglary, also knows the identity

of the men who stole the weapons from

the Armory. PCI stated

that he has had little contact with NAPLES recently but would

attempt to learn the identity of the men who pulled the Armory

entity or

job.

PCI went on to say that he did not know the person who contacted

the SCARDINA brothers but described him as a comparatively

young man from New Kensington or McKeesport, Pa., who is a

member of the MANNARINe combination and one of the men now

under indictment in Pittsburgh in connection with the Armory

job.

It is noted that VICTOR CARLUCCI, aged 37, the son-in-law of

SAM MANNARINO, Or DANIEL HANNA, aged 32, would most closely

fit Informant's description of the contact man..

TELEPHONE COMPANY SOURCES

The source at the Meadville Telephone Co., Meadville, Pa.,.

Mr. RALPH W. HORTON, Assistant Manager, contacted by SA OLIVER H.

HUNTER.

The source at the Bell Telephone Co., of Pennsylvania, Warren,

Pa., Offices 1s ROBERT ANSTADT, Manager, contacted by

SA ROBERT I. OLSON.

The source at the Bell Telephone Co., of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh

Office, 1s WILLIAM MEREDITH, Special Agent, contacted by

SA HAROLD L. STEVENS.

LEADS

All offices conducting investigation in this case are requested :

to submit results promptly in report form in order that the Bureau

may be kept fully advised of current developments.

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PG 52-1687

AT CANTON, YOUNGSTOWN AND WARREN, OHIO

1.

Will Identify and develop background info mation concerning

SANDY NAPLES, who, according to Pittsburgh PCI FRANCIS LA CAMERA,

hired the men who

pulled the Canton Armory burglary.

2.

Will contact logical criminal Informants and conduct

necessary investigation to determine whether NAPLES has any

connection with GEORGE MIKE FLOREA at Canton, Youngstown and

Warren, Ohio.

3.

Will determine the location of RONALD DAVID CARABBIA who

was apprehended by Bureau Agents in Chicago and released on

$25,000 bond in Common Pleas court, Warren, on 7/2/59.

W1l1

then interview CARABBIA concerning the canton Armory job.

4.

Will determine the whereabouts of RONALD's brother,

CHARLES CARABBIA, and interview him in detail concerning his

activities around 10/14/58, in light of Information furnished

by PCI LA CAMERA that CHARLES knows the identity of the men who

stole the weapons from the Armory.

AT CLEVELAND, OHIO

Will review the case entitled "RONALD DAVID CARABBIA,

aka. - FUGITIVE; ET AL; UFAP - ARMED ROBBERY" (Cleveland file

88-2755), 00: Cleveland, for information regarding subject's

activities during the perlod of the Canton Armory Job that might

be of value in the solution of this case. It is noted that the

Pittsburgh file in this matter does not contain sufficient

Information for the review to be accomplished by the Pittsburgh

Office.

Will set out leads to have WILLIE NAPOLI and JAMES

ZIMMERMAN interviewed regarding the approach by the SCARDINA

brothers for the Armory job when NAPOLI and ZIMMERMAN are

apprehended in connection with the UFAP case.

LOS ANGELES

пленика

AT PASADENA, CALIFORNIA

1.

Will conduct investigation requested In Pittsburgh airtel

to Los Angeles, 7/15/59, concerning the possible purchase of

large quantities of arms and ammunition by JEROME M. GLUCK,

FBI #5039711, at the Golden State Arms Company and the Rental

=G=

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MIAMI

AT MIAMI AND MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA

1.

Will conduct investigation requested in Pittsburgh airtel

to the Bureau dated 6/22/59, regarding the

location of

additional

cards at the Sea Gull Hotel

in the name of SAl MANN Or SAM

MANNARINO irrespective of date and forward to FBI Laboratory

for comparison with the writing on the SAL MANN registration

cara previously obtained from the Sea Gull Hotel.

2.

Will obtain handwriting specimens in the name of SAL MANN,

Brooklyn, New York, from all employees of the Sea Gull Hotel who

worked at the Registrationdesk from 10/23/58-11/7/58, and:

submit specimens to the FBI Laboratory to be compared with the

writing on the SAL MANN registration card. Handwriting specimens

in

the name, SAb MANN, Brooklyn, New York, should also be obtained

from the Manager of the Sea Gull Hotel, who is a Pel oi your

office.

The punpose of this investigation is to determine whether

in the

thes love

light of possible fear of MANNARINO on the part of the Manager

or employees they may be withholding the faet that one of them did

recognize MANNARINO when he registered at the hotel as SAL MANN

and might have filled out the registration card for him.

Will review guest registration cards at the Sea Gull Hotel®

for the period, 10/23/58-11/7/58, for the purpose of identifying

the individuals who entered the hotel during that time who

were assigned rooms across the hall and adjacent to MANN's

room during that period. If at all possible, will determine who

oecupied the rooms on either side of MANN's room as well as

the room across the hall during the pertinent period if the

identities of the guests are not found in registration cards

In the event one of the subjects

under indictment in this case is recognized, toll call checks!

should be conducted for evidence of calls to

New Kensington.]"If

the occupants of rooms near MANN's room are recognized as

MANNARING confederates, they should be identified and handwriting

specimens obtained on the theory that one of them signed the

register for MANNARINO aS SAL MANN.

4.

Will conduct investigation requested in Pittsburgh airtel

to the Bureau dated 6/25/59, concerning the submission of the

warranty deed bearing SAM MANNARINO's signature to the FBI

•H .

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AT NEW KENSINGTON, PA. (WESTMORELAND COUNTY)

1.

Will Interview FRANK GUZ, 168 - 7th Extension, to

determine if possible why he was called by SAMUEL MANNARINO

under the name, SAL MANN,

from the Sea Gull Hotel In Miami

Beach, Florida, on 11/3/58.

2.

Will consider interviewing SAMUEL MANNARINO when and

if Miami Is successful in establishing his presence at the

Sea Gull Hotel,

In contact with other co-conspirators during

the period, 10/24/58 - 11/7/58.

3.

Will Interview Mrs. (FNJ) NIChOLS, an employee oi

the Ken Iron and Steel Co., 1263 Third Ave., for any

мо в ін в

information she may be able to furnish in this case

particularly concerning her reported anxiety when obtaining

supplies from the company warehouse at the intersection of

14th St., between Third and Fourth Avenues, approximately

a week before STUART SUTOR was arrested in

Morgantown,

W.Va.

AT WEST MIDDIESEX, PA. (MERCER COUNTY)

Will maintain close contact with PCI FRANCIS LA CAMERA

for additional Information concerning the identity of the

men who pulled the canton Armory job.

AT FARRELL, PA. (MERCER COUNTY)

Will, In the light of additional infornation obtained

by PCI FRANCIS LA CAMERA, consider the advisabillty of Inter-

viewing JOHN MOLDOVAN regarding the approach by the SSARDINA

brothers for him to pull the Canton Armory Job with

CHARLES LA CAMERA.

AT PITTSBURGH, PA. (ALLEGHENY COUNTY)

Will follow and report results of prosecution in the

NDWVA and WDPA.

- K-

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