Originator: FBI
From: PG
To: HQ
Document date: 02/04/1959
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

Date:

5/11/201

AGENCY: FBI

RECORD NUMBER :

124-90104-10166

RECORD SERIES :

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

HQ

92-2940-44

Document Information

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM: PG

TO: HQ

TITLE :

DATE: 02/04/1959

' PAGES: 34

SUBJECTS:

SEBASTIAN JOHN LAROCCA

DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION: Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS: 4; 10(a)2; 11(a)

CURRENT STATUS: Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 02/05/1999

OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE, APPROVAL OF IRS

COMMENTS: RPT

Heleased under the John F. Kennedy

Assassination Records Collection act ol

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

58262 Diate: 09.22-2022

v9.1

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PG 92-226

CRIMINAL INFORMANT COVERAGE

The following individuals are presently being utilized by the

Pittsburgh Office in the. SEBASTIAN JOHN LA ROCCA investigation:

PG 573-C, who is extremely friendly with the GENOVESE

brothers and particularly FIRE GENOVESE, Younger

brother of MIKE GENOVESE, and who is presently being

utilized for the general

coverage of the Red Eagle

Club and its visitors.

Miss FRANCES PRIAM; a PCI of the Pittsburgh Office, who

is well acquainted

with most of Pittsburgh's top hoodlums

and who was formerly employed as a waitress in the Red

Eagle Club, once known as the Genovese Cocktail Lounge,

412 Larimer Avenue, Pittsburgh. She still visits this

establishment and comes in constant contact with MIKE

GENOVESE and other members of Pittsburgh's racketeering

element in her role as a medium-priced prostitute.

is presently traveling with Mrs. JULIA MINTZ; widow of

co-owner of EZZArd CHARLES, former world's

She is presently being

utilized: for the coverage of the GENOVESE-LA ROCCA-NELSON

interests.

GEORGE "MOON" MESSER, a PCI who is presently very active

in Pittsburgh numbers operations and who was arrested

during the month of August, 1958, in connection with his

operation. MESSER is intimately acquainted with many

Pittsburgh top hoodlums and racketeers through association

with them when they began their racket careers.

He is

presently being utilized for coverage of the GENOVESE-

NELSON interests and is also contributing information

regarding the VOLPE brothers who are close associates of

GENOVESE and LA ROCCA.

A

COVER PAGE

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PG 92-226

GEORGE "ZIP" ZAPPA, a PCI of the Pittsburgh Office

presently engaged in racket activity in the City of

Pittsburgh who is being utilized for general coverage

of lottery and numbers operations in the Pittsburgh

area.

HENRY J. BARBER,

a PCI of the Pittsburgh Office who

is part owner of the notorious gambling establishnent

utilized for information concerning the club and the

both LA ROCCA and GENOVESE.

MISS MARIAN FOGEL, a PCI of the Pittsburgh Office

who is being utilized for information concerning

Pittsburgh prostitution activities and as a check on

the activities of Miss FRANCES PRIAM.

AL BUCK, former Allegheny County Detective and now

Vice President of the Fidelity. Trust Company, Loan

Department, Pittsburgh, who is beng utilized for his

knowledge of the Bankers Exchange in Pittsburgh from

which he can obtain information regarding bank loans

made to Pittsburgh top hoodlums.

BUCK is also familiar

with the activities of several of Pittsburgh's top

hoodlums, particularly those of LA ROCCA, from having

worked on criminal matters for many years in the City of

Pittsburgh.

HERMAN ISRAEL, a confidential source of the Pittsburgh

Office who is being utilized for information concerning.

the MANNARINO organization in New Kensington, Pa., and

who is also furnishing information regarding tie-ups with

the GENOVESE organization in Pittsburgh..

WILLIAM A. DOBKIN, a confidential source of the Pittsburgh

Office who was extremely helpful to Pittsburgh Agents

during the investigation of the RALPH KINER extortion

investigation several years ago and whose brother-in-law,

NORMAN FARBER, 1s. a member of the MANNARINO organization.

B

COVER PAGE

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PG 92-226

In an effort to increase criminal informant coverage, the PCIs

under developnent are being contacted on a continuing and regular

basis so that information obtained from them may be used on a

day-to-day basis in connection with spot surveillances of the

establishments frequented by the subject when he is in the

Pittsburgh vicinity.

The identity of the anonymous informant calling himself. "TIGER!

is still being sought so that he may be contacted personally and

will no longer have to depend on the written word for the

furnishing of his racket information to the pittsburgh office.

It is anticipated that THOMAS MARTIN, Vice President of the

Real Estate Department of the Fidelity Trust Co., Potter Branch,

in Pittsburgh, will keep the Pittsburgh office advised of any

new developments concerning the proposed construction of a

motel financed by MIKE GENOVESE and ARTHUR D. NELSON in the

Monroeville, Pa., vicinity which would undoubtedly have to have

the approval and overall financial backing of SEBASTIAN JOHN

LA ROCCA.

It is further anticipated that former Pittsburgh top hoodlum,.

SAMUEL NATHANIEL LEVINE, who is now a PCI for the Pittsburgh

Office and who is well acquainted with LA ROCCA, will be

contacted at regular intervals so that a more. complete picture

of the racketeering activities in the City of Pittsburgh may

be obtained

It should be noted that contacts with LEVINE to

date have achieved the latter objective to a degree but have

not been proäuctive in furnishing information concerning LA ROCCA.

LEADS

BALTIMORE, JACKSONVILLE, MIAMI and PHILADELPHIA - INFORMATION

One copy of this report is being. furnished to the Baltimore Office

inasmuch

as that office has leads outstanding relating to the

whereabouts of national top hoodlum GABRIEL

'KELLY" MANNARINC

and the subject.

C

COVER PAGE

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PG 92-226

from that hospital on November 29, 1958, but is still an out-

patient.

He stated that he has prescribed rest, among other

things but that Mrs. LA ROCCA is up and about and has not

been bedridden.

He recalled that he last saw her just before

Christmas and that she appeared to be responding to treatment

excellently. He said he has not been contacted by the subject

concerning the operation on his wife and does not anticipate

a contact of this sort since all prior arrangements

were made

by Mrs. LA ROCCA herself.

Dr. MILLER advised that he has heard of MIKE GENOVESE and has

probably met him through his friends in the rackets butiknows

very little about him.

He searched for the name in his

cardex and advised that he

performed a hemorrhoidectomy during

1958 on the wife of FELIX "PHIL" GENOVESE, older brother of

MIKE.

He could furnish no further information of value to this

investigation and said he would not be treating Mrs. LA ROCCA

again until February, 1959.

PG T-I, who has furnished reliable information in the past,

advised that the Internal Revenue Service of the United States

Treasury Department, is required, as a matter of policy, to

periodically mail a

form to taxpayers whose returns are

under

investigation by that organization. He advised that the purpose

of this form is merely to obtain the signature of each taxpayer

and that this technically keeps the Statute of Limitations:

running so that re-examination of the return is possible.:

JFK Law 11(a)

Kelease in part

Der IRS 914198/0

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PG 92-226

conducted by Immigration and Naturalization Service the two

ZAPLACINSKI brothers entered the United States illegally on

August 13, 1947, after receiving aid from an Erie County Deputy

Sheriff, PHILLIP FINA, 445 Fargo Avenue, Buffalo, and ANTHONY J.

PANASCI, JR., 921 Niagara Street. It was determined that the

ZAPLACINSKI brothers came into Buffalo from Canada in PANASCI'S

After arriving in Buffalo, FINA secured plane reservations

in Buffalo for them and made hotel reservations in New York City,

Of GORDON GANNON, a Buffalo attorney. ANTHONY J.

PANASCI, JR., admitted to KARL G. BURROS of the Immigration and

Naturalization Service on September 8, 1947, that he had smuggled

small quantities of whiskey and gigarettes to Canada, which he

gave to the ZAPLAGINSKI brothers.

It was

also determined that LOUIS ROTHSTEIN, FBI # 243623, of

Toronto, was aided by PHILIP FINA in his illegal entry into the

United States on August 18, 1950.

During the interview with THOMAS PALOMINO PANASCI, he admitted

being involved with his brother, ANTHONY J. PANASCI, JR.,

assistingsthe ZAPLACINSKI brothers into the Unitea states.

The Baltimöre Office advised on January 7, 1959, that on

December 24, 1958, SA PAUL A. TURNER contacted the office of

MAX GOLDBERG in Baltimore and was advised by an unidentified

male employee that GOLDBERG had died in a hospital in Pittsburgh

within the two weeks prior to this contact. This individual

stated that members of the staff.of accountants working for

GOLDBERG were well aware of the interest of the FBI in locating

LA ROCCA and that they would contact the Baltimore Office if they

had any subsequent dealings with LA ROCCA.

The Baltimore Office advised that on December 31, 1958, Mrs. MAX

GOLDBERG advised SA TURNER that her husband died at Pittsburgh on

December 10, 1958, and was buried there.

She stated that she

has not sèen LA ROCCA and has

received no information concerning

his present whereabouts. She advised that if she received any

information concerning the subject in the future she would furnish

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PG 92-226

this to the Baltimore Office and indicated that she intended to

continue her husband's accounting operations inasmuch as she

was active in his organization for many years.

She noted that

the Baltimore staff of her husband's business does not know

LA ROCCA personally and was evasive in replying to a question

as to whether any of the members of the Pittsburgh staff did

Know LA ROCCA.

Pittsburgh Office Agents determined through investigation on

January 24, 1959, that SAMUEL MANNARINO, a close acquaintance

and associate of LA ROCCA and GENOVESE, had landedeat the

Greater Pittsburgh Airport on that date shortly after 5:00 P.M.,

and had taken a taxi cab (number 128) to New Kensington, Pa. :

It should be noted that MANNARINO had "disappeared"

from the

Pittsburgh area shortly after his name was linked to a gun

running operation in which stolen Government rifles were found

aboard a plane which was carrying them to the Cuban rebels.

on

January 26, 1959, ALBERT DIMEOLO,

U. S. Marshal for the Western

District of Pennsylvania at Pittsburgh, advised the Pittsburgh

Office that SAMUEL MANNARINO had telephonically contacted him

on that morning and advised him that he was at home in New

Kensington, Pa. DIMEOLO stated that MANNARINO was thereafter

JFK Law 10(a) 2

C. CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES

PG T-3, who has furnished reliable information in the past, advised

that he was present at the MANNARINO gambling establishment at

New Kensington, Pa., during the late evening hours of November 4,

1958. He said

that on that afternoon a plane load of rifles stolen

from the Ohio National Guard Armory at Canton, Ohio, was forced

down at Morgantown, w. Va., and that the MANNARINO brothers had

already been mentioned as

having had something to do with the

transportation of

these and other weapons to Cuban rebels.

recalled that the bar was not too busy that night but that

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EK Law 10(a)2

PG 92-226

States through Boston during septemper, 1913. Records show

that he isnstill an Italian citien and that he cannot even

write his own name.

LAUVER advised that he would have this man's

personal Ille forwarded to Pittsburgh for review and that he

vould be alert to the possibility that CIAPPARRO may fail to

register as an alien during January, 1959.

Information Regarding Subpoenas with which LA ROCCA Must Be

Served

ALBERT DIMBOLO, U%

S Marshal for the Western District

of

Pennsylvania at Pittsburgh, advised SA VOEGE on January 28

1959, that he has received no new information regarding

and that he still has two subpoenas outstanding for service to

He advised that the first is a subpoena for the

appearance of

before the Federal Grand Jury for the

Ito testify and give evidence in

regard to an alleged violation of

Land that the second is a subpoena for the appearance of

before /the U. S. Senate SelecttCommittee on Improper

Activities in the Labor aor Management Field.

He again stated

that the dates for these appearances have still not been set

and that he cannot do anything further regarding them until

returns to Pittsburgh or is located in some other

jurisdiction.

He advised that he will immediately notify the

Pittsburgh Office in the event he should learn anything regarding

in this regard.

Surveillances Conducted Relating to this Investigation

Spot surveillances were made on December 19, 29, 1958, and on

January b, 10,22, 20, 1959, at 900 West Ingomar Road,

Ingomar,

Pa.,

and at 12 McCandless St., Pittsburgh, as well as at 300

North Craig St., Pittsburgh,

by SA voeGE.

Nothing of interest

to this investigation was observed during the conducting of these

spot surveillances.

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PG 92-226

The Cleveland Office advised on January 22, 1959, that on

November 7, 1958, CV T-8, who has furnished reliable information

in the past, was contacted and shown photographs of GABRIEL

MANNARINO and JOHN LA ROCCA whereupon he stated that both looked

familiar to him but that he could not say when or where he may

have observed them.

The informant is extremely familiar with the

Youngstown, Ohio area and stated that he would obtain whatever

information concerning these men TONY CORBI at the Yohio Club could

furnish to him.

The Cleveland Office further advised that on December 4, 1958,

photographs of the aforementioned national top hoodlums were

made availabie to police officers of the Warren, Ohio Police

Department and that those officers promised to conduct an

that those oticers

investigation to determine whether MANNARINO Or LA ROCCA had

been or are presently in their jurisdiction.

It should be

noted that those officers advised that their informants

are

close to the MURGIE brothers of Pittsburgh who are now living

in that area and who are afleged past associates of LA ROCCA.

IN VIEW OF THE CONVICTION OF SUBJECT FOR ASSAULT WITH INTENT TO

KILL AND HIS ARREST FOR CARRYING A CONCEALED WEAPON, HE MAY BE

ARMED AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS.

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IPG

92-226

INFORMANT PAGE

PG T-I is SA JACK SCHWARTZ of the Intelligence Division of the

Federal Building

that his identity be concealed.

PG T-2 is WILLIAM MEREDITH, Special Agent, Bell Telephone Company:

of Pennsylvania, who was contacted on January 27, 1959, by

SA HAROLD L. STEVENS and who has requested that his identity

be concealed.

PG T-3 is Miss FRANCES PRIAM, a Potential Criminal Informant of

the Pittsburgh Office, who was contacted on January 27,

, 1959, by SA ROBERT A. VOEGE.

PG T-4 1s GEORGE "MOON" MESSER, a Potential Criminal Informant of

the Pittsburgh Office,

who was contacted on December 23,

1958, and again on January 5, 1959, by SA ROBERT A. VOEGE.

PG I-5 is PG 573-C who was contacted on November 23, 1958, by

SA JOHN S. PORTELLA.

PG T-6 is FRANK HOAG, a Pittsburgh businessman, who is being

contacted as a confidential source and who was so contacted

on January 22, 1959, by SA JOHN S. PORTELLA.

PG I-T IS T. MEADE MC LISTER, a Potential Criminal Informant of

the Pittsburgh Office, who was contacted on January 7,:

1959, by SA BRONI S. MACYS.

CV T-8 is CV 88-C who.was contacted on November 7, 1958, by

SA FRANK G. DOUDS.

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