Document date: 04/17/2018
Document type: PAPER-TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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1 283 85-12-55

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

орато О100

MIAMI

Ollos ol Ortota

MIAMI

TITLE OF CASE

SANTO TRAFFICANTE, JR., aka.

Doro

barondigoriva Partod

4/24/59

1/10-4/15/59

Roport sardo boy

STIPHEN J. LABADIR

CHARACTIR OF CASE

ANTI-RACKETEKRING

REVERENCE: RepOrt Of SA STEPHEN J. LABADIE, 1/15/59, M1an1.

Typod By:

EJM

AOMINISTRATIVE

Taros coples of this report are enclosed to the

Bureau in order that one copy say be tranmitted to the

Loçal Attacho, Havars, Cuba, for Inforastion, an the Lagal

Attacho 18 continuing to maintain coverage on subjoct.

As not out above, the Hlen1 Off1ce 18 considering

this case closed UACB, Inasrich as the Logal Attache, tavana,

18 able to follon mything of interest through sources there

and report sone to the bureau and Man1, as well as any other

interestod offices.

ipprored

Do not vetto ta spoons baion

в - Ватеи (92-2782)

ing N192-2781-94

2 - 110883(192-88)

It 4710

8 APR 27 1959

₴ 5310 27

MAEZ LICVLINE CHA

BEGOD -10T

IF 91

KiX 100t

Dacid: 52586388 Pade lopied to you by ise TEl, and sellber i

16÷616.6

5j4;09

• to bo distributed outaido the agency to which loanod.

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MM 92-88

According to T-?, after the downfall of the

BATISTA Government, the slot machines were removed by

group of unknown individuals from the Sans Souci Gambling

Casino. The remaining equipment in this casino was not

damaged. T-7

advised. 'that TRAFFICANTE was able to take

precautions with the gambling equipment at the Hotel Comodoro

and he had the equipment stored in various rooms in the hotel.

As a result, none of this equipment was damaged.

On February 25, 1959, T-2 advised SA JAMES P.

O'NEIL that subject's interest in the Hotel Comodoro Casino

is handled by BENNY FERNANDEZ,

I-2 said subject's interest had previously been handled

by RALPH REINA of Tampa, but REINA 1s no longer connected

with this operation.

T-2 said BENNY FERNANDEZ was not, to

his knowledge, connected with gambling in Tampa, but was

considered a gig010.

He stated FERNANDEZ had been the boy-

friend of GLORIA HERNANDEZ, who was the widow of LAWRENCE

HERNANDEZ, SR., one of the

founders of the Columbia Restaurant

in Tampa.

said that prior to going to Havana, FERNANDEZ

had lived in Washington, D.C., with Mrs. GLORIA HERNANDEZ,

who recently died.

Hotel Deauville Casino

On January I, 1959, after the downfall of the

BATISTA Government, mobs of

people ransacked some of the

gambling casinos in Havana.

The Hotel Deauville Casino was

ransacked and the gambling equipment thrown into the street.

On January 9, 1959, T-8 advised that he had

recently been released

from Principe Prison, Havana, in the

general release of prisoners which occurred on January 1,

1959.

He said he previously worked for TRAFFICANTE as a

chef and bodyguard at the Sans Souci Night Club. I-8

recalled that in connection with the financing of the

beauville Casino, he was requested by TRAFFICANTE

sometime

during the period between January and March, 1950, to go to

Rancho Boyeros Airport outside Havana to pick up money from

a messenger who had come over from Florida.

T-8 said when

he delivered the package of money to tRAFficaNTe, Ier egger

tained that it contained $500,000.00 and it was

money destined for the Deauville Casino.

The Newark Office advised by communication dated

May 23, 1958, that sources contacted have no Information

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MIM 92-88

concerning "Jersey" money destined for the Hotel Deauville

Casino, Havana.

The following informants

were contacted with

negative results:

T-9 by SA FRANK R. GERRITY on March 11, 1959.

T-10 by SA JOHN R. KINSINGER on March 26, 1959.

T-1] by SA WARREN J. DONOVAN on March 4, 1959.

I-12 by SA HOWARD C. LADUKE on March 5, 1959.

T-13 by SA JOHN P. FOLEY on March 4, 1959:

T-14 by SA THOMAS J. EMERY on February 17, 1959:

T-15 by SA THOMAS J. EMERY on February 24, 1959.

I-16 by SA JAMES T. MC SHANE on March 9, 1959.

T-17 on March 9, 1959, advised SA EDMUND FLANAGAN

that he had heard from unrecalled sources that GERARDO CATANA

of New Jersey had sent money to Havana, Cuba,

for the gambling

T-17 added that he had

to the Deauville.

T-17 was asked concerning the possibility of

$500,00.00 "Jersey" money going to the Deauville Casino.

T-17

reflected that to his recollection, the Deauville Casino

is a very small operation and the $500, 000.00 would be too

much money for such an operation.

T-17 explained that the

Deauville had two casinos, one in the lobby which is quite

"plush"

, but very small, and another downstairs,

which is a

cheap casino catering mostly to the "Cuban trade."

T-17 explained that the bankroll for the entire

operation of both casinos in the Hotel Deauville would, in

his opinion, be no more than $20,000.00 to $35,000.00.

T-17 went on to say that the Deauville Hotel itself 1s not

expensive Inasmuch as it rents rooms for $5.00 or $6.00 a

night, and the hotel Itself is not elaborate.

On February 25, 1959, T-2 advised SA JAMES P.

O'NEIL that subject had an interest in the casino operated.

in the Deauville Hotel and is represented there by CASIMIRO

HERNANDEZ of Tampa, Florida. I-2 stated that HERNANDEZ

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MM 92-88

INFORMANTS

T-I 1s HAV-33.

T-2 1s MM 416-C.

T-3 1s PCI ALBERTO SUAREZ ALEMAN, doorman at

the apartment building where TRAFFICANTE resides in Havana,

cuba.

T-4 18 TOM GALVIN, Inspector, INS, Tampa, Fla.

T-5 18 MM 647-PC,

T-6 1s Dr. EUGENE F.

COSTANT INO,

former' PCI,

who is the female doctor of subject's wife

• in Tampa, Fla.

T-T 1s HAV-31.

I-8 18 PCI GUIDO DE PHILLIPS, Havana.

T-9 1s NY 136-C.

T-10 1s NY 169-C.

T-11 1s NY 2151-C.

T-12 1,5 NY 889-0.

T-13 1S NY 147-C.

T-14 is NY 2522-0.

T-15 1s NY 204-C.

T-16 1s NY 2227-C.

T-17 15 NY 2427-C.

I-18 1s ANTHONY J. GRIMALDI, SR., PCI, Tampa, Fla.

T-19 1s MM 648-C.

ING

REVIEWED BY FBUJFK TASK FORCE

10123195 JMLIDABIDWITRS

RELEASE IN PART

TOTAL DENIAL/

12

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