Agency: FBI
Originator: FBI
From: HAV
To: HQ
Document date: 03/13/1959
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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"Released anter the Toln F. kernedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote).

DATE: 11-14-2017

JFK Assassination System

Date:

6/1/2015

Identification Form

Agency Information

AGENCY: FBI

RECORD NUMBER: 124-90154-10005

RECORD SERIES: HQ

AGENCY FILE NUMBER: CR 62-9-210-25

Document Information

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM: HAV

TO: HQ

TITLE:

DATE :

PAGES:

SUBJECTS :

03/13/1959

AMERICAN GAMBLING ACTIVITIES IN CUBA

MICHAEL MCLANEY

DOCUMENT TYPE :

PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION: Unclassified

RESTRICTIONS :

4

CURRENT STATUS:

Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW : 10/30/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE

COMMENTS:

MEMO

v9.1

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Released under the John F. Remedy Assassinatton Records Collection Act of 1992 744 USC 2107 Hote).

DATE STANARD 7dM 10.47

Office Mer On em •

In • UNITE

62-9-310

•Director, FBI (62-75147-210)

Legat, Havana (64-153)

AMERICAN GAMBLING ACTIVITIES IN. CUBA

ANTI-RACKETEERING

GOVERNMENT

FROM :

SUBJECT:

HEREIN IS UNCLASSIFIED

DATE 6/36/80 BYS grate

Reference Havana letter January 8, 1959. Since

the

submission of reference letter, the tollowing intormation has

been

developed concerning the activities of American gamblers

. in Havana:

The gambling casinos in Cuba were closed from January 1,

1959, the date of the overthrow of the BATISTA regime, until

February 19, 1959, when certain casinos were permitted to reopen

by government decree.

Contacts with numerous sources affiljated

with American gamblers in Cuba indicated that during the period

gambling casinos were closed very little

overt effort was made on

the part of any of the American interest holders to obtain permission

to reopen.

On January 8, 1959, HAV-3l advised that American casino

operators

intended to have casinosand hotel employees bring pressure

to bear on the Cuban Government to permit the reopening of gambling

casinos.

Subsequently numerous demonstrations were held by employees

of the various gambling casinos petitioning the government to permit-

the reopening of the casinos in order to provide employment for the

hotel and casino workers.

Permission was finally granted on

February 19, 1959, for the following casinos to reopen: Tropicana,

Sans Souci,

Comodoro, Riviera, Hilton, Nacional, Capri and St. Johns.

The Deauville, Sevilla-Biltmore and Plaza casinos were not granted

permission to reopen.

HAV-31 advised on February 21, 1959, that the government

decree allowing certain gambling casinos to reopen had been brought

about by the strong threats made on the part of the hotel employees'

unions

to go on strike unless their demands were heard and the

casinos reopened. Source noted that the Cuban Government began

February 11, 1959,

to confiscate all slot machines in all gambling

casinos in Havana.

320

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7 - Bureau (1, each: Miami

IDIO

New York

6186 57

_ WFO

Boston M

ark)

BREC- 81

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DJB: MEG

(8)

DIA•

EX 36

pout 2m/24/59

2/0/78

Ne Meda

for review at, Bind by

HSCA re/2p2/ request.

(500 Bur (20 162-117200)

HO MAN 7959

58 MAR 24 1959

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Released under the Tehn I, Kennedy Assasstnation Records Collection Act of 1992 (11 USC 2107 Hotey.

DATE: 11-14-2017

Havana 64-153

3/13/59

HOTEL NACIONAL CASINO:

On January 15, 1959, HAV-31 informed that there had been

a realignment in the ownership of the Hotel Nacional casino and that

interests

were now held only by MICHAEL/MCLANEY, CHARLES SCHWARTZ,

and (FNU) RAFFERTY. Source stated that RAFFERTY was reported to be

from Miami.: 7la:

Havana newspapers under date of February 19, 1959, reported

that MICHAEL MCLANEY, one of the interest holders in the Hotel Nacional

casino, had been detained at Rancho Boyeros airport upon entry into

Cuba from Florida because he had $15,000 in Cuban money in his

possession. THis money was confiscated from McLANEY.

aa employee of the hotel tacional casino, advised ou March Radio,

that MCLANEY had not been able to obtain the return of the $15,000

from the Cuban Government.

HOTEL CAPRI CASINO:

Clon January 6, 1959, Vice Consul Hugh D. Kessler of the

Citizenship-protection Section of the American Embassy, Havana, advised

that NICHOLASYDI COSTANZO, one of the interest holders

at the Capri

casino, had been

arrested

by members of the militia of the July 26

Movement two or three days after the overthrow of the BATISTA

Government.

Vice Consul

from DI COSTANZO and he was instructed to get

Kessler said that DI COSTANZO had left Cuba.

1 at a man to t, cuc

out of Cuba. Mr.

On February 26, 1959, HAV-31 advised that since the re-

opening of the Capri casino, NICHOLAS DI COSTANZO was being

represented by a nephew named ANGELO (LNU).

SANS SOUCI CASINO:

Cube

On February 13, 1959, PCI Guido de Phillips, former

employee of SANTO TRAFFICANTE, advised that the gambling element

had received information that FIDEL CASTRO, Prime Minister of

Cuba, did not desire that SANTOY/RAFFICANTE, JR., continue his

gambling operation at the Sans Souci NightClub because it was well

FERNANDEZ MIRANDA, brother-in-law of former Cuban President, FULGENCIO

BATISTA. Source stated that movie actor ERROL FLYNN had-apparently

endeared himself to FIDEL CASTRO by publicizing a visit he had made

to CASTRO when CASTRO was in Oriente Province prior to the overthrow

of the BATISTA Government. Source stated that CASTRO had asked .

ERROL FLYNN to recommend

a reliable person to operate the Sans Souci

casino.

FLYNN, according to source, got in touch with RONE WARNOCK

P. 0. Box 152,

Marysville,

Washington.

Source described WARNOCk

as a punch board operator

in the Washington-Oregon area.

Source stated

that WARNOCK subsequently came to Cuba and offered TRAFFICANTE $175,000

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

I DATE: 11-14-2017

Havana 64-153

3/13/59

but that the New York-New Jersey Syndicate which TRAFFICANTE

represents wanted $250,000 for the Sans Souci. PCI De Phillips

advised on March 10, 1959, that the "deal" between TRAFFICANTE

and WARNOCK had fallen through sinde. TRAFFICANTE decided to make

a false sale

of the Sans Souci casino and actually retain it himself.

Source stated TRAFFICANTE still retains possession of the casino

and that it is now in the name of a front. Source did not know

the front's identity.

HOTEL ST. JOHNS CASINO:

On February 26, 1959, HAV-31 advised that the St. Johns

casino had operated for two or three nights after being given

permission to reopen by the Cuban Government, but it had again

closed. Source stated. that the new Cuban Government was of the

belief

that one JUkiY (LARRAMENDI, a Cuban hoodlum, had an interest

in the casino.

On March 2, 1959,

had

HAV-33 informed that LARRAMENDI had never

any interest in the St. Johns casino and the present owners of

the casino expected to be able to show documentary proof of the

actual ownership to the Cuban Government and obtain permission to

reopen within a few days.

HOTEL HAVANA-RIVIERA CASINO:

Hotel Havana-Riviera casino is presently

being supervised

by CHARLESABARON who recently purchased an interest in that casino.

MEYER

LANSKY is at present in the United States.

On March 12, 1959,

JACKKANSKY was detained by the Cuban

police and as of the morning

Wot Naren 13, 1959, he was still being held.

HOTEL HAVANA-HILTON CASINO:

*Silas:

On March

9, 1959, HAV-33 advised

that the Havana-Hilton

casino had reopened but that neither JOy SILESI nor his brother,

CHARLES, had been observed at the casino.

He said the operation

of

11. :

the casino was being handled by Cuban gamblers, RAUL GONZALEZ JEREZ,

and ANGEL GONZALEZ GONZALEZ.

HOTEL PLAZA CASINO:

Catas

PCI Guido de Phillips, mentioned above, advised on March 10,

1959, that he had been informed by JOE/STASSI,

one of the major interest

holders at the Hotel Plaza casino,

that STASSI had made a "pay off" to

an official of the Cuban Government (unidentified) in the amount of

$50,000 in order to obtain permission for the Plaza casino to reopen.

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Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 744 USC 2107 Hotel:

DATE: 11-14-2017

Havana 64-153

3/13/59

Source stated that although the plaza casino now had permission to

reopen, they had no "bank roll" with which to operate and that

STASSI

and other interest holders are contacting individuals in the

United States in an effort to obtain a new bank roll.

HOTEL COMODORO CASINO:

This casino,, in which SANTO TRAFFICANTE; is the major interest

holder, is patronized principally by Cubans and is managed by _BENNY

AFERNANDEZ who was brought to Cuba by TRAFFICANTE from Tampa, Elorida.

HAV-33 advised on March 9, 1959,

that there had been no indication

as yet of resuming gambling activities in this casino.

TROPICANA NIGHT CLUB CASINO:

HAV-31 advised on February 26, 1959, that the Tropicana

gambling casino had reopened and that

the manager of the casino

continued to be LOU MCWILLIE, an American gambler from Dallas, Texas.

This casino is owned by Cubans. Cula

The following casinos continue to remain closed: St. Johns,

Deauville, Sevilla-Biltmore and Plaza.

WHEREABOUTS OF AMERICAN HOODLUMS CONNECTED WITH GAMBLING ACTIVITIES

IN HAVANA :

Both HAV-31 and HAV-33 have advised on numerous occasions

since January 1, 1959, that SANTO TRAFFICANTE, although remaining

Cuba, is staying "out of sight."

PCI Alberto Suarez Aleman, who

employed at the apartment house where TRAFFICANTE normally resides,

advisedoon March 11, 1959, that TRAFFICANTE has only visited the

apartment house on a few occasions to pick up clothing and that

TRAFFICANTE's family returned to Florida in the early part of

January, 1959.

MEYER LANSKY (Miami Top Hoodlum) is in Florida. He left

Cuba on January 5, 1959.

JACK LANSKY did not leave Cuba until after

gambling casinos had received permission to reopen on February 19,

1959, and he returned to Cuba during the early part of March, 1959.

WILLIAM GUSTOXBISCHOFF (former Miami Top Hoodlum) has left

Havana and HAV-33 advised on March 2,

1959, that he had received

information that BISCHOFF

was in Miami and did not intend to return

to Cuba.

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Released under the Jolr F. "Kemety Assassination Records Colection Act

0f 1992414USC 2107 Hotel.

DATE: 11-14-2017

Havana 64-153

3/13/59

chia

1 la

HAV-31

advised on March 9, 1959, that although CHARLES

TOURINE (Miami. Top Hoodlum) had not been goserved in Havana, it was

rumored he had returned.

Source said JAILESI New York Top Uh

Hoodlum) had returnedtothe Hotel Havana-Hilton.

Source said that

JOHN WILLIAMS (Boston Top Hoodlum) had not been observed in Havana

recently. Nuts

MISCELLANEOUS:

On January 27, 1959, HARRY S/ GOODFRIEND, FBI #4762865,-

" COMINICK OT QUARTO, FBI #110556B, and ROCCOREGONE were taken into di

I custody by Cuban Secret

Service police at the Presidential Palace

ih Havana.

In an interview with Cuban police authorities, these

individuals indicated they had come to Havana in order to

See

President MANUEL URRUTIA in an effort to obtain a gambling concession

from URRUTIA. DI QUARTO is reported to be a New York "bookie" and

a member of the STROLLO-MAURO mob in Greenwich Village.

On January 30, 1959, Vice Consul Hugh D. Kessler, previously

mentioned, stated that Congressman VICTOR/ANEUSA. Of New York had made

inquiry concerning GOODFRIEND,

REGONE and DI QUARTO. In this regard,

investigation conducted by the Havana office in another matter

indicated that ANFUSO might have contacted JOSEP CATALDO, with alias,

"Joe the Wob," a member of the

* STROLLO mob when ANFUSO made/a trip tò

Havana in the latter part of 1958.

GOODFRIEND, REGONE and/DI QUARTO

were released by Cuban police on January 30, 1959Ga

HAV-31 advised on February 4, 1959, that JOSEPH NESLINE ME

(WFO Top Hoodlum) had been in Havana for several days and that theti

purpose of his trip was to assist American gamblers in Havana in

getting casinos reopened.

26th of July Movement:

FIORINI in an effort to

get approval from the Cuban Government for

casinos to reopen.

Extra copies of this letter have been prepared for forwarding

by the

Bureau to the following offices for information:

New York,

Miami, Washington Field, Boston and Newark.

Pending.

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