The Sinatra Files (28 page)

On 1/10/47 the Los Angeles Office advised that Mickey Cohen was attempting to open a gambling joint in Los Angeles and had imported five hoodlums from Cleveland, Ohio. He had been in contact with Frank Sinatra on some sort of a deal and had introduced Sinatra to the Frank Minnitis, who were staying at the Ambassador Hotel. The Cleveland Office had advised that Minniti was Vice-President of the Standard Excavating Company of Cleveland, and a close friend of Frank Milano, reputed syndicate head in Cleveland.

On 7/31/47 Los Angeles Confidential Informant
advised that Joe Lynch, a crooked fight promoter tied in with the corrupt State Athletic Commission, was a good friend of Mickey Cohen of the Mafia. Informant stated that Cohen double-crossed Lynch at a Madison Square Garden fight in NY where Lynch had arranged for Frank Sinatra and other celebrities to be present.

In the latter part of 1950,
Philadelphia (protect identity), advised in connection with Robink that he had heard a rumor that an American had delivered $1,000,000 in cash to Lucky Luciano in Italy, presumably to effect the re-entrance of Luciano into the US. It was mentioned that Frank Sinatra had recently travelled abroad.
appeared surprised and immediately asked if the FBI knew anything definite that Sinatra was the underworld contact.

He claimed that Sinatra was the person named in the above described rumor. It was noted that the name of Sinatra was not volunteered by
and the information might have been conjecture on his part. The story was highly unlikely because of probably legal restrictions regarding the removal of large amounts of cash from the US.

On 4/15/54 the NY Office furnished a summary memorandum concerning Joseph A. Doto, commonly known as Joe Adonis, which
listed numerous hoodlums with whom he had been associated. The list included Frank Sinatra.

On 1/10/55 the Chicago Office furnished a copy of “The Juke Box Racket” written by Virgil W. Peterson, Operating Director, Chicago Crime Commission, Sept., 1954. The report, marked confidential, made reference to the close relationship existing between the underworld and many stars in the entertainment field, for example, Frank Sinatra’s close association with notorious gangsters. Sinatra owned an interest in the gambling casino called The Sands in Las Vegas, Nev. His business associates included Malcolm Clarke, once a partner of the notorious Capone gangster, Charles Gioe, in a Chicago Loop gambling pay-off establishment. A New Jersey investigator had informed the Chicago Crime Commission that Sinatra had Willie Moretti as his mentor and manager.

On 3/29/51 the NY Office advised in connection with the Kefauver Committee to Investigate Organized Crime In Interstate Commerce that Frank Sinatra had been interviewed at NYC and had denied any knowledge of the whereabouts of missing witnesses, Charles and Rocco Fischetti. He stated his last contact with them was in Miami a year ago. Approximately six weeks before he had seen Joe Fischetti, their brother, in NYC but did not know his address there. Sinatra denied that the Fischettis had any financial interest in any of his enterprises.

This reference sets out lengthy information regarding Frank Sinatra, who with Joe DiMaggio and several other individuals, on 11/5/54 attempted to raid an apartment in Hollywood which was occupied by Sheila Stewart, a friend of Marilyn Monroe who was about to obtain a divorce from DiMaggio. It was reported that DiMaggio was attempting to find derogatory information against Marilyn Monroe. The California State Senate Committee and the Los Angeles Grand Jury conducted an investigation regarding the matter.

Records of the Sheriff’s Office, Clark County, Las Vegas, Nev., revealed that on 8/28/58 Eugene Warner was observed in a friendly conversation with Frank Sinatra and former baseball player, Joe
DiMaggio, at the Sands Hotel. The nature of the conversation and extent of friendship were unknown.

It was noted that Warner was suspected of
at the Sands Hotel and Gambling Casino, Las Vegas. Sinatra was part owner at the Sands and appeared there annually as an entertainer.

made available a manuscript regarding members of the “Mafia” which was prepared in 1951 by someone in the employ of the Federal Narcotics Bureau. The manuscript had been loaned to a person in Los Angeles and the source desired that the document be treated as confidential. Background information was set out concerning Frank Sinatra as follows:

He was a front for the “Big Mob,” and the principal contact with Jorge Pasqual who represented the “Big Mob” in Mexico. Sinatra was “discovered” by Willie Moretti after pressure from Frank Costello and Lucky Luciano.

The Fischetti boys in Chicago owned a part of Sinatra. On one occasion Sinatra delivered $2,000,000 to Luciano in Cuba. The Mob reportedly forced Tommy Dorsey to release Sinatra from a contract. The owners of Sinatra were to hold a meeting in Las Vegas on 8/19/51 which would follow a meeting of the grand council of the Big Mob which was to be held in Cleveland, Ohio, 8/15-17/51. The meeting was said to be the most important meeting in modern times. “(See Mortimer story; Sinatra Confidential)”

On 1/24/56
of the NY Office, advised that singer Frank Sinatra was originally backed by top hoodlum, Joe Adonis.

This reference is a NY summary memorandum dated 3/15/56 regarding Anthony Strollo, who with other hoodlums was involved during the raid on the Gold Key Club, NYC, on 2/10/56.

Frank Sinatra visited the Gold Key Club regularly when in NYC. He appeared to prefer the company of these hoodlums, and their admiration for him appeared to be mutual. During the winter of 1955, Vincent Mauro, a henchman of Strollo, gave an elaborate party for Sinatra at the Club on the occasion of his departure for a personal appearance tour of Australia.

This tour followed an appearance by Sinatra at the Ciro Club at Miami where the group thought his presence might be required to pull that establishment out of a hole. It was alleged that Sinatra appeared at the Club as a favor to Mauro for a salary far below the payment he usually received for night club appearances.

Miami letter, 3/21/58, stated that
advised that Frank Sinatra who appeared at the Fontainebleau Hotel, came to Miami through the friendship and persuasion of Joseph Fischetti. Sinatra and Lauren Bacall planned to stay at Fischetti’s home in North Bay Village but due to last minute changes they stayed at the Fontainebleau.