The Sinatra Files (27 page)

ALLEGATIONS THAT SINATRA IS A DOPE RACKETEER

directed a letter to the Attorney General under date of June 10, 1947, wherein he stated that he had quite a bit of information concerning vice rackets, narcotics and jewel thieves which he thought might be of interest to the Department of Justice. This letter was referred to the Bureau on June 20, 1947, and
was subsequently interviewed by Bureau Agents at the
After being assured that his information would be kept in strict confidence, he related among other things that Frank Sinatra handled dope on the West Coast for Bugsy Siegel, Allen Smiley and George Raft.
alleged that Sinatra maintained his headquarters in one of the bigger hotels in Hollywood, either the Roosevelt or Hollywood Hotels, and further reported that he had heard that the bell hop at this hotel was in on the deal.

REPORTED INTEREST IN GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS

It was reported in April, 1946, that Frank Sinatra was sponsoring one of the groups who were then planning on promoting boxing shows in Los Angeles. Sinatra, together with a Henry Sanicola and Larry Rummans, incorporated and sold stock to raise money to build a “Little Madison Square Garden” arena in Los Angeles, California. Sinatra was further reported to be then completing plans to organize a stable of boxers to be managed by Henry Sanicola. Sanicola was identified as a lifelong associate of Frank Sinatra who has managed his business interests over a great many years. Sinatra was also reported to be interested in a new hotel and gambling establishment
then being built at Las Vegas, Nevada. It was reported that this enterprise was being financed by Sinatra and an attorney named Albert Pearlsen.

With regard to Sinatra’s reported interest in a hotel and gambling establishment at Las Vegas, it was reported that on August 13, 1946, “Bugsy” Siegel met with two other men, Bones Remmer and an attorney named Austin White, at which time Siegel complained that 16 weeks of work and two million dollars had been put into the hotel at Las Vegas which was then 75 percent completed, but now a stop order had been issued. He further complained that Sinatra had put an O.K. on a $1,500,000 building in the South. It developed from their conversation that, according to Siegel, the approval for the hotel building at Las Vegas had been given and the stop order issued by a man named Bender, who was head of the Civilian Production Administration in San Francisco.

Bones Remmer has been identified by the San Francisco Office as Elmer M. Bones Remmer who resides in Orinda, California, and is a well known local gambling boss who owns interests in several gambling establishments in the vicinity of California and Nevada.

The reference to the hotel under construction at Las Vegas, Nevada, may possibly have reference to the Flamingo Hotel in which Siegel had an interest.

Bugsy Siegel, a prominent hoodlum operating on the west coast was reported to have gone to Los Angeles on December 18, 1946 to contact Lana Turner, Jimmy Durante, and Frank Sinatra for the purpose of having these individuals attend the opening of the Flamingo Hotel operated by Siegel.

    
A June 8, 1964, FBI summary on Sinatra gives the flavor of some of the raw, often unsubstantiated but nevertheless tantalizing tips and innuendos the bureau was collecting regarding the singer’s mob affiliations. The summary also includes a reference to the columnist Lee Mortimer’s 1951 report that Sinatra served as a money courier for Lucky Luciano, which the FBI files do not corroborate. (Some less-noteworthy entries have been deleted.)

    During the period Sept. 20 through Oct. 8, 1946, various informants furnished information regarding Joseph Fischetti. Included was information that Fischetti and Charlie Baron, a Ford automobile dealer, 2223 South Michigan, Chicago, sent two dozen shirts to Frank Sinatra in Hollywood. On 10/8/46, Baron asked Charlie Fischetti to have his brother, Joe Fischetti, contact Frank Sinatra and have him expedite room reservations in connection with a football game to be played around 11/7/46. Baron probably had reference to the Army and Navy game to be played in NY on 11/9/46. The Fischetti brothers were key figures in the Chicago crime syndicate.

On 10/15/46 the Newark Office advised that Al Silvani, Frank Sinatra’s bodyguard, flew to NJ and took charge of Tami Mauriello’s training before his fight with Joe Louis. (no date)

On 6/6/50 the Miami Office advised that a reliable informant (not identified) advised that Joe Fischetti, prominent underworld figure, had been in Miami Beach during the 1946-47 winter season accompanied by Frank Sinatra. They stayed for a period at the Grand
Hotel and had taken a trip to Havana, Cuba. The informant stated it was rumored among the underworld that Fischetti owned a percentage of Sinatra’s contract (not described).