John Roselli – La Cosa Nostra – Chicago Outfit FBI & CIA Files

Description

John Roselli: Gangster, Hollywood, CIA, and Conspiracy

Timeline of Main Events

• Early 20th Century: John Roselli becomes a lieutenant of Al Capone, indicating his early involvement in organized crime.
• Early 20th Century: Roselli becomes a bodyguard for Harry Cohn, President of Columbia Pictures, establishing a connection to the Hollywood film industry.
• Mid-20th Century: Roselli produces films for Monogram Studios, further cementing his presence in Hollywood.
• Beginning in 1947: The FBI initiates an investigation into John Roselli for various racketeering violations. This marks the start of sustained law enforcement scrutiny.
• Mid-20th Century (while in Los Angeles): Roselli’s primary role is to “cultivate relationships with the film industry hierarchy,” socializing with studio heads and advising Harry Cohn on gangster pictures.
• Early 1960s: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) recruits John Roselli in a plot to assassinate Cuban leader Fidel Castro (Operation Mongoose).
• 1968: John Roselli is convicted for illegally entering the United States and ordered deported by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. However, no country agrees to receive him.
• Shortly Before 1975 (Year of Sam Giancana’s death): Sam Giancana, who was also involved in the CIA’s Castro assassination plot, is murdered in his Illinois home shortly before he was scheduled to testify before the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCIA), also known as the Church Commission.
• Days After Giancana’s Murder (1975): John Roselli testifies before the Church Committee about the CIA’s plan to assassinate Fidel Castro, Operation Mongoose.
• Post-Giancana Murder (mid-1970s): Reportedly prompted by Giancana’s death, Roselli permanently moves from Los Angeles and Las Vegas to Miami, Florida.
• 1976: John Roselli’s decomposed body is discovered in a 55-gallon steel drum floating in Dumfounding Bay, Florida, indicating his murder.
• Post-Roselli’s Death: Journalists Jack Anderson and Les Whitten publish an editorial claiming Roselli told associates that individuals he recruited to kill Castro were turned by the Cuban leader to assassinate President John F. Kennedy, linking Roselli to JFK assassination conspiracy theories.
• November 2017: Most of the 3,566 pages of FBI and CIA files covering John Roselli are declassified.
• Ongoing (as of the document): FBI files detail years of surveillance on Roselli, his relationship with the CIA regarding the Castro assassination plot, FBI attempts to recruit him as an informant on La Cosa Nostra, and his involvement in electronic cheating at the Friars Clubs in Beverly Hills.
• Ongoing (as of the document): An investigation was started based on a tip from a U.S. Congressman regarding alleged bribes paid for the paroling of Roselli and other members of the Capone gang.

Cast of Characters

• John Roselli (AKA “Filippo Sacco”): A prominent figure in La Cosa Nostra, specifically handling affairs for the Chicago Outfit in California and Las Vegas. He had strong connections in Hollywood, worked as a bodyguard for Harry Cohn, produced films, and was later recruited by the CIA for a plot to assassinate Fidel Castro. He testified before the Church Committee about this plot and was eventually murdered. He is also linked to JFK assassination conspiracy theories.
• Al Capone: A notorious American gangster and boss of the Chicago Outfit during Prohibition. Roselli was once his lieutenant, indicating an early and significant connection to organized crime.
• Harry Cohn: The President of Columbia Pictures. Roselli worked as his bodyguard and maintained a close social and professional relationship with him, advising him on gangster films. This highlights Roselli’s deep ties within the Hollywood film industry.
• Lee Server: Author of “HANDSOME JOHNNY—The Life and Death of Johnny Rosselli: Gentleman Gangster, Hollywood Producer, CIA Assassin.” His insights are used in the source to describe Roselli’s role in Hollywood.
• Fidel Castro: The leader of Cuba. The CIA, with the involvement of John Roselli and Sam Giancana, plotted to assassinate him in the early 1960s (Operation Mongoose). He is also central to the JFK assassination conspiracy theory involving Roselli.
• Sam Giancana: Another prominent figure in La Cosa Nostra who was also recruited by the CIA for the plot to assassinate Fidel Castro. He was murdered shortly before he was to testify before the Church Committee, a death that reportedly influenced Roselli’s move to Miami.
• U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCIA) (Church Committee): A Senate committee that investigated intelligence activities, including the CIA’s assassination plots. Both Sam Giancana (before his death) and John Roselli testified before this committee regarding Operation Mongoose.
• Jack Anderson and Les Whitten: Journalists who published an editorial after Roselli’s death detailing his alleged claims about the individuals he recruited to kill Castro being turned to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. This is a key element in the JFK conspiracy theories surrounding Roselli.
• U.S. Congressman (unnamed): This individual provided a tip that initiated an investigation into alleged bribes paid for the paroling of Roselli and other members of the Capone gang, highlighting early law enforcement interest in Roselli.

John Roselli – La Cosa Nostra – Chicago Outfit FBI & CIA Files

3,566  pages of FBI and CIA files covering John Roselli. Most of the files were not declassified until November 2017. John Roselli, AKA “Filippo Sacco,” was active in California and Las Vegas, handling affairs for the Chicago La Cosa Nostra family. Roselli was once a bodyguard of Harry Cohen, President of Columbia Pictures and a former lieutenant of Al Capone. He also produced films for “B” movie outfit Monogram Studios. Beginning in 1947, the FBI investigated Roselli for various racketeering violations.

While in Los Angeles Roselli’s role was to, “cultivate relationships with the film industry hierarchy. He knew everybody, dated movie stars, played golf with studio heads. His closest industry friend was the boss of Columbia Pictures, Harry Cohn. They socialized together, and Johnny was often at the studio advising the mogul on his gangster pictures,” according to Lee Server author of “HANDSOME JOHNNY—The Life and Death of Johnny Rosselli: Gentleman Gangster, Hollywood Producer, CIA Assassin.”

In the early 1960s, Roselli was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency in a plot to assassinate Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

In 1968, he was convicted for entering the United States illegally and was ordered deported by the Immigration and Naturalization Service; however, no country would receive him.

Shortly before he was to testify in front of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCIA), also known as the Church Commission, Sam Giancana was shot and killed in the basement of his Illinois home. Days later Roselli testified before the Committee about the CIA plan to kill Castro, Operation Mongoose. Giancana’s murder supposedly prompted Roselli to permanently leave Los Angeles and Las Vegas for Miami, Florida. In 1976, Roselli’s decomposed body was found in a 55-gallon steel drum floating in Dumfounding Bay, Florida.

Several JFK assassination conspiracy theories involve Roselli. After Roselli’s death, journalists Jack Anderson and Les Whitten published an editorial stating that Roselli had told associates that individuals he had recruited to kill Castro had been turned by the Cuban leader to assassinate President John F. Kennedy.

Files contents includes: Investigation started by a tip from a U.S. Congressman that bribes were paid for the paroling of Roselli and other members of the Capone gang; Chronicling of years of surveillance of Roselli; His relation to the Central Intelligence Agency, regarding the agency’s attempt to get the cooperation of Sam Giancana to facilitate Cuban dictator Fidel Castro’s assassination; FBI attempts to pressure Roselli to become an informant on La Cosa Nostra; Roselli’s role in electronic cheating in high stakes card games at the Friars Clubs in Beverly Hills