In Re Loughran

276 F. Supp. 393, 1967 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7589
CourtDistrict Court, C.D. California
DecidedAugust 30, 1967
DocketMisc. 1598
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 276 F. Supp. 393 (In Re Loughran) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, C.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Loughran, 276 F. Supp. 393, 1967 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7589 (C.D. Cal. 1967).

Opinion

ORDERS GRANTING IMMUNITY AND COMPELLING TESTIMONY BEFORE GRAND JURY

HAUK, District Judge.

These proceedings arise out of the investigation of interstate racketeering, wagering, gambling and related activities in southern California, Nevada, Florida and the East Coast being conducted by the Central District Grand Jury, Philip T. Wilson, Foreman, 1 with its inquiry focused upon alleged violations of the Federal Statutes prohibiting the Interstate Transmission of Wagering Information; 2 Interstate Interference with Commerce by Threats or Violence (Racketeering and Extortion); 3 Interstate and Foreign Travel or Transportation in aid of Racketeering Enterprises ; 4 Interstate Transportation of Wagering Paraphernalia; 5 Attempt to Evade or Defeat Occupational Tax (Wagering); 6 Violations of the Federal Communications Act; 7 and other violations of the laws of the United States.

At the time of these proceedings the Grand Jury had begun to zero in specifically upon a meeting of big-name gamblers and underworld figures reportedly held in October 1965 at the Palm Springs residence of two Las Vegas showgirls, the Grand Jury witnesses who are here now before the Court: Natalie Loughran (who uses the stage name of Vickie Lockwood) and Carolyn Kikumura, who is also known as Carol Kimura.

Two alleged participants in the meeting were Vincent (Jimmy Blue Eyes) Alo, and Anthony (Fat Tony) Salerno, reputed New York members of the Cosa Nostra “family” headed by Vito Genovese. Perhaps because Genovese was a top delegate to the infamous convention of sixty crime chieftains November 14, 1957 at Apalachin, New York, 8 this Palm *397 Springs meeting was quickly dubbed “Little Apalachin” by the press. 9

Others who reportedly attended the Palm Springs gathering, which apparently lasted for several days, were Jerome (Jerry) Zarowitz, credit manager of Caesar’s Palace on the Las Vegas “Strip”, Elliott Paul Price, a host at Caesar’s Palace, and Ruby (Fat Ruby) Lazarus, prominent Miami Beach and New York City bookmaker. 10

INITIAL COURT HEARING: ORDERS CONFIRMING IMMUNITY AND COMPELLING TESTIMONY

In response to subpoenas, the two showgirls appeared on December 15, 1967 before the “Wilson” Grand Jury in the United States Court House, Los Angeles, and each of them was questioned separately. Prior to questioning, of course, each was sworn, asked her correct name and stage name and, after admitting she had had an opportunity to consult with counsel, was advised that the purpose of the Grand Jury was to investigate violations of the laws of the United States and particularly those dealing with interstate racketeering, wagering, gambling and related activities. The statutes herein-above referred to and cited at Footnote 1 were specifically mentioned. 11 Then each witness was informed that she was not before the Grand Jury as a prospective defendant but rather as a witness with information that could aid in the investigation. Each admitted that her attorney had explained her constitutional rights to her, including her right under the Fifth Amendment to answer any questions, the truthful answer to which might tend to incriminate her personally of a crime. 12

Each witness was advised that one of the statutes with which the Grand Jury was concerned related to the Federal Communications Act which contains provisions whereby, if she should assert the Fifth Amendment rather than answer the questions, the Grand Jury might seek the help of the Court to order her to answer the questions. Moreover, each witness was told that any such order would operate to grant her immunity so that she could not be prosecuted for anything she might answer in response to the questions propounded by the Grand Jury, with the cautionary admonition, however, that this immunity would not extend to perjury. 13

Finally, each witness was warned that it was the Grand Jury’s determination to ask the Court to confirm the immunity and compel her to answer, should she assert the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer. 14

After these preliminaries, each witness was asked the following questions and invoked the Fifth Amendment in reply: 15

“Q Miss Kikumura, do you know Jerry Zarowitz?
“A I refuse to answer on the grounds that it may tend to incriminate me.
“Q Do you know Elliott Paul Price ?
*398 “A I refuse to answer on the grounds that it may tend to incriminate me.
“Q Do you know Tony Salerno? *
“A I refuse to answer on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.
“Q Do you know Vincent Alo?
“A I refuse to answer on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.
“Q Do you know Ruby Lazarus?
“A I refuse to answer on the grounds it may tend to incriminate me.
“Q In October of 1965 were you present at a meeting in Palm Springs, California, or Jerry Zarowitz, Elliott Paul Price, Tony Salerno, Vincent Alo and Ruby Lazarus ?
“A I refuse to answer on grounds it may tend to incriminate me.
“Q Did the meeting take place at 893 Camino del Sur, Palm Springs, California, in October of 1965?
“A I refuse to answer on grounds it may tend to incriminate me.
“Q Did you reside at 893 Camino del Sur, Palm Springs, California, at any time during October 1965?
“A I refuse to answer on grounds it may tend to incriminate me.
“Q Did you observe the telephones at 893 Camino del Sur, Palm Springs, California, being used for the purpose of placing wagers ?
“A I refuse to answer on ground it may tend to incriminate me.
“Q Were the phones used by Tony Salerno for the purpose of conducting gambling business?
“A I refuse to answer on ground it may tend to incriminate me.
“Q Did Ruby Lazarus use the phones to place or lay off wagers?
“A I refuse to answer on ground it may tend to incriminate me.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

In Re Grand Jury Proceedings Witness Agosto
553 F. Supp. 1298 (D. Nevada, 1983)
Commonwealth v. Johnson
313 N.E.2d 571 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1974)
Karl G. Eisen v. Philip J. Picard
452 F.2d 860 (First Circuit, 1971)
United States v. Zerilli
328 F. Supp. 706 (C.D. California, 1971)
United States v. Zarowitz
326 F. Supp. 90 (C.D. California, 1971)
In Re Lazarus
276 F. Supp. 434 (C.D. California, 1967)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
276 F. Supp. 393, 1967 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7589, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-loughran-cacd-1967.