Memorandum summarizing the biography and criminal activity of James Balestrere.
Balestrere, James
Displaying 1 - 12 of 17
Photograph of James Balestrere, Kansas City organized crime figure who was involved in bootleg efforts during Prohibition and later owner of the White House Tavern, located south of the Kansas City city limits.
Kansas City Police Department record noting James Balestrere's arrest on March 19, 1940, on charges of speeding and lacking a city or state auto license. The city license charge was dismissed, and Balestrere was fined $5 for each of the other two charges. The document also includes Balestrere's home address.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch article discussing Estes Kefauver's Senate committee devoted to investigating interstate organized crime activity, including Kansas City's Charles Binaggio.
Memorandum regarding Walt Rainey, described as "an operator of notorious restaurants and night clubs," who allegedly runs his businesses in violation of gambling and liquor laws.
Memorandum regarding Joseph DiGiovanni, former Kansas City bootlegger and brother of Peter DiGiovanni.
Memorandum regarding Peter DiGiovanni, former Kansas City bootlegger and brother of Joseph DiGiovanni. The two brothers operated Mid-West Distribution Company, a liquor distributor throughout Jackson County, which also employed other mafia-affiliated men.
Kansas City Election Board records with biographical information about organized crime figure John Blando, including home address and family members. Attached report describes Blando's proximity to numerous arson fires in Kansas City in the 1920s and 1930s.
Memorandum regarding Kansas City organized crime figure James Balestrere, owner of the White House Tavern, where Walt Rainey ran a gambling establishment.
Letter from George H. White to U.S. Attorney Sam Wear regarding an investigation into Carl Carramusa. Carramusa is accused of being a representative of the Kansas City Narcotic Syndicate, a subsidiary of the Kansas City Mafia.
FBI record for James Balestrere, number 3707086. The record provides a physical description of the individual provided by the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Police Department, where Balestrere once resided.
Diagram from the U.S. Senate Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce, illustrating the Kansas City Mafia's engagement in narcotics, murder, gambling games and bookmaking, and liquor distribution. Names of alleged members are listed, as are victims of unsolved murders.