Pepe Moranga facilitates coke deal: Shanks manuscript.
Battle dealings with Medellín Cartel: Ibid.
Prospects for a RICO case: Ibid.
Shanks assigned new partner (Bert Perez): Ibid.
15. OLD FRIENDS
Pepe Moranga murder: NYPD intelligence, crime scene, homicide, and medical examiner reports.
Angel Mujica murder: NYPD intelligence, crime scene, homicide, and medical examiner reports. Detective Muldoon from the 34th Precinct interviewed, among others, Ernesto Mujica, son of the deceased, who reported that “his father had been involved in the numbers business years ago and had left the United States to put the business in the past . . . The deceased started a successful irrigation parts company in Madrid, Spain and did not return to the United States until 1989 after his wife became ill with cancer and had gone to Sloane Kettering Hospital for treatment.”
“There goes a dead man”: Shanks manuscript.
Trajectory of bullet in Mujica hit: Report of Autopsy, Case No: M92-3536, Yvonne I. Milewski, M.D., City Medical Examiner. May 10, 1992.
Shanks and Perez in New York City: Shanks manuscript.
Shanks and Perez visit Lalo Pons in prison: Shanks manuscript.
Omar Broche murder: NYPD intelligence, crime scene, homicide, and medical examiner reports.
Luis DeVilliers Sr.: Proffer, Luis DeVillers Sr. (undated); testimony of DeVilliers Sr., U.S. v. Battle et al., 2006.
DeVilliers approached by the Peruvians: Ibid.
DeVilliers approaches Battle with casino deal: Ibid.
Shanks squad learns about Roberto Parsons: Shanks manuscript.
Background on Roberto Parsons: Metro-Dade Police Department file, Investigation into the arrest of Roberto Parsons, Det. A. Moore, January 2, 1993.
Jorge Gonzalez as snitch: Interview report, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Los Angeles, CA. Interview of Gonzalez conducted by AUSA Jackie Chooljian, Investigator Don Klein, Anaheim Police Dept., and Michael Brennan, attorney for Gonzalez. December 11, 1991.
Murder of Pepe Felipe: Metro-Dade Police Department, Case No. 17933-L, Det, Nicholas Fabregas, January 2, 1993.
“Listen, many years ago, when I was sitting in your seat”: Transcript of Rydz conversation with Arcacha.
Hurricane Andrew: Mark Silva, Charles Strouse, and John Donnelly, “Destruction at Dawn,” Miami Herald, August 25, 1992; “Path of Terror: Andrew Wreaks Havoc in S. Florida,” Florida Sun-Sentinel, August, 25, 1992; Peter Slevin and Dexter Filkins, “WE NEED HELP: Bush Sends 2, Troops: ‘More Destruction Than Any Disaster’ Ever in America,” Miami Herald, August 26, 1992.
Shanks’s experience with Hurricane Andrew: Interview with David Shanks; Shanks manuscript.
16. STORMY WEATHER
“Polaco, you know anything about this casino?”: Testimony of Abraham Rydz, U.S. v. Battle et al., 2006.
“Here’s what worries me”: Ibid.
“He assured me they would not use Maurilio”: Ibid.
Oracio Altuve: Interview with Kenny Rosario; Shanks manuscript.
Altuve account of post–Ernestico murder meeting with Battle: Testimony of Oracio Altuve, U.S. v. Battle et al., 2006.
Shanks fight with Bert Perez: Interview with David Shanks; interview with Kenny Rosario; Shanks manuscript.
Shanks transferred to Kendall Division: Shanks manuscript.
Creation of Empresa de Inversiones Orientales: Testimony of DeVilliers, U.S. v. Battle et al., 2006.
Casino Crillón history: The rise and fall of the casino in Lima, Peru, would ultimately become one of the major criminal narratives in U.S. v. Battle et al., and as such was thoroughly investigated. Financial documents were amassed, and many of the key players involved in the creation and daily operation of the casino were tracked down and interviewed by Detective David Shanks and others. Later, most of these people were deposed by prosecutors, and many testified at trial. The documentation of this testimony was essential to the research for this book. The author has added to the public record, where possible, through additional interviews and also via travel to Lima to the site of the former Casino Crillón.
DeVilliers and Marquez meet with the Peruvians: Testimony of DeVilliers, U.S. v. Battle et al., 2006; Federal Grand Jury testimony of Felix Fefer, Miami, FL, July 2, 2002.
Marquez travels to Aruba, meets Harold Marchena: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Harold Marchena, Miami, FL, June 25, 2002.
Rydz at racetrack, learns of Maurilio Marquez’s involvement in casino: Testimony of Abraham Rydz, U.S. v. Battle et al., 2006.
“Is it true?”: Ibid.
“Lo hecho, hecho está”: Ibid.
Rydz meets with Battle Jr.: Ibid.
Rydz travels to Switzerland: Ibid.
Parsons apprehension: Metro-Dade Police Department file, Investigation into the arrest of Roberto Parsons, Det. A. Moore, January 2, 1993.
Police interview of Parsons: Ibid.
Parsons dies in prison: Shanks manuscript.
Posada interviewed by FBI agents: Record of interview, File No. IC-600-1. Office of the Independent Counsel, Washington D.C., SA Michael S. Foster and SA George R. Kiszynski. Interview conducted at Tegucigalpa, Honduras, February 6, 1992.
Posada in Guatemala: Ibid.
Hirings at Casino Crillón: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Felix Fefer; interview with George Croes, February 11, 2017.
Harold Marchena resigns: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Harold Marchena.
Felix Fefer financial dealings: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Felix Fefer.
17. BEGINNER’S LUCK
Battle pays off customs officials in Peru: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Hans Bunte, Miami, FL, June 4, 2002; Federal Grand Jury testimony of Felix Fefer.
Opening night for Casino Crillón: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Francisco “Chito” Quandas, Miami, FL, December 3, 2002; interview with George Croes.
Battle moves into special suite: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Chito Quandas; Federal Grand Jury testimony of Mario Masaveu.
“I am the Godfather”: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Felix Fefer; Federal Grand Jury testimony of Chito Quandas; Federal Grand Jury testimony of Mario Masaveu; Shanks interview with Wilfredo Chau, October 16, 2001; Shanks interview with Jacobo Van Der Linden, November 15, 2001.
“If I tell those men to lick the bottom of my shoes”: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Chito Quandas.
Battle extends free chips to police and military: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Harold Marchena; interview with George Croes.
Luis “Lucho” Cabrera: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Mario Masaveu.
Private party for deputy minister: Ibid.
Battle with name embroidered in lining of his jacket: Ibid.
Effugenia Reyes at the Casino Crillón: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Harold Marchena; Federal Grand Jury testimony of Hubert Dominico Salazar, August 6, 2002.
Battle’s affair with Evelyn Runciman: Federal Grand jury testimony of Chito Quandas; Federal Grand Jury testimony of Mario Masaveu.
Effugenia affair with Juan Solano Loo: During interviews with David Shanks, Kenny Rosario and federal investigators, Solano would neither confirm nor deny his affair with Effugenia Reyes, but aspects of the relationship were witnessed by and testified about by four separate workers at the casino, including Mario Masaveu and Harold Marchena, both of whom mentioned the affair in their Federal Grand Jury testimony, and also a woman who worked as an assistant to Solano in his capacity as accountant.
Investigation of Raul Fernandez: Shanks manuscript.
Kidnapping of Mayito Fernandez: Ibid.
Ex-detective Raul Diaz: Along with his checkered history as a cop, Diaz, as a PI, had many criminal clients. In a Metro-Dade Police Department OCB Intelligence report dated October 30, 1986, a confidential informant told Detective J. Leggett, Lottery Squad, that “RAUL DIAZ, [address redacted], is a Battle associate. The CI says this Diaz was formerly a ranking supervisor in this department.” The CI was ranked as �
��usually reliable.” The rise and fall of Diaz’s storied police career is detailed in The Cocaine Wars by Paul Eddy with Hugo Sabogal and Sara Walden (W.W. Norton, 1988.)
Luis Adel Bordon: Shanks manuscript.
Gulf Liquors investigation: U.S. v. Bordon et al., June 1998; Prosecutorial document, U.S. Attorney’s Office, undated. Prepared by David Shanks. “The following is a summary of the potential witnesses already interviewed by this writer, along with other pertinent information; including the subjects which the witness can testify against; the type of testimony; and the availability of the witness to testify.” The document is forty-eight pages long.
Luis Jr. and Adel Bordon: Shanks manuscript.
Raid on Gulf Liquors (June 24, 1994): Shanks manuscript.
Article on “Walled” in El Comercio: “La Boda del Año: Dueño del Casino Crillón perdrá soltería en Lima,” El Comercio, date unknown.
“Doesn’t that look like Battle?”: Shanks manuscript.
Casino Crillón opening months: Shanks interview with Manuel Luis Zambrano, November 20, 2001; Shanks interview with Wildredo Chau; Federal Grand Jury testimony of Felix Fefer.
Maurilio Marquez fired from casino: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Felix Fefer.
Harold Marchena rehired as manager: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Harold Marchena.
Extortion threat from Sendero Luminoso: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Mario Masaveu; Shanks/Rosario interview with General Guillermo Castillo.
History of Sendero Luminoso: David Scott Palmer, ed., Shining Path of Peru (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1992). Steve Stern, “Family, Culture and Revolution: Everyday Life with Sendero Luminoso,” in Shining and Other Paths: War and Society in Peru, 1980–1995 (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1998).
Miraflores bombing 1992: “At Least 18 Die in Lima Bomb Blast, 140 Are Injured in Attack by Sendero Luminoso Rebels,” Associated Press, July 18, 1992.
Sendero Luminoso guerrilla accidentally blows herself up at Hotel Crillón: Shirley Christian, “Inmates Shot After Giving Up, Peru Senator Says,” New York Times, June 22, 1986.
General Castillo gives advice on extortion threat: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Mario Masaveu; Shanks interview with Mario Masaveu; Shanks/Rosario interview with General Guillermo Castillo.
“Wait a minute, I know about this letter”: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Mario Masaveu; Shanks interview with Mario Masaveu.
Car bombing on Calle Jirón Ocoña: “Car Bomb Near Tourist Hotel Kills 2 and Injures 30 in Peru,” New York Times, October 22, 1993; “Guerrillas’ Car Bomb Kills 3, Hurts Nearly 50 in Lima,” Orlando Sentinel, October 23, 1992; interview with George Croes; testimony of George Croes.
Metro-Dade police search of El Zapotal: Shanks manuscript.
18. DOWN AND OUT IN LIMA
Using bank money to fool CONACA: Interview with George Croes; Federal Grand Jury testimony of Felix Ferer.
Salvador Ramirez: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Salvador Ramirez, Miami, FL, July 9, 2002.
Battle threatens Ramirez: Ibid.
Three Peruvians divest from Casino Crillón: Federal Grand jury testimony of Felix Ferer; Shanks interview with Wilfredo Chau.
Harold Marchena demands audit: Federal Grand jury testimony of Harold Marchena.
Marchena lawsuit: Ibid.
Marchena receives threatening calls from Evelyn Runciman: Ibid.
Chito Quandas views Battle watching Godfather movies: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Chito Quandas; Federal Grand Jury testimony of Mario Masaveu.
Battle on security camera using cocaine: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Chito Quandas.
Attempts to force Quandas out of the Crillón: Ibid.
“I could probably have you killed for less than that”: Ibid.
Harold Marchena meets with Evelyn Runciman and Valerio Cerron: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Harold Marchena.
“If you don’t leave Peru within the week, I’m going to have you eliminated”: Ibid.
Marchena learns of Effugenia murder: Ibid.
Shanks meets “Sexy Cubana”: Interview with David Shanks; Shanks manuscript.
Effugenia Reyes murder in Guatemala: Shanks manuscript.
Battle birthday party: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Hubert Dominico Salazar.
“I hear she was fond with her head cut off”: Ibid.
“And I advise that you better leave”: Ibid.
Masaveu and Battle: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Mario Masaveu.
Battle’s use of fraudulent passport: Affidavit of Robert A. O’Bannon, Special Agent, Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Department of State. April 1996.
Battle deported from Peru, settles in Buenos Aires: Ibid.
Attempt to bribe deputy minister: Ibid.
Battle’s phone conversation with Nene Marquez: Transcript of phone conversation between Battle and Nene Marquez (undated).
Battle sneaks back into Peru: Federal Grand Jury testimony of Mario Masaveu.
Battle calls Luis DeVilliers from inside the casino: Ibid.
Battle and Evelyn Runciman flee Peru: Affidavit of Robert A. O’Bannon, U.S. Department of State.
Battle and Evelyn apprehended in Curaçao, returned to Peru: Ibid.
Battle deported from Peru to United States (May 21, 1995): Ibid.
19. PRESIDENT IN EXILE
Cultivating informants and cutting deals: Shanks manuscript.
Encounter of José Aluart and Battle by Rosario, Boyd et al.: Metro-Dade Police Department report, Case No. 331829J.013, SYNOPSIS: Interview of JOSE MIGUEL BATTLE on May 23, 1995 at his farm residence “El Zapotal.” Prepared by Det. K. Rosario; interview with Kenny Rosario.
Shanks on vacation with wife: Interview with David Shanks; Shanks manuscript.
Checks from Republic National Bank of Miami: Testimony of David Shanks, Florida v. Bordon, 1998.
Evelyn Runciman applies for visa: Affidavit of Robert O’Bannon, U.S. Department of State.
NYPD’s Tom Farley and Morals Squad: Interview with Detective Tom Farley, June 7, 2016.
“Back when I first came on the job”: Ibid.
Bets and bust: Ibid.
Incident with Iadarola brothers: Interview with Tom Farley; interview with Dennis Ring, January 7, 2017.
“If you’re smart, you’ll take your shares and give them away”: Testimony of Abraham Rydz, U.S.v. Battle et al., 2006.
“That man is crazy”: Interview with Susan Rydz.
Susan and her father: Ibid.
Sergeant Boyd’s retirement party: Shanks manuscript; interview with Tony Gonzalez.
Shanks and Boyd make peace: Shanks manuscript.
Shanks meets Gonzalez: Interview with David Shanks; interview with Tony Gonzalez.
Evelyn Runciman receives Florida driver’s license: Affidavit of Robert O’Bannon, INS.
José Mendez hired as managing director: Federal Grand Jury testimony of José Mendez.
“Why should I pay more money”: Shanks manuscript.
Raid on El Zapotal (December 18, 1996): Affidavit for Search Warrant, Jacob W. Wohlman, Supervisory Special Agent, Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Department of State, December 16, 1996; Shanks manuscript; interview with David Shanks.
Arrest of Battle: Interview with David Shanks; Shanks manuscript.
Discovery of evidence at El Zapotal: Ibid.
Shanks, Rosario, and Battle at Jackson Memorial Hospital: Shanks manuscript; interview with David Shanks; interview with Kenny Rosario.
“You two aren’t going to stop until I die in jail”: Interview with Kenny Rosario; interview with David Shanks.
Battle getting “special favors” at the hospital: Shanks manuscript.
20. PERSEVERANCE
Bombings in Havana, 1997: “Explosions at 2 Havana Hotels Cause Minor Damage: Interior Ministry Blames Americans,” CNN World News, July 23, 1997; “Cuba Edgy After Bombings,” CNN World News, July 23, 1997; “Explosions Hit 4 Hotels in Havana, Killing 1,” CNN World News, September 4, 1997;
“Accused Cuban Bomber Calmly Confesses on TV,” CNN World News, September 16, 1997; Anita Snow, “U.S. Probes 1997 Cuba Hotel Bombings,” Washington Post, May 10, 2007.
Mob pedigree of Capri and Nacional hotels: T. J. English, Havana Nocturne, pp. 26– 38, 44–45, 127–29, 240–42, 303–4, 312, 319.
“Obviously, this was done by our enemies”: “Explosions at 2 Havana Hotels Cause Minor Damage: Interior Ministry Blames Americans,” CNN World News, July 23, 2007.
“These terrorist acts are encouraged”: “Explosions Hit 3 Hotels in Havana, Killing 1,” CNN World News, July 23, 1997.
Posada interview with New York Times: Ann Louise Bardach and Larry Rohter, “A Bomber’s Tale: Taking Aim at Castro, Key Cuba Foe Claims Exiles’ Backing,” New York Times, July 12, 1998.
Battle’s legal travails: Interview with Jack Blumenfeld; Frances Robles, “Alleged Crime Boss Held in Jail; Attorney Presses for Release,” Miami Herald, December 20, 1966.
“I’m sorry, but you people need to look up polygamy”: Ibid.
Battle Jr. assumes power of attorney for his father: Ibid.
Background on Miguel Cruz: Interview with Miguel and Ian Cruz, May 15, 2016.
Incident with Lee Harvey Oswald: This incident became known to investigators from the Warren Commission, and was included in the Warren Commission Report. Over the years, the incident has been reinterpreted by some (including filmmaker Oliver Stone in J.F.K.) to suggest that Cuban exiles recruited Oswald, a known Castro sympathizer, to make it appear as if Cuba were complicit in the assassination of JFK. To which Miguel Cruz says, “That’s just stupid.”
Trial of Battle on gun possession charge: Shanks manuscript; Frank Davies, “Surprise Witness Complicates Gun Case,” Miami Herald, October 6, 1997.
Jury selection process involving daughter of brigade veteran: Interview with Tony Gonzalez.
Testimony of Ruby Torres: Testimony of Ruby Torres, U.S.v. Battle, 1997.
Testimony of Cache Jimenez: Testimony of Cache Jimenez, U.S. v. Battle, 1997; Frank Davies, “Alleged Kingpin’s Luck Finally Runs Out,” Miami Herald, November 11, 1997.
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