FBI summary memorandum finding no evidence of violations within the Bureau's jurisdiction (14 January 1947)

Scans 52 to 54 of the FBI Vault’s “Bugsy Siegel” file, Part 15, hold a summary memorandum of January 14, 1947 and a covering note of January 16. Scan 52, the first page, is stored here. The memo is addressed to Mr. Rosen, the sender’s name is redacted, and the subject is “Benjamin ‘Bugs’ Siegel, Miscellaneous, Information Concerning Crime Survey.” The text was read from the page images.

Under “Purpose” it states that “investigation conducted from December 11, 1946, to date in the entitled case has failed to disclose evidence of violations of Federal laws within the Bureau’s primary investigative jurisdiction.” The background says a special squad of about ten agents handled an investigation from July 23 to October 18, 1946, using “five technical surveillances” at Los Angeles and two at Las Vegas, “but the investigation failed to reflect that Siegel was engaged in violations within the Bureau’s jurisdiction.” It adds that Siegel’s activities “have been confined principally to his interests in the Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Trans American News, a racing news service,” and that the Flamingo “opened on December 26, 1946, and is reportedly in financial difficulties.”

The second page says information “has been developed indicating Siegel associates with individuals suspected of handling narcotics and smuggling, but no evidence has been established concerning Siegel’s participation in these alleged violations.” It records that technical surveillances were being kept at the Las Vegas Club and the Last Frontier Hotel and that the Salt Lake City Field Division had asked to discontinue the one at the Las Vegas Club and install one at the Flamingo Hotel. The recommendation is that “consideration be given to discontinuing further investigation in this matter.”

Scan 54 is a memorandum of January 16, 1947 from Edw. A. Tamm to the Director, partly cut off at the edge of the scan, which begins “I reluctantly concur in the attached recommendation” to discontinue active investigation of Siegel, and says the effort had been made “without developing any scintilla of evidence” of a violation within the Bureau’s jurisdiction. Handwritten notes at the foot are not fully legible.