New York State Temporary Commission of Investigation Master Case Files

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New York State Temporary Commission of Investigation Master Case Files

Held by the New York State Archives

Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives

New York State Education Department

Cultural Education Center

Albany, NY 12230

Summary:

The Temporary State Commission of Investigation is authorized to conduct investigations in connection with the execution and enforcement of state laws affecting organized crime and racketeering; the conduct of state and local public officers and employees; and any matter concerning the public peace, public safety, and public justice. This series contain case files of investigations, and includes the commission's investigation of the "Apalachin Organized Crime Meeting".

Creator:

New York (State). Temporary Commission of Investigation

Title:

Temporary Commission of Investigation master case files

Quantity:

238 cubic feet

Inclusive Dates:

1951-1987

Series Number:

18266

Arrangement

Arranged numerically by subject area and therein sequentially by assigned number.

18266-96: Arranged by last name of individual under investigation.

Administrative History

Scope and Content Note

Case files in this series may include such material as initial complaints or requests for investigations, correspondence, copies of subpoenas, interview memos and reports, investigator's notes, legal research memos, case status reports, documentary exhibits, auditor's reports, published materials, news clippings, Commission press releases concerning the investigation, case closing memos, and other records.

18266-96: This accretion of master case files documents the Commission's investigation of the "Apalachin Organized Crime Meeting." This was the first investigation conducted by the Commission. The files are organized into sections pertaining to an individual member of organized crime present at the November, 1957, meeting. Each section contains documents regarding the given individual including: criminal histories; surveillance reports; intra and inter-office memoranda and reports; newspaper articles; and subpoenas and related litigation materials. Transcripts of Commission public hearings, as well as hearing transcripts of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Operations (a/k/a/ the "Watchdog Committee") are also present.

18266-06: This accretion documents investigations of Syracuse Police Dept. and bingo gambling in New York City and includes related transcripts of public and private hearings.

18266-06A: This accretion documents 1960 investigations of syndicated gambling and real estate tax delinquencies in Albany.

18266-07: This accretion documents cases concerning pistol licensing law and procedures, charges relating to the organization of the 1965 New York State Legislature, charges involving Nassau County officials, organized crime activities and problems of law enforcement in Rochester, an alleged attempt to bribe legislators in connection with the quarter-horse harness race track bill, and usury (loan-sharking).

Other cases concern county jails and penitentiaries, law enforcement problems in Niagara Falls, application to State Liquor Authority for liquor licenses, New York City hospital affiliation program, Troy garbage disposal and other matters, and contract awards and supply purchases in Yonkers.

18266-07A: This accretion contains investigation files on topics such as gambling, jail conditions, misconduct of boards of supervisors, conflicts of interest, illegal construction practices and union activities, contracting practices, and other misconduct by public officials.

18266-08: This accretion contains case files that document police corruption in Albany, law enforcement and gambling in the city of Amsterdam, Westchester County jail disturbance, usury, racketeers in legitimate business, cigarette sales, obscene motion pictures in bookstores, arson, the security guard industry, State Dormitory funds, the solid waste industry, minority business enterprise programs, fencing (sale of stolen property), the Bedford Stuyvesant Urban Development Corporation, tax evasion by boat owners and dealers, and abuses in the Green Haven Correctional Facility.

18266-08A, 18266-08B: Accretion 18266-08A documents investigations of the New York City Board of Education (1960-1961) and Drug Addiction in New York State (1966); Accretion 18266-08B documents narcotics law enforcement and related problems in the New York City metropolitan area.

18266-08C: This accretion documents, among other subjects, contracting practices and procedures of the New York City Board of Education (1975); racketeer infiltration into the ownership of resort properties; New York City prisoner release (1984); World Trade Center move-out; investigation of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission; Local 237 Teamsters Welfare Fund; personnel abuses in the Department of Labor; and Nassau County Police Benevolent Association arbitration.

Use of Records

Access Restrictions

Partially restricted by Laws of 1958, Chap. 989; Civil Rights Law, sect. 73.8; Civil Practice Law and Rules, sect. 3101(b), (c), and (d) and 4503(a); Freedom of Information Law, sect. 87.2(b), (e)(iii) and (iv), and (g). For further information, please contact the State Archives.

18266-96: Transcript of proceedings of a New Jersey grand jury (Box 6) is restricted. Remainder of the accretion is open for research.