Datelist
Mickey Moran
While Elvis was at the Las Vegas Hilton he wrote down a personal and troubled
thought,
tore the page from his tablet and threw it away. An aide retrieved the note
and, years
after Elvis's death, entertainer Wayne Newton read the contents. So moved by
the note's
obvious cry for help, Newton purchased the note, and with Graceland's
permission
incorporated it into the song called "The Letter:
I feel so alone sometimes. The night is quiet for me. I'd love to be able to
sleep. I am glad that everyone is gone now. I'll probably not rest. I have
no need for all this. Help me, Lord...
December 3, 1976:
While performing in Las Vegas, during the 9 PM show, Elvis makes a "funny"
statement
about not living in Memphis, but in Kalamazoo. Turning toward Charlie Hodge,
Elvis
laughs nervously.
December 31, 1976:
Around two o'clock in the morning, Elvis Presley receives the first of what
would
become a series of telephone calls with President Jimmy Carter. This New
Year's Eve
call is expected by Elvis. According to Elvis's friend, Larry Geller, Elvis
and President
Carter talked for about ten minutes, with Elvis's only overheard response
being, "Yes,
sure, I would be glad to..." Geller stated that after the call was completed
Elvis told him
the President wanted to appoint Elvis to a special advisory position on the
youth of
America, the music scene, and "some other projects."
At 5:55 AM, Elvis and his group gather together on the Lisa Marie, Elvis's
private
aircraft. Moments before take-off the control tower alerts Elvis's pilot that
airport
authorities have received two separate phone calls warning that bombs had been
placed
onboard the aircraft, timed to explode after take-off.
Beginning of 1977:
FBI agents Brennen and Wedick are deeply involved in the undercover phase of
Operation Fountain Pen. They have already made a deal with Arman Mucci, a
"made
guy" with a Cleveland Mafia family. FBI authorities are so worried over the
security
aspects of the investigation that they surround the agents with a surveillance
team.
The agents have also been invited to a major gathering at the Shaker House
Hotel
in Cleveland, where they have an extraordinarily profitable meeting that
enables them to
learn about major scams underway worldwide. Meanwhile, Frederick Peter Pro has
returned to the United States from activities abroad and has formed the Trident
Corporation; he's ripping off hundreds of businessmen.
January 1977:
Pro is also involved with Philip Karl Kitzer in several deals around the
country. The FBI
is now investigation "the Presley case" in Memphis, Tennessee. Tom Ronan and
Claude
Curtis are the agents assigned to this case. Glen Garland Reid is the
assistant U.S.
attorney working on the Presley case.
An impressive effort of coordination and constant communication is made by the
more than thirty-four FBI field offices as well as FBI headquarters in
Washington, D.C.
The Presley case is to be the catalyst case used to prosecute Kitzer and Pro.
The FBI
wants to make sure no field office puts its undercover operation at risk. FBI
agents
Brennen and Wedick's new relationship with Ketzer enables the FBI to learn more
about
Pro and Kitzer's affiliations and connections -- a trail that, as the agents
are to discover,
runs throughout a wide web of organized crime.
February 13, 1977:
Shortly before a concert, Elvis Presley receives a visit from Nigel Winfield.
Although
friends Charlie Hodge, Joe Esposito, and Lamar Fike are present, they are not
privy to the
meeting between Elvis and Winfield. (What actually went on behind closed
doors?
According to Winfield's testimony, Elvis made some comments about the JetStar
deal,
but very little else about the discussion has been revealed.)
February 14, 1977:
Elvis concert -- St. Petersburg, Florida: Another serious death threat occurs;
the bomb
squad is in the auditorium -- all gifts to Elvis are intercepted and given to a
special police
squad.
March 3, 1977:
FBI agents Ronan and Curtis head toward Graceland on a call regarding the
JetStar deal.
At the same time, D. Beecher Smith II, Elvis's lawyer, has been summoned to
draw up a
new will for Elvis. Witnessed by Charlie Hodge, Ginger Alden, and Ann Dewey
Smith,
Elvis signs his name to the document. (Around this time, Elvis begins the
process of
cashing in paid-up life insurance policies. He sells his bus as well as some
other
properties.)
March 4 to March 13, 1977:
Elvis leaves for Hawaii. He takes along almost all his friends and their
families. It will
be their last vacation together. Although generous with his money, Elvis
spends most of
his time in his hotel room, then decides it would be better for him to rent a
private, out-
of-the-way beach house on the far side of the island. Friends comment how
strange it is
that Elvis won't expose his body and that, no matter what the heat, he is seen
wearing
sweatsuits, a hat with its brim turned down, and sunglasses.
Regarding this curious behavior, Larry Geller recalls asking Elvis if there
was
some reason for this cover-up other than that the beach was open to the public.
March 14 to March 31, 1977:
Philip Karl Kitzer, with the help of seven other individuals, develops a plot
to defraud a
sum of $5,500,000 from the Louisville Trust Bank of Kentucky. A certain John
A. Kaye
of Marietta, Ohio, presents a $100,000 certificate of deposit issued from Seven
Oak
Finance Limited to the Louisville Trust Bank. Kitzer and his partner are going
to use this
collateral guarantee in order to obtain the $5,500,000 loan that would later be
used to buy
ownership of the Eastern Kentucky Coal Company. The plot is discovered just in
time.
In October of 1976, five months before Kitzer's transaction with the
Louisville
Trust Bank, the FBI had advised most major financial institutions regarding the
false
financial guarantees issued by Seven Oak Finance Limited and the Mercantile
Bane and
Trust Company. When authorities of the Louisville Trust Bank realized that the
certificate of deposit had been issued by Seven Oak Finance Limited, they
refused to
grant the loan and immediately contacted the FBI. This case became extremely
important for the FBI because, after the initiation of the Presley case, the
Louisville Trust
Bank case became the second catalyst used to stop the criminal activities of
Ketzer and
other associates involved in the Fraternity.
April 1, 1977:
Having canceled the end of his tour, Elvis scrambles to leave his hotel and,
once in
Memphis, security speeds him off to Graceland.
April 2, 1977:
Elvis is admitted to a guarded room at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis,
Tennessee. No extensive testing ever takes place. The official reason for
this
"containment" is "nervous exhaustion." From the hospital Elvis telephones
spiritual
friend Wanda June Hill and tells her he has purchased the white suit he is to
be buried in.
April 1977:
Memphis FBI agents have their hands full with the criminal activities of
members of the
Fraternity. Sydney Puet, an associate of Pro in Trident Consortium, is now
involved in a
plot to defraud the First Tennessee Bank in Memphis for a sum of
$3,000,000--again
using false and fraudulent financial guarantees. This time the pattern is a
little bit
different: The first step consists of finding a bank employee who will assist
the author of
the scam. After being assured of a substantial commission, the employee steals
some
stationery letterheads from the financial institution--stationery later used to
write a letter
confirming the existence of secure funds in order to obtain a loan. The
employee will
also be responsible for confirming the letter's validity when a request is made
by the
financial institution making the loan.
In the case involving Sydney Puet, it was on April 20, 1977 that Jim
McCullough,
a vice president in charge of securit for the First Tennessee Bank, received
and inquiry
regarding a $3,000,000 letter of credit issued from First Tennessee Bank.
McCullough
advised that the letter of credit was false. He immediately contacted the
Memphis FBI
office. Corbett E. Hart, Jr. (who later became involved in the Presley case)
and David H.
Johnson, two special agents with the FBI Memphis field division, were
immediately
assigned the case.
April 1977 (part 2):
The FBI begins its interrogation of most of the individuals involved in the
Presley JetStar
deal. Lawrence Wolfson's testimony was probably the most dramatic. Confessing
to FBI
agents, Wolfson states: "People the FBI didn't even suspect got something out
of the
JetStar deal, and if these names became known, there could be physical
repercussions
taken against other individuals."
One of the most dramatic episodes of this entire undercover operation
undoubtedly the "hit" contract placed by Pro in order to get rid of Arman
Mucci, a made
member of the Licavoli family in Cleveland. At that time Pro was connected to
the
Gambino family. The Gambino family wanted to take over a $300-million mortgage
company. Pro was going to be used as a front man in order for the Gambino
family to
take over ownership of the targeted company. According to one of the FBI
agents, the hit
contract was canceled when the two families--the Gambino family and the
Licavoli
family--held a council and put a stop to it in order to keep peace.
Thus the FBI knew that Pro--a man Elvis Presley would testify against--was
capable of killing. Pro had become upset over a $100,000 check made out to him
by
Bernard Baker, a check that had been cashed by Mucci, who refused to give the
money
back to Pro.
How would Pro react now that the Presleys were putting their case into the
hands
of federal authorities? The most significant revelation of this episode is the
man hired
for the hit contract, one Melvin Weinberg.
Unknown to Pro, Weinberg (who later became a leading figure in the famous
ABSCAM scandal in which sex federal legislators were indicted for accepting
bribes)
was now working as an FBI informant. Weinberg's cooperation with federal
authorities
came about when he had been caught in a major fraud involving advance fees from
various businessmen, one being entertainer Wayne Newton. Although conjectural,
it is
highly feasible that Presley and Newton may have secretly discussed the very
dangerous
plight they had in common: Being victimized by mobsters who were connected to
each
other:
~ Elvis Presley's victimization began with Frederick Peter Pro.
~ Wayne Newton's began with Melvin Weinberg.
~ Pro contracts Weinberg as a hit man to kill a made guy in Cleveland.
~ Weinberg becomes a secret informant for the FBI.
Is it possible that Wayne Newton knew and/or knows about Operation Fountain
Pen in major detail? Besides publicizing the song "The Letter," this
connection could
help explain some of the strange remarks Newton has made over the years:
"We [Elvis and myself] had been friends for years," Newton said in one
interview.
"I was one of the few people he came to see perform. It was always a qualified
friendship." Newton talked about seeing Elvis for the last time in Las Vegas,
where they
spent many private hours together, Elvis ending their visit with the remark:
"Good-bye,
Chief, it's all yours now..."
May 6, 1977:
Elvis tells back-up singer Kathy Westmoreland that, although he looks fat now,
he'll look
good in his casket.
June 1977:
This is one of the busiest months of Elvis's life. Two separate tours are
scheduled.
Colonel Parker has already cut a deal with CBS for a live taped concert to be
shown on
TV in the fall of 1977.
June 13, 1977:
Elvis calls President Jimmy Carter at the White House at 6:10 PM. Call is not
completed. At 8:43 PM Elvis called the President. Call is not completed.
June 14, 1977:
President Jimmy Carter calls Elvis at Graceland at 5:18 PM. Presley and the
President
talk for six minutes. Approximately one-half hour later the President is
contacted by
Peter B. Bensinger, administrator of the DEA, of which Presley is an agent.
Elvis' stepbrother David Stanley happened to be present when Elvis received
the
call from the President. Elvis politely asked David to leave the room,
stating: "This is
kinda heavy. I better take it alone."
June 15, 1977:
Elvis Presley calls President Jimmy Carter at the White House at 8:45 AM. Call
is not
completed.
It was U.S. Attorney Michael Cody who via the FBI enabled Elvis to get through
to the White House--the same Michael Cody responsible for the prosecution of
the
Presley case in connection with the FBI's Operation Fountain Pen.
June 1977:
During a concert show Elvis utters strange words from the stage:
"I am, and I was."
June 16, 1977:
Elvis discusses with Larry Geller the paradoxes of life; then Elvis's mood
turns serious
and he tells Larry: "...things are part of a master plan and some things cannot
be
explained, at least not yet."
June 21, 1977:
CBS TV special: Elvis looks heavy and bloated, the worst he's ever appeared.
Before
going on-stage Elvis frowns sadly, then turns to stepbrother Rick Stanley and
says:
"Know what Ricky? I may not look too good for my television special tonight,
but I'll
look good in my coffin."
June 26, 1977:
Elvis appears in Indianapolis, looking radically different from his appearance
a few days
prior during the CBS TV special. Photos taken during the Indianapolis concert
show a
much slimmer and stronger man than the one on the TV special.
It was as though Elvis had to look his worst for that last documented TV
appearance: Here he appears so padded he cannot bend, whereas in the pictures
taken a
few day later--wearing the same sundial suit--his clothes hang. In these
Indianapolis
concert photos Elvis is agile and limber, bending with ease. His face is
tanned and slim,
while only five days earlier his face was ashen and badly bloated--at which
time he told
people: "America will see me at my worst..."
One cannot lose fifty pounds in a matter of days.
June 26, 1977 (part 2):
Elvis has with him in Indianapolis the U.S. Justice Department's black book,
issued each
year to federal agents. Elvis shows this book to friend Larry Geller--it is a
book given
only to agents. At this point Elvis is scared and nervous. After dozing off,
Elvis begins
to mumble in a frightened voice how "they're going to get Lisa, they're going
to trap
her..."
During this time Elvis states that Lisa will be brought to Graceland and that
"many changes are going to be made."
June 29, 1977:
Elvis holds his final concert in Indianapolis, the same city in which the FBI's
Operation
Fountain Pen series of investigations originated.
June 26 to August 8, 1977:
Numerous FBI memos and reports are being transmitted between the Memphis FBI
field
office and FBI headquarters. It is anticipated by the Memphis field office
that the Presley
case will be presented to the federal grand jury on or before August 15, 1977.
August 14, 1977:
Elvis puts his arms around his stepbrother David Stanley (who is leaving for
Nashville)
and hugs him hard; then, crying, Elvis, says to David: "I just want to tell
you I'll never
see you again--I love you very much."
August 14, 1977 (part 2):
Elvis makes a telephone call to Ellen Foster, a woman whom he calls "Luv" in
honor of
his mother. (Ellen's uncanny resemblance to Gladys caused Elvis to gift his
friend with a
ring he had once given his mother, now on display in the Elvis Presley Museum
in
Memphis.) Elvis reminds Ellen that today is the anniversary of his mother's
death, how
much he misses her, then says that he is not going on the planned August 16
tour: "No,
I'm not sick--I've never felt better in my life, that all my troubles are
ending." He asks
that Ellen not question him, that one day he will contact her again, and pleads
with her
not to tell anyone of their conversation and that he loves her very much.
August 15, 1977:
Elvis puts on his DEA jogging suit; he seems nervous but also happily excited.
He
suddenly decides to make an emergency visit to his dentist. Throughout the
night he is
happy; he sings, plays the piano, plays racquetball, and makes telephone calls.
August 16, 1977:
Elvis Aron Presley is "no more." He is found lying on his bathroom floor. It
is a sudden
and unexplainable death.
Vernon Presley gives a radio interview to WHBQ's Sid Leek shortly after Elvis
is
pronounced dead. Vernon, in a matter-of-fact tone, tells Leek that he had seen
his son
the night before, that everything seemed fine, that Elvis was in great shape--a
little
overweight but not as fat as the newspapers made him out to be. Unemotionally,
Vernon
says, "It's hard to believe Elvis is gone." Later that day he signs a deal
with Colonel Tom
Parker.
August 18, 1977:
Elvis Presley is buried in a secured mausoleum at Forest Hill Cemetery.
October 2, 1977:
The body of Elvis Presley is quietly removed from Forest Hill Cemetery and
placed onto
the grounds of the Graceland mansion. Graceland is under tight security.
October 13, 1977:
A sealed indictment is presented to the Memphis grand jury charging Frederick
Peter Pro,
Philip Karl Kitzer, and other individuals with conspiracy, fraud by wire,
interstate
transportation of stolen property, and mail fraud.
October 18, 1977:
Philip Karl Kitzer is arrested at the Miami airport on his return from Panama.
A few
hours later the FBI arrests Frederick Peter Pro.
Dr. Jerry Francisco, Shelby County medical examiner, and Baptist Memorial
Hospital hold a meeting with Vernon Presley at Graceland. Later that day
Francisco
announces that he will hold a press conference on October 21 in order to
discuss the
cause of Elvis's death.
October 19, 1977:
The Presley case (centering on the JetStar deal) is made public for the first
time since
Elvis's death. The Convair 880 (the Lisa Maria) is back at the Memphis
airport. Presley
attorney D. Beecher Smith II declines comment when asked whether the
government's
investigation came at the family's request or if the family had participated.
October 21, 1977:
Dr. Francisco holds the much-anticipated news conference. The timing is
perfect as the
media's attention is focused on Francisco rather than the JetStar story.
February 11, 1978:
Frederick Peter Pro has disappeared and is now considered a fugitive.
(According to
rumors, the Gambino family had issued a contract on Pro's life.)
May 18, 1978:
Frederick Peter Pro is arrested by FBI agents in Ontario.
August 1978:
Frederick Peter Pro agrees to cooperate with federal authorities. According to
FBI agent
Brennen, "They were desperately trying to set up the trial date on the same day
as Elvis's
death anniversary."
August 21, 1978:
The trial begins. Despite a deteriorating physical condition, Vernon Presley
testifies
under strange circumstances: behind closed doors in front of a video camera.
September 11, 1978:
The first trial is a mistrial.
June 26, 1979:
Vernon Presley dies. The second and final victim/witness of the JetStar deal
is "gone."
October 1980:
Frederick Peter Pro is admitted into the witness-protection program after
agreeing to turn
state's evidence against his former partners.
Philip Karl Kitzer is also admitted into the witness-protection program to
make
available to the state information stemming from Kitzer's strong connections
with
organized crime.
May 17, 1982:
The second trial in the Presley case begins.
June 14, 1982:
The Presley case ends with the conviction of the defendants
Mickey Moran
http://www.elvisalive.com
http://forums.bruin.net/cgi-bin/fbn/fbn.cgi/bruin.action.elvis.is.alive
Francesc
YOU NEVER ANSWER MY simple question .......if you are an Elvis fan why you
want to discover ELvis trick?
Francesc
Mickey Moran wrote in message
<19990610192814...@ng-cn1.aol.com>...
Francesc
Mickey Moran wrote in message
<19990610204155...@ng-cn1.aol.com>...
>>Ok He is alive ........we believe you .....anything else?
>>
>>YOU NEVER ANSWER MY simple question .......if you are an Elvis fan why you
>>want to discover ELvis trick?
>
> Because it's there. :-)
Mickey Moran
>
>YOU NEVER ANSWER MY simple question .......if you are an Elvis fan why you
>want to discover ELvis trick?
Because it's there. :-)