Elvis 1977, FBI and trial against mafia

[DannyBoy2]

Dear friends,

From a friend of mine I have received the following question, to which I could not give any answer:

"Is it true that Elvis, just before the date of his death, was helping the FBI as a witness in a trial against the mafia. It seems he knew something about a "dirty" purchase or sale of an airplane done by the mafia..."

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Elvisly greetings,

DannyBoy

[elvislina]

Hello

I have hear that too. someone tell me that day he should die so shall he be a witness to a person . Hugs Anna

[Getlo]

"Is it true that Elvis, just before the date of his death, was helping the FBI as a witness in a trial against the mafia. It seems he knew something about a "dirty" purchase or sale of an airplane done by the mafia..."

Total crap.

Absolute rubbish.

Complete BS.

Does that answer your question?

[KPM]

No it is not.
Show me a link to FBI records for a case in which Elvis was involved to testify with the mafia?
His FBI files have been released and no mention of any possible testimony by Elvis.
If there had been any mafia connected trial of any kind with a high profile person to testify-it would have been big big news-speculation on who it was would have been a top entertainment/news story-I can not recall any mention of any huge profile trial. Not even in the Enquirer-where things like this usually start.

[LtCarman]

Total crap.

Absolute rubbish.

Complete BS.

Does that answer your question?

Just a simple "no" could have done...

[Rhinestone]

Dear friends,

From a friend of mine I have received the following question, to which I could not give any answer:

"Is it true that Elvis, just before the date of his death, was helping the FBI as a witness in a trial against the mafia. It seems he knew something about a "dirty" purchase or sale of an airplane done by the mafia..."

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Elvisly greetings,

DannyBoy

Elvis had been conned out of an airplane by a man named Frederick Pro, who was part of an organization known as the Fraternity, worldwide racketeers who had already bilked millions from people. Some members of the Fraternity had strong ties with mafia bosses. The FBI had been carrying out an undercover operation against them. The FBI files, Part 7, page 70, http://foia.fbi.gov/elvis/elvis7.pdf, the Memphis field office says that the Presley case was to presented to the Federal Grand Jury "on or about August 15." It does not say Elvis was to testify. It's anyone's guess what Elvis' participation was/would have been in this case. It's tedious reading (many passages are blacked out) but it will you an understanding of the players and Vernon's, Beecher Smith's, and Elvis' actions in this case.

Page 91, http://foia.fbi.gov/elvis/elvis7.pdf, and on gives a good picture of what went on.

[KPM]

Elvis had been conned out of an airplane by a man named Frederick Pro, who was part of an organization known as the Fraternity, worldwide racketeers who had already bilked millions from people. Some members of the Fraternity had strong ties with mafia bosses. The FBI had been carrying out an undercover operation against them. The FBI files, Part 7, page 70, http://foia.fbi.gov/elvis/elvis7.pdf, the Memphis field office says that the Presley case was to presented to the Federal Grand Jury "on or about August 15." It does not say Elvis was to testify. It's anyone's guess what Elvis' participation was/would have been in this case. It's tedious reading (many passages are blacked out) but it will you an understanding of the players and Vernon's, Beecher Smith's, and Elvis' actions in this case.

Page 91, http://foia.fbi.gov/elvis/elvis7.pdf, and on gives a good picture of what went on.

I do recall this story now that I see this-about Elvis and others being swindled. This has nothing to do with Elvis.s death-does anyone in any of the hundreds of books suggest that Elvis had a court date to testify in anyway shape or form. Or that this situation of being swindled was a major concern to him or anyone in the circle? There also is no mention of any FBI agents coming to interview Elvis at Graceland or anywhere else in any books (which would have had to happen-in order for Elvis to testify in any case the FBI was involved in) Its a scam which Elvis happened to be the victim of (along with others)
Also Elvis would have had nothing to do with the actual details of buying a plane his lawyer would have handled all of this-so he would have not talked to anyone directly about price, current ownership, title etc....

[Brian]

I do recall this story now that I see this-about Elvis and others being swindled. This has nothing to do with Elvis.s death-does anyone in any of the hundreds of books suggest that Elvis had a court date to testify in anyway shape or form. Or that this situation of being swindled was a major concern to him or anyone in the circle? There also is no mention of any FBI agents coming to interview Elvis at Graceland or anywhere else in any books (which would have had to happen-in order for Elvis to testify in any case the FBA was involved in)
Also Elvis would have had nothing to do with the actual details of buying a plane his lawyer would have handled all of this-so he would have not talked to anyone directly about price, current ownership, title etc....

I've heard this story before

In the story I've heard it was Vernon Presley who was set to testify

[KPM]

I've heard this story before


In the story I've heard it was Vernon Presley who was set to testify

I don't recall that but did he ever testify?
Elvis's death would not have stopped the FBI investigation/case? It would have continued on in some form-or dropped.
Here a link to an article on all of Elvis's aircraft and it mentions the swindle in it.
http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/lisa..._880_jet.shtml

[Rhinestone]

It was Vernon, who had power of attorney to act on Elvis' behalf, and Elvis' lawyer Beecher Smith who entered into this complex sale/lease contract with Pro. The case did continue and there were convictions. I'm pretty sure one of the crooks who helped the prosecution went into the Witness Protection Program. It's been awhile since I poured through all of FBI files concerning this....I only gave a link for Part 7, but there's much, much more. In Part 7, it mentions Elvis sending Milo High, his pilot, to Florida to retrieve the plane, so it seems Elvis did get involved directly in some ways once it was known that the deal was a scam. It's been reported that Vernon did give testimony via video during the trial in 1978 but I can't remember the source.

The only book I recall that mentioned this was the Memphis Mafia book, and that was just a brief mention that this occurred. In Larry Geller's If I Can Drean, Larry talks about men in business suits visiting Elvis and speaking alone with him. Afterwards, Larry said Elvis was disturbed....I don't recall the exact word, but it was something to that effect. Larry did not say who these men were or why they visited Elvis. Maybe he didn't know.

[franny]

Dear friends,

From a friend of mine I have received the following question, to which I could not give any answer:

"Is it true that Elvis, just before the date of his death, was helping the FBI as a witness in a trial against the mafia. It seems he knew something about a "dirty" purchase or sale of an airplane done by the mafia..."

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Elvisly greetings,

DannyBoy

I never heard anything about this...not that I believe it, but where did your friend read/hear about it?

franny

[TotallyInsane]

There are hundreds of pages released from the FBI. I found it all very interesting. Kinda hard to read in places because of so many things blacked out but what you could read was interesting.

[KPM]

Elvis being scammed like many others who were also- is a far cry from the innunendo which many have pointed to as a reason Elvis may have been killed on 8-16-77. The problem is someone reports what little they know or have heard from someone-then the escalation begins as the story makes the rounds.
Elvis did not testify, and was not ever suppose to testify in any mafia trial.
Its the stuff of "Enquirer" "World Weekly News" http://weeklyworldnews.com/
less than stellar journalism.

[hounddog]

This was also part of the Elvis is Alive stuff. etc Elvis had to fake his death cause the Mafia were after him. I think it was also mentioned in the book by John Parker Elvis the Secret Files.

[KPM]

This was also part of the Elvis is Alive stuff. etc Elvis had to fake his death cause the Mafia were after him. I think it was also mentioned in the book by John Parker Elvis the Secret Files.

Well it sure sold a lot of product for the publisher- that- Elvis is Alive- stuff.
Anything can be put in print, anything can be surmised with little effort.
Turning a small nugget of truth completely around with innuendo and speculative implications (Elvis and others swindled by someone) into a total conspiracy theory is easy-and it makes a lot of money.

[nabelt24]

This was also part of the Elvis is Alive stuff. etc Elvis had to fake his death cause the Mafia were after him. I think it was also mentioned in the book by John Parker Elvis the Secret Files.

Sure would make a great movie!!! The story of what happened and his return...

[KPM]

Sure would make a great movie!!! The story of what happened and his return...

Yes great fiction for a movie I agree

[sasha]

It was Vernon, who had power of attorney to act on Elvis' behalf, and Elvis' lawyer Beecher Smith who entered into this complex sale/lease contract with Pro. The case did continue and there were convictions. I'm pretty sure one of the crooks who helped the prosecution went into the Witness Protection Program. It's been awhile since I poured through all of FBI files concerning this....I only gave a link for Part 7, but there's much, much more. In Part 7, it mentions Elvis sending Milo High, his pilot, to Florida to retrieve the plane, so it seems Elvis did get involved directly in some ways once it was known that the deal was a scam. It's been reported that Vernon did give testimony via video during the trial in 1978 but I can't remember the source.

The only book I recall that mentioned this was the Memphis Mafia book, and that was just a brief mention that this occurred. In Larry Geller's If I Can Drean, Larry talks about men in business suits visiting Elvis and speaking alone with him. Afterwards, Larry said Elvis was disturbed....I don't recall the exact word, but it was something to that effect. Larry did not say who these men were or why they visited Elvis. Maybe he didn't know.

What you've posted is correct. Why anyone gets all upset is beyond me.
It doesn't mean "Elvis is alive" in any way. It's just showing what others refuse to look at. Admitting that he WAS threatened during his life and was
scammed out of lots of money .The people involved became known as "the Fraternity" though, not the Mafia, {though they might have had connections}

http://books.google.com/books?id=WVc...result#PPT1,M1

[KPM]

What you've posted is correct. Why anyone gets all upset is beyond me.
It doesn't mean "Elvis is alive" in any way. It's just showing what others refuse to look at. Admitting that he WAS threatened during his life and was
scammed out of lots of money .The people involved became known as "the Fraternity" though, not the Mafia, {though they might have had connections}

http://books.google.com/books?id=WVc...result#PPT1,M1

No one is upset over "truth" The only truth in this is Elvis and others were scammed over airplane sales and refurbishing-everything else implied is just wild speculation which is what people object to.
The thinking of "Well this happened so then this must also be involved......."
is what bothers me.
Elvis was threatened in his life-by nuts-his life was threatened. There is no proof that the Mafia or the "Fraternity"(which when I ran a search turned up little) ever threatened Elvis or anyone else scammed. Rich people do get scammed... yesterday, today and tomorrow...it happens. Its about money...not death.
The problem is taking a grain of truth-and then speculating and conjecting things into supposed facts-and those speculations always end up pointing at two places.....Elvis faked his death...........Elvis was murdered by the mob, mafia, "Fraternity etc......because he was going to testify against them. Silly speculation with no real facts except Elvis and others were scammed.
Heres a link to a pretty well researched timeline of these speculations and the books, tapes, and videos which resulted from some interconnected people who were promoting them...
http://www.elvisinfonet.com/spotlight_dna_beeny.html
Remember the Bill Bixby special where most of the speculative claims were debunked-and explained-like the Ali/Elvis photo from the 80s -it was a business associate of Ali-who looked a little like Elvis and shadows made him look even more like Elvis-this guy came out and solved the mystery.
But some still point to this photo-as total proof Elvis is alive and the conspiracy theorys are valid.....unreal.

[KPM]

It was Vernon, who had power of attorney to act on Elvis' behalf, and Elvis' lawyer Beecher Smith who entered into this complex sale/lease contract with Pro. The case did continue and there were convictions. I'm pretty sure one of the crooks who helped the prosecution went into the Witness Protection Program. It's been awhile since I poured through all of FBI files concerning this....I only gave a link for Part 7, but there's much, much more. In Part 7, it mentions Elvis sending Milo High, his pilot, to Florida to retrieve the plane, so it seems Elvis did get involved directly in some ways once it was known that the deal was a scam. It's been reported that Vernon did give testimony via video during the trial in 1978 but I can't remember the source.

The only book I recall that mentioned this was the Memphis Mafia book, and that was just a brief mention that this occurred. In Larry Geller's If I Can Drean, Larry talks about men in business suits visiting Elvis and speaking alone with him. Afterwards, Larry said Elvis was disturbed....I don't recall the exact word, but it was something to that effect. Larry did not say who these men were or why they visited Elvis. Maybe he didn't know.

Once again business men in suits???
Larry reports business men in suits visit Elvis so that is an indication of some sinister force or FBI connections? Elvis seemed disturbed by the visit-Larrys judgement call which could have meant any number of things.
To be fair who else might have worn suits to see Elvis.................anyone he knew.... or that he was involved with in business, entertainment industry, local friends, off duty policemen since Elvis had many of those in Memphis, someone Elvis told in a converstion "Drop by and see me if you get to Memphis" he was known to do this on tour in other states etc......
Logical non threateneing reasons are plentiful....
In Gellers first book "the Truth About Elvis" I do not recall any mention of men in suits who left Elvis upset-you have to ask yourself If this really had some significance to Geller-why not in the first book when memories were much clearer?? Because perhaps it was time to write another book...with something new in it?
Also the premise of IF I Can Dream is a little hard to take:
A biography of Elvis Presley which, the authors claim, was largely overseen by Presley himself. Geller, Presley's hairdresser, who describes himself as a confidant and spiritual advisor to the late singer........