Ventura County

Vice Jury May Call Cohen

BY PAUL COATES
Staff Columnist

Former
gambling czar Mickey Cohen may be called before a Ventura County grand
jury to discuss his possible connection with prostitution, commercial
sex parties and organized crime in Oxnard and Ventura, I learned today.

Ventura County law enforcement officers have launched a full-scale probe of a ring which assertedly panders to Hollywood playboys for pastimes now denied them in the rigid confines of the Sunset Strip.

"I
have a friend who owns a bar in Oxnard," he began, then interrupted
himself. "No, that's not right. I know a guy whose brother runs a bar
in Oxnard."

That's all Mickey had to say on the subject.

Woodruff Deem, chief criminal complaint deputy for Ventura Dist. Atty Roy Gustafson, told me that his office is heading up the vice probe.

Thus far, grand jurors have heard testimony from 28 witnesses, including the former prostitute.

Other
witnesses who appeared before the jury last March 30 include prominent
Oxnard businessmen. They refused to talk with reporters about their
testimony.

The former prostitute assertedly told jurors that she had been the star attraction at numerous parties arranged by the gangster element.

She also charged, it is understood, that one Oxnard businessmen's
organization sponsored some of the stag parties, which featured nude
dancing by girls, the showing of lewd films, and mingling of male
guests and female "stars" before the assembled group.

In fact, she reportedly told the jury, she was used as a lure to tempt men to join the group.

"They'd promise prospective members that they could 'date me' if they'd join," she said.

She
charged that eight girls were employed by the syndicate to operate in
at least four nightclubs in Oxnard and Ventura. The girls' total take
was estimated to be in excess of $5,600 a week, with much more going to
the organization's male leaders.

 Oxnard
Police Chief Al Jewell conceded that his office felt it had a "strong
case" when he took it to the district attorney's office.

Is he disappointed that his investigation hasn't resulted in indictments by the grand jury?

"Well," he answered carefully, "as a law enforcement officer I am always interested in results."

The
alleged vice activities reportedly began about three years ago during a
community battle in Oxnard over the selection of a new police chief.

Subsequently,
Chief Jewell, a nominee and dedicated fighter against  crime, was
selected to lead the Police Department after considerable pressure was
brought to bear on the City Council.

Lee Grimes, managing editor
of the Oxnard Press-Courier and grand jury foreman, has refused to
discuss the probe, even with his own reporters.

Deputy Dist. Atty Deem, pressed for an answer on the infiltration of Detroit hoodlums, would only say:

"Well, we do know that there are certain Detroit people in business here."

The
self-confessed prostitute, who said she made between $200 and $300 on
weekends from her illicit activities, ignited the investigation after a
businessman refused to acknowledge her child, a boy she claims was
fathered by him.

In her discussions with law enforcement officers, she assertedly
charged that one of her sisters in the world's oldest business had been
murdered by the syndicate to prevent her escaping its clutches.