20.

The Nevada Gaming Board is continuing an investigation into Braden's alleged role as syndicate courier for "skimmed" gambling revenue from Las Vegas. Investigator Moyes was told by several high government officials that Jim Braden had indeed been identified as the personal courier for Meyer Lansky. One official disclosed that Braden was suspected of taking over $72 million out of the country for the syndicate. Another official said that was a "low estimate."

In the summer of 1971, Braden came under renewed investigation by California authorities following an incident at La Costa.

A janitor at La Costa opened Braden's motel locker to make a routine inspection; out of the locker tumbled a bundle of well over $100,000 in cash.

Moyes was informed by one official that the bundle had contained at least $120,000 in cash, and another California official put the amount at closer to $200,000.

During questioning regarding the incident, Braden stated that he had received the money from an oil transaction, and that he had temporarily stored it in the locker. Later, one of the officials working on that particular investigation of Braden told Moyes that Braden had also been given the use of two planes owned by Howard Hughes to fly Mafia gambling cash out of Nevada and the country.

At present, Eugene Brading, alias Jim Braden, is still operating out of La Costa.

- Michael Ewing
Sen. Hughes office
June, 1974

NW 50955 DocId: 32423630 Page 51