Throughout his life, Cockatoo owner Andy Lococo faced much scrutiny from authorities. Recently, we uncovered information showing that the FBI kept tabs on his activities for at least 10 years. After watching Andy’s trips to Mexico, agents caught wind of why he was interested in a hotel called Borrego de Oro.
Why Andy?
First, why were the Feds so interested in Andy? Sure, some of it had to do with racketeering and gambling suspicions. But they also believed that he was connected to major crime figures in Milwaukee, San Diego and elsewhere. So when Andy started taking trips to Baja, California during the late sixties, the FBI took note.
Talk to Cribbs
In order to gather intelligence, the FBI relied on the people around Andy. Sometimes, those friends became subjects of surveillance themselves. One man who was tracked closely was J. Louis Cribbs. He may or may not have been an informant per se, but the FBI interviewed him on more than one occasion.
One of those interviews was documented on February 27, 1969. An excerpt from the report read:
J. LOUIS CRIBBS, an employee of Northrop Aircraft Corporation, Hawthorne, California, advised: He has known Lococo for many years. They became acquainted when Mr. Cribbs occasionally ate lunch at Lococo’s restaurant prior to the erection of the new Cockatoo. Cribbs and a friend interested Andy in hunting and fishing.
Cribbs revealed that they went on several fishing trips to the area of Punta Chivato in Baja and stayed at a hotel called Borrego de Oro.
Borrego de Oro, “The Golden Sheep”
Borrego de Oro has its own interesting and complicated history, which we won’t go deeply into. But it was fairly new when Andy and his friends visited. It was during “The Golden Age of Baja”, when Americans discovered a little slice of paradise. Celebrities like John Wayne and Bing Crosby made it their getaways. Jayne Mansfield got married at the hotel in a private ceremony.
But Mexico was plenty corrupt, and that brings us to the crux of this story. According to an FBI informant, Andy Lococo tried to buy the Borrego de Oro outright for $650,000. His intention was to create some sort of hotel or casino, away from the regulations he faced in the States. He was rejected “because of his hoodlum and gambling background,” the report concluded.
Despite this, Andy didn’t give up. An unnamed informant in the FBI report stated what happened after his offer was turned down:
…he reportedly then purchased a sizable piece of property across the street from the Borrego de Oro Hotel where he intends to install a gambling casino and is reported to ‘have the blessing of Mexico City.’
It appeared that never happened. In fact, a later FBI memo described a different account from his friend Cribbs. He said a partner of Andy’s went in on the land deal but ended up the sole owner:
They planned to erect a vacation house on the property. Lococo, however, backed out of the venture. The other partner built the structure on his own. Mr Cribbs saw the structure prior to its completion. It is a large structure, possibly several thousand square feet, with several out buildings.”
Was this story a cover? Or did Andy keep Cribbs at a distance? In any case, Cribbs appeared to be loyal to Andy, telling the FBI that he didn’t think it was large enough for a casino. He also denied that Andy said anything in private to substantiate rumors of bookmaking, prostitution or narcotics.
Events following the busted Borrego de Oro deal
After the deal broke down, the FBI continued their surveillance. They delegated data gathering to either their Los Angeles or San Diego offices (based on proximity). However, Andy’s perjury conviction later that year, coupled with the launch of his fishing operation, supplanted further investigation into his Mexico activities.
The Borrego de Oro soon after was renamed “Hotel Punta Chivato”. After other name and ownership changes over the years, it still stands today, as Posada de las Flores. But having read accounts of what happened to it in the 1960s – including confiscation by corrupt Mexican officials – it was probably a good thing that Andy backed out of Baja.
Did you fish or stay near La Paz or Punta Chivato during its golden years? Let us know in the comments!
Show everyone who had the best midcentury bar. Get an official Cockatoo Inn t-shirt from our shop!
I was the original partner with Dixon Collins and his wife Barbara in the development and construction of Hotel Punt Chivato.
I worked with Andy and Dave Rice in the purchase and construction of Andy’s “CASINO”. We operated under a Mexican Corporation (Bearer Stock)in which Octovio Yano held in his Construction Co. I am 92 and have vivid accounts of those wild days.
I am confused about your original ownership with Dixon Collins. I live at Punta Chivato, and I met with Octavio Yano (Llano) in 2019. We talked about the construction of the hotel, he did not mention you. Can you fill me in? Thanks, George
Thanks for your comment, Curt. Really helps put some of the pieces together from those days.
I live at Punta Chivato, and edited the book “At the End of a Very Bad Road” about the history of Punta Chivato (published in 2018) by the Home Owners Association of Punta Chivato. I would like to get permission to use information on your website for inclusion in a new printing.
Thank you.
Hi George, thanks for visiting. I sent you an email regarding licensing our content for your book. Please check at your earliest convenience.
Fond memories………Since 1972 or about Every year Since 1975 …. …we never stayed at the hotel , Since we preferred isolation…..but camped on one of the little bays just north,,,,,, I believe we paid 5 dollars to camp and use the open air showers. My memory is scanty ,,,,, at that time a man named Bill , Kinda over saw the grounds,,,,he had a deer tied up near the showers.
Like I say, I’m. Old now, And “ dingy” ,,,,we used to visit with another couple, Name. PATCHENs. They had house. Somewhere nearby. I know the husband, wrote a book about their canoe trip from San Felipe to …… I think , Loreto. A friend who lined in San Quintin. ….and I had planned on taking a “ memory” trip this month,,,,,but due to coven, And other complications , Guess I’m stuck. About 10 years. ago, I had a house in Todos Santos……wonderful place. My love there was to dive I had an Hawaiian Sling…. To catch our dinner with. My husband loved his dirt bike, We compromised. I live in Ramona calif now……will quite boring you,,, we did stay at hotel , on stormy nights, Also, the dinners were Fabulous!
Thanks for your comment Florence, sounds like wonderful memories. And being in the San Diego metro area doesn’t sound too bad either 🙂
Growing up in Newport Beach, my folks sometimes hosted a stay for their gentleman friend, Cleveland Benedict Crudgington. (My dad was a real estate broker & land developer, and fellow fisherman and local character, who went on many fishing trips to Mexico with him)
I remember flying down to P.Chivato, I believe, in 1971 or 1972, in his private airplane to Mr Crudgington’s new resort to stay for a week. It was my dad & mom, me on crutches (about 11 or 12 yrs old, and 2 of his dogs, (one of which was also sporting an injury, had a leg in a cast!) It was just a main house, a few casitas, & a dirt airstrip. Being an avid beachcomber & she’ll collector in Hawaii, I remember hobbling along Beach on crutches, & pointing to shells & coral I wanted my mom to pick up for me! And she did! Bless her heart. Mr. Crudgington was like an uncle to me. My mom told me he was related to Andrew jackson. I remember him being a statuesque pillar of a man, who did look just like the man on a $20 bill! That was all I remember of him & Punta Chivato. I had no idea of it’s crazy past. Missing my youth & innocence!
Wow, great times indeed. I googled a pic of Cleve, and you were right about him being statuesque (his wife was rather tall, too). Thanks for sharing your story!