Roulette Records controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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1986
Morris Levy extortion conviction
Morris Levy was convicted of extorting money from FBI informant John LaMonte. Levy died before he could serve the resulting prison sentence.
1970
Artist royalty disputes
Former artists, including Tommy James, alleged that Roulette withheld or failed to account properly for substantial royalties. The label’s reputation for poor royalty payment forced some performers to rely heavily on touring and personal appearances.
1960
Alleged organized-crime connections
Roulette was widely associated with New York organized crime, with later accounts describing the label as connected to the Genovese crime family. These allegations became central to the company’s public historical reputation.