Was it true that Meyer Lansky once refused a request by DeNiro to meet with him for "Once Upon A Time In America" role research?

Lansky died in 1983. Once Upon A Time In America was released in 1984.

I know that it was being filmed in 1983 because that year I went down to St. Petersburg Florida to visit my father and on the way home, on our plane, were an actor and actress who at the time were making a mob movie; James Woods ( who I really didn't recognize back then) and Tuesday Weld, who I did recognize.

So there is a possibility that DeNiro did seek an audience with Lansky before filming began. This site claims that DeNiro did request to meet with Lansky.

http://www.gonemovies.com/WWW/WanadooFilms/Misdaad/EnglischAmerica.asp


Don Cardi