HEMMING told this researcher that he was at home on November 22, 1963, when he heard the news of President Kennedy's death on his radio. He said he rode to the Miami News building with Alan Kennedy where he saw editor William Baggs (deceased), "a confidant of the Kennedys who was their local eyes and ears on CIA activities." HEMMING told this researcher: "I was sure as hell making sure I had an alibi. I was over to MARTINO'S house that night. He's askin' me stuff. I said, 'I ain't gonna tell you shit.'" HEMMING stated that HARGRAVES was "in Miami, with his nagging wife, under surveillance," on November 22, 1963.

HEMMING told this researcher: "O'Conner came by himself, which he was prone to do, because there weren't that many people working his division, which was agents. O'Conner focused on Castro agents, KGB's and all that kind of bullshit. O'Conner came by and said Dywer and a couple of other guys are gonna be coming by and 'What do you think? Do you think any of the Miami people could have been involved in this?' I said 'I ain't got a fucking clue. There's weird shit that happens, but I ain't got a fucking clue.' He said, 'When they come by they're probably not gonna ask you too much shit anyway, I wouldn't volunteer anything.' Well they know that I'm the one that has his fingers on every fucking move that's going on."

HEMMING 1994: "The FBI came by my place after the assassination and asked nine questions in a hurry, and got the fuck out of there. They asked: 'What did you have for breakfast? What did you have for lunch?' They didn't ask where I was when the big event happened. Basically, in a roundabout way, 'Can you think of anything that could help in this business about Kennedy in Dallas?' Skirting the issues. They gave me a message by the nature of the fucking questions, to keep my mouth shut. They pointedly did not ask me my alibi. That was a month after the assassination. That was the last time I talked to the FBI. After the assassination, nobody in the group discussed any bullshit, and there was nobody asking no questions. We didn't discuss it. When there were arguments and shit, a guy would blurt out something. I would tell him to shut his goddamn face. That's what caused them guys to think I was in on the son-of-a-bitch. So what are they gonna do then? They're gonna keep their fucking mouths shut. They figure I'm a goddamn ringleader on the assassination of a President. This is what has carried through my connections for the last 30 years. All these intelligence assholes figure that's what it was. We divorced the Kennedy thing from our memories until the Garrison thing came up in 1967."

On December 16, 1963, HEMMING was "interviewed in connection with another investigation and advised that he is interested in setting up, maintaining and operating military training camps for Cuban exiles. HEMMING advised that he has been active in the Cuban revolutionary activities for the past four years and is in frequent contact with the leaders of Commandos L." [FBI Analysis of 2.68 Ramparts article by William Turner] On December 16, 1963, HEMMING "was interviewed in connection with another matter. Incidental to this interview, HEMMING advised he is currently unemployed, is not operating any military training camps for Cuban exiles at the present time; and that his organization, INTERPEN, has six members, but is inactive. HEMMING explained he continues to maintain contact with persons active in Cuban Revolutionary matters; still is interested in working toward overthrowing Communism in Cuba; and is still closely following U.S. Government policy concerning Cuba. HEMMING stated he has interviewed Cubans recently having defected from Cuba; he has ascertained a considerable amount regarding Cuban radar defenses; knows which corridors are currently open; but has not considered making this information available to the United States Government." [FBI 2-1693-97 pgs. 1-3 w/h] On December 31, 1963, the FBI generated a highly deleted document concerning HEMMING and Alexander Rorke. [FBI HQ 2-1693-97 pgs. 1-3 w/h] When the HSCA checked HEMMING'S CIA file, there was only one document generated in 1963. On December 31, 1963, the FBI produced a Letter Head Memorandum on HEMMING that was still mostly withheld. [FBI 2-1693-97]

HEMMING told this researcher: "I was in ANGLETON'S home after the assassination. He ain't got Secret Service parked in his driveway. We didn't discuss a goddamned thing. I wondered if the fucker would answer the door considering what I was feeling at that time. And then, when I called back from New Orleans, when I was out there with Garrison for a couple of days and I called back to D.C. and talked to a couple of other parties, I figured they were going to hang up the phone." HEMMING said he had seen ANGLETON in March 1963 and again in January or February 1964. HEMMING said he told him he was "shutting the motherfucker down."

During a pre-trial hearing concerning the No Name Key bust, HARGRAVES accused Wallace Shanley of being responsible for the death of two or three Cubans who had been infiltrated into Cuba, because the weapons he had seized at No Name Key, were destined for these men. [CIA 201-309125 11.964] On June 26, 1964, a 12 member jury decided in Miami Federal Court that HEMMING and his crew should regain possession of the arms, confiscated December 4, 1963, at Marathon Key.

On September 11, 1964, the FBI generated a document about HEMMING that contained information from a Secret report from the Department of the Army: "In as much as HEMMING'S future activities appear likely to be with INTERPEN, the Miami Subject file on HEMMING is being placed in a closed status." [FBI HQ 105-86406-18 pages 1A, 2 - 6, 15 -16 . 19, 20,21, 25, 29, 30 w/h] This document, which was 30 pages long, dealt with HEMMING'S activities in Castro's Cuba, INTERPEN, GERRY HEMING'S connection to William Morgan, HEMING'S connection to the Sandinistas, HEMMING'S connection to the anti-Communist Legionnaires, the numerous newspaper articles about HEMMING, FRANK STURGIS, Rolando Masferrer, HEMMING'S fund raising trip to Los Angeles, HEMMING'S No Name Key bust, Customs violations, the search for Rorke etc. A copy of this document was sent to G-2, Fort McPherson, Georgia, and to the United States Secret Service "Regarding protecting President of U.S."

HEMMING 1994: "I was back on active duty with the Army Special Forces in August 1964. No one interviewed me in September 1964. I went to Fort Benning, Georgia, in November 1964." HEMMING'S "Department of the Army and Air Force National Guard Bureau, Report of Separation and Record of Service in the Army National Guard of Florida and as a Reserve of the Army" Discharge Certificate indicated that in early October 1964 HEMMING entered the Special Forces Group Augmented of the U.S. Army Reserve. On December 2, 1964, HEMMING was in Fort Benning, Georgia, where he took a Basic Airborne Course. When HEMMING'S tour of duty ended on April 13, 1967, he was 6' 6" tall and weighed 256 pounds. He listed his occupation as "ironworker."

On August 28, 1963, J. Lee Rankin asked J. Edgar Hoover to resolve the contradictions arising from the Odio incident. J. Edgar Hoover suggested that his Field Offices work the 'mental illness' angle, in order to discredit Sylvia Odio: "In light of Sylvia Odio's mental and nervous condition Bureau believes that the most productive method of disproving her allegation lies in investigation to develop further specifics concerning her mental status..." [FBI 105-82555-4743] The FBI re-interviewed Sylvia Odio, but she did not change her story. [WCE 3147] The FBI interviewed her brother. [FBI 105-82555-4868] On September 8, 1964, the FBI re-interviewed Manolo Ray and Rogelio Cisneros. On September 11, 1964, the FBI generated four reports on HEMMING - Letter Head Memorandum's re: (Deleted) GERALD PATRICK HEMMING et. al." On September 15, 1964, "MM informant advised that Loran Hall and William Houston Seymour visited Dallas in October 1963 to collect money donations under guise of representing anti-Castro organization." On September 15, 1964, the FBI attempted to procure the photographs of Loran Hall and William Houston Seymour taken by the Dallas Police Department when they were arrested for possession of dangerous drugs in Dallas on October 17, 1963.

On September 16, 1964, the FBI located Loran Eugene Hall. Loran Hall told the FBI that in late September 1963, he was in Dallas with LAWRENCE JOHN HOWARD and William Houston Seymour. He contacted three professors at the University of Dallas. He said that Kiki Ferrer, who lived on Magellan Circle, introduced him to a Cuban woman. Later the three of them went to her apartment on Magellan Circle. Loran Hall told the FBI: "He said he seemed to recognize this woman's name as Odio because of the association with the name of the Cuban professor who had the same name (Odio)." Loran Hall said this visit occurred two days after he arrived in Dallas. He went to ask her assistance in the anti-Castro Movement. The visit was brief and he did not think he went into her apartment. Loran Hall "explained that it now occurs to him that William Seymour is a person who might be said to generally resemble OSWALD." J. Edgar Hoover later suggested that Sylvia Odio may have mistaken the name LEE HARVEY OSWALD for Loran Eugene Hall because "there is some phonetic resemblance."

On September 17, 1964, the FBI in Miami advised the Director that Miami files contained no photographs of Loran Hall, LAWRENCE JOHN HOWARD or William Houston Seymour. The FBI: "Miami will attempt to obtain such photographs from GERALD PATRICK HEMMING, Miami, who is associated with them." [FBI 105-82555-4886] The Dallas Police Department reported no photographs were available. The FBI found a picture of Loran Hall after going through HEMMING'S file - the two had been photographed by newspaper reporters during a visit to Dallas.

HEMMING 1995: "Now they went to that address and Kiki Ferrer was the guy that talked to LARRY HOWARD. Hall was trying to locate Rogelio Cisneros' buddy by the name of Naico Crespi, Camillo Cienfuegos' number four guy who, when Camillo got it, got the fuck out of Cuba. He lived on Magellan Circle. That was his mailing address. So when he moved to Fort Worth this Kiki Ferrer friend/snitch who was spying on Naico Crespi was the Cuban they were sent to. LARRY HOWARD didn't know that I knew Niaco Crespi. Loran Hall didn't know. The FBI did, because Niaco Crespi was a suspected Castro agent. Who did they have spying on him? Another suspected Castro agent, Kiki Ferrer. Niaco Crespi was in the country illegally, he never got his parole card."

On September 18, 1964, the FBI questioned William Houston Seymour. He said he never heard of Sylvia Odio, nor had he visited an apartment on Magellan Circle in Dallas. He said he worked for a welding firm during the period in question. The employer of William Houston Seymour confirmed this.

On September 20, 1964, the FBI interviewed LAWRENCE JOHN HOWARD. He was employed at the I.T.E. Circuit Breaker Company, East Los Angeles. He told the FBI he never heard the name Odio before, nor did he recall having visited any Cuban women during his visit to Dallas with Loran Hall. The FBI reported "The New Orleans States Item, Red Flash Edition, of January 11, 1968, quoted that LAWRENCE JOHN HOWARD Jr. had said he was working in Los Angeles on November 22, 1963, and that he has never registered at the Dallas YMCA. The article quoted that HOWARD said, 'There is no information at all that I can that would in anyway uncover anything. I gave a statement to the FBI and as far as they were concerned I was cleared. I have no knowledge of any conspiracy concerning the assassination of President Kennedy. I think they are interested in me because I helped train guerilla forces for a proposed invasion of Cuba.'" HEMMING told this researcher: "HOWARD wouldn't be caught dead in the YMCA. He slept in the car. The FBI went to con LARRY HOWARD. HOWARD, who's still on the government payroll, says I ain't gonna lie to save somebody's ass. This didn't happen. HOWARD thought Wally Welch's secretary was the one they were talkin about. He doesn't know from Sylvia fuckin' Odio. Then they tell him she's Cuban and she speaks Spanish he really went through the fucking roof 'cause she's a Caucasian with a Texas accent."

The FBI re-interviewed Loran Hall on September 20, 1964. He reported he had been "in error" about many things during his previous interview. First, he had never met Sylvia Odio. Secondly, William Houston Seymour and LAWRENCE JOHN HOWARD had traveled to Dallas with him on separate occasions. During the visit to Dallas in question, Loran Hall had been with LAWRENCE JOHN HOWARD and Celio Sergio. Finally, although Loran Hall still maintained that Kiki Ferrer had introduced him to a Cuban woman, it was not in front of her apartment building on Magellan Circle, and the woman was not Sylvia Odio. Loran Hall told the HSCA he had changed his story after the FBI displayed a photograph of Sylvia Odio to him: "I looked at the picture and studied the picture and I stated at that time, 'No, I definitely have never met Mrs. Odio.'"

On September 21, 1964, J. Edgar Hoover sent J. Lee Rankin a report on the Odio incident based solely on the first interview of Loran Hall. J. Edgar Hoover: "It appears now to point to a near certainty that Hall, an erratic anti-Castroite, with his associates William Houston Seymour and LAWRENCE JOHN HOWARD, were the men who visited Sylvia Odio." [WCE 3146; FBI Hoover to Rankin 9.21.64] On September 24, 1964, the Warren Report was released. It stated: "Loran Hall has been identified as a participant in numerous anti-Castro activities. He said he had visited Mrs. Sylvia Odio. He was accompanied by LAWRENCE JOHN HOWARD, a Mexican-American from East Los Angeles, and one William Houston Seymour from Arizona. He stated that William Houston Seymour is similar in appearance to OSWALD; he speaks only a few words of Spanish, as Mrs. Sylvia Odio had testified one of the men who visited her did. While the FBI has not yet completed its investigation into this matter at the time the report went to press, the Commission has concluded that OSWALD was not at Mrs. Sylvia Odio's apartment in September 1963."

Celio Castro was interviewed by the FBI on September 26, 1964. He advised "that the American woman with the 17 year old daughter, who was visited in Dallas by Loran Hall and LAWRENCE JOHN HOWARD is a friend of JERRY PATRICK. JERRY PATRICK is identical with GERALD PATRICK HEMMING...The Miami Office will interview PATRICK in an effort to determine the contacts of Loran Hall and LAWRENCE JOHN HOWARD while in Dallas, Texas, during September 1963, in particular the identity of the American woman with the 17 year old daughter, the American employed in a Dallas Bank with whom Loran Hall and LAWRENCE JOHN HOWARD left the trailer containing the equipment, and the identity of the Cuban woman who Loran Hall and LAWRENCE JOHN HOWARD attempted to contact during an afternoon visit, but who was not home at the time." [FBI 105-82555-5016]

On September 28, 1964, while the FBI was in touch with HEMMING about the Odio incident, HEMMING murdered INTERPEN member Edward A. Collins.

Miami Police records indicated Edward A. Collins was involved in "selling guns and explosives to Cuban exiles." In October 1963 Edward A. Collins stole a boat from which anti-Castro transmissions were beamed to Cuba from outside U.S. waters. In 1977, HEMMING said that in 1963 Edward A. Collins experienced, "delusions of grandeur" and attempted to form a united front of right-wing groups that would have included Cuban exiles, the Ku Klux Klan, the National States Rights Party and others. HEMMING told this researcher: "Collins was working with Harber around this time. He was keeping a low profile because he knew that it would annoy the hell out of me if he tried to branch out. Of course he was fairly active in 1963. That's what cost him his life in 1964. We would keep track of what he was doing so he didn't go off and do something crazy and we end up with another goddamn Loran Hall type situation. Branching out. Doing crazy shit. Taking some of our people along for the ride. Before Collins died we've already got the information as to what the fuck he's doing."

HEMMING told Edward A. Collins to accompany him aboard a small craft they had rented from Russell Wilkey, a charter boat captain. According to Miami Police and City of Miami reports, Russell Wilkey, Steve Justin Wilson, HEMMING and Edward A. Collins were out at sea when Edward A. Collins allegedly "dived off the sailboat to retrieve a drifting dingy. This was the last time he was seen alive." City of Miami, Florida, Inter-Office Memorandum

Lt. H. Swilly, Intelligence Unit,

From Gus Zenoz, P/officer Intelligence Unit

Date October 20, 1964,

References W/M Edward A. Collins 29 years 1925 S.W. 4th Street

On September 28, 1964, Subject went sailing with Russell Wilkey 47 years (owner of sailboat) and two other men, names unknown. According to Russell they were in the Dinner Key boat channel when Collins dived off the sailboat to retrieve a drifting dingy. That was the last time they saw him alive. On September 29, 1964, Perry Nichols Jr. 18 years, discovered the underwear clad corpse (Subject) about 4:15 p.m. Nichols, a high school student, had been out on the family boat. Writer has learned that Subject, at the time of his death, had been very actively locally selling explosives and guns to the Cuban groups. An informer told writer that he had been out boat riding with Subject and that he was not the type who would jump in the ocean especially at night. Informer who was very friendly with Subject thinks that he was probably killed. Writer thinks it might be a good idea to find out who the other two men in the boat were and to check them out. They might be the ones involved in the theft of dynamite for September 19, 1964, from Jack Allen Austin Powder Company, 11200 S.W. Court.

Seymour Gelber of the City of Miami, Florida, stated: "Further investigation reveals that on September 28, 1964, Collins was sailing with three other men when he attempted to retrieve a dingy boat when he drowned. The three men with him at the time were as follows: GERALD PATRICK HEMMING, 1036 S.W. 5th St. Apt. 2, Miami, Florida (You will remember this man popping up in our recent inquiry). Steve Justin Wilson, 1925 S.W. 4th Street, Miami, Florida (we have no information on this individual) and these are old addresses on both men. Russell Wilkey, address unknown. Edward Anderson Collins only arrest here in Miami was only for 'drunk.'Collins listed his occupation as Marine Surveyor. Medical examiners report shows that he died by drowning. Attached you will find a picture of Collins. He is well known to our Customs men here."[Ltr. Gelber to Fensterwald 8.13.68; Miami Police Report 9.29.64, 9.20.64] Seymour Gelber, the author of one of these reports, was Assistant Attorney General for the State of Florida from 1962 to 1963. By 1976 he was a Florida State judge. Russell Wilkey, was born November 28, 1918, and died in August 1982.

On May 8, 1968, HEMMING told, Steve Burton, an investigator for New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison, that Edward A. Collins and Enrique Molina (a Castro spy) were in Dallas during November 1963. (When HEMMING disliked someone, he put them in Dallas around the time of the Kennedy assassination.) When a Freedom of Information Act request was filed for the records of Edward A. Collins, the Bureau stated: "Eighteen pages were reviewed and were withheld in their entirety, with no segregable material available for release...13 pages out of the 18 had been referred to the CIA as the information originated with them...CIA advised that all of its information should be denied in its entirety..." [FBI ltr. 5.15.79 Bresson/AJ] Wallace Shanley commented, "Collins was a guy that ate dog food."

In 1977 HEMMING was asked about the death of Edward A. Collins: "Shit, he didn't die in no accident. He was keelhauled by a bunch of left-wingers!" HEMMING 1994: "Collins was a very simple guy. We liked to fight a lot and argue. But he was a real joker. He decided to infiltrate this peace march that was going to march to Key West, get on some boats, then go to Havana and march to Guantanamo Naval Base. He fell in with those people, and he was working for the FBI when he did it. Off Dinner Key he supposedly jumped off the boat that these peace people were going to take to Havana, to recover a dingy that had come loose in the night in eight feet of water, and he drowned. I went to identify the body. Steve Justin Wilson and I were not on the boat with him. When he drowns the FBI figures, 'Holy shit, their careers are on the line. They got him killed.' The FBI questioned me about it. Russell Wilkey was a peacenik and a U.S. Customs informant. We were not on the boat with him. We went and interrogated the guys on the boat severely. We didn't hurt them too bad. We wanted know what the hell was going on? How an excellent swimmer, who had just been on a boat a few months before that blew up off Cuba, could drown? The City of Miami report is bullshit. They made a mistake. We looked him over close on the slab." HEMMING was asked why there was no mention of the peace cruise in the media, and why it was not in any Miami Police or Miami City report. HEMMING told this researcher: "The people on that boat were not overtly connected with the peace march. We thought Collins was trying to steal the boat. Listen to what I say instead of wasting your goddamn time on bullshit! What are you fucking sparring with me or something? Or is this game just to waste time? I ain't got fucking time to waste."

The Quebec - Washington - Guantanamo walk for peace took place in August 1963. Robert K. Brown stated: "Dick Billings of Life believes that Collins was in Dallas on or about November 17, 1963. As he recalls there is a letter from Collins which would place him in Dallas at this time. Robert K. Brown suggests we might want to talk to one Bobby Willis. Said Collins drowned off Miami in a fishing incident. He was a superb swimmer and some question has been raised about his death. However, Robert K. Brown has heard that Collins and his companions had been drinking heavily on this occasion." [Fensterwald interview with Robert K. Brown 7.17.68]

There was no way to question Steve Justin Wilson. HEMMING reported Steve Justin Wilson was "having mental problems - dope. He shot up an apartment, suicidal, and all kinds of shit. I sent him to Guatemala to see Cokie Zimeri in 1975. Zimeri had a caterpillar tractor plowing the bodies into the ground. He headed the death squad and more than that. He wasn't prepared for this, and had to return two weeks later. He died in 1984 of a heart attack. He was 48. I got the autopsy report on it. He blew out a thin wall on his heart. Drug usage."

On October 1, 1964, the FBI displayed photographs of Loran Hall, LAWRENCE JOHN HOWARD and William Houston Seymour to Sylvia Odio. She denied that these were the men who visited her. On October 2, 1964, the SAC Miami reported:

To: Director

From: SAC Miami

Subject: OSWALD

Re Dallas airtels to Bureau September 22, 1964 and September 24, 1964 forwarding to Miami photos of William Houston Seymour, JOHN LAWRENCE HOWARDS and Lorand Eugene Hall for exhibit to Sylvia Odio, who recently moved from Dallas to Miami.

With respect for the photographs of William Houston Seymour received from Dallas, the following is noted - one of the William Houston Seymour photographs was taken by Key West, Florida, Sheriff's Office on December 4, 1962, a second photograph of William Houston Seymour was taken by San Diego, California, Police Department in March 1959. The Bureau, by teletype dated September 16, 1964, to Kansas City, Miami and San Diego, instructed Miami to obtain the photograph of William Houston Seymour, Key West Sheriff's office. Since the Key West and San Diego photographs of William Houston Seymour appear to be of two different individuals (Deleted) [Howard K. Davis or HEMMING] Potential Security Informant (Under Development) Miami, who is acquainted with William Houston Seymour, was contacted on September 30, 1964. (Deleted) identified the San Diego photographs as that of William Houston Seymour and he identified the Key West Sheriff's Department photograph as that of Ronald Ponce De Leon. He advised that Ronald Ponce De Leon may presently be in the U.S. Army, possible in Korea. The discrepancy on William Houston Seymour photographs will be brought to the attention of the Identification Division by separate communication.

The photographs described in Letter Head Memorandum, shown on October 1, 1964, to Sylvia Odio were shown together with photographs of Ronald Ponce De Leon and Miami Beach Florida Police Department photographs #A 24590 and #A 35771.

In Miami Letter Head Memorandum and cover letter dated September 26, 1964, Celio Castro described an American man in Dallas with whom Loran Hall and LAWRENCE JOHN HOWARD left their trailer of equipment. LAWRENCE JOHN HOWARD said Loran Hall visited an American woman in Dallas who had a 17 year old daughter.

During contact on September 30, 1964, PSI (Deleted) advised that the American male is very probably Lester Logue, a geologist with the firm Logue and Patterson, Meadows Building, Dallas. He said the American woman is probably Gloria Kouthart, who lives in the Dorchester House at St. Joseph Street and the corner of a main thoroughfare in Dallas.

Interview of Sylvia Odio on October 1, 1964, was conducted by S.A.'s Leman Stafford and James O'Conner: she was cordial, expressed her desire to cooperate, and although apparently a tense individual, gave no sign of being discomforted by the interview.

Further interview of Odio in an effort to resolve her claim of visit by OSWALD, is not contemplated by Miami and will be conducted only upon request from the Bureau or Dallas. [FBI Serial illegible]

Was the above the interview of HEMMING regarding photographs of Loran Hall and William Houston Seymour that was suggested by the FBI after having interviewed Celio Castro? In 1995 HEMMING claimed Steve Justin Wilson was the snitch. He said that Gloria Kouthart worked for Wally Welch as his secretary. If Steve Justin Wilson was the snitch, HEMMING could have fed him the information. HEMMING linked Loran Hall, LAWRENCE JOHN HOWARD and William Houston Seymour to Sylvia Odio. HEMMING was behind the Odio incident.

The SSCIA attempted to determine what had prompted the FBI to question Loran Hall about Sylvia Odio by questioning Leon F. Brown, the FBI S.A. who conducted the interview with Loran Hall: "During the personal interview, William Triplett inquired extensively as to the basis for the interview with Loran Hall. He asked as to the source of the request for the interview with Loran Hall; information furnished to Agent Leon F. Brown for the purpose of interview; by what means request was received at the field office and from whom; by what means, and by whom, instructions and background information were given to Leon F. Brown; and with what urgency the matter was handled. Before Committee, same area was explored. Question was made as to whether the request for the interview received immediate response, whether leads in this case were being handled immediately during that period of time, and if it was normal to handle leads expeditiously in an investigation which had been going on for as long as this investigation...In both interrogations William Triplett inquired about the procedure followed in reporting results of the interview. Inquiry was made as to whom, if anyone, any (sic) telephone report of results by Leon F. Brown to the field office would have been made. He asked for an explanation as to why both reports were transcribed in final form on September 23, 1964, while the first interview was conducted on September 16, 1964, and dictated on September 17, 1964, and the second interview was conducted on Sunday, September 20, 1964, and was dictated on September 21, 1964. This seemed to be a point of concern both in personal interview and before Committee." [NARA 124-10257-10397] The SSCIA testimony of S.A. Leon F. Brown has not been released.

The HSCA wrote that it "tried, but was unsuccessful, to determine the circumstances leading up to the Loran Hall interviews and the transmittal of the results of those interviews to the Warren Commission by way of FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C." [HSCA V11 p61] Loran Hall was asked by Jim Garrison:

Q. Did you ever manage to determine how they got on to you?

A. I know now, but not in 1964. I didn't know until about a month ago that the FBI had checked, had started to check on me, or that there was a report made on me on November 22, 1963, or November 23, 1963. I did not know until about three or four weeks ago that PATRICK had called and said Morris had told him to call. I did not know that PATRICK had called Mr. Logue and told him to get me out of Dallas, Texas, on the day of the assassination. I didn't know none of this existed until the last four weeks. I thought that - in fact I couldn't figure out what in the hell they knew about me in 1964. I figured the goddamned thing was over, finished and done and when I came down off the hill and the FBI man wanted to talk to me, it really shook me up a little...Well I said that it's possible that I met Mrs. Odio, but I never said I was there with Seymour and Howard at the same time. Someone goes so far as to say in one of the reports that I knew her parents or something in prison in Cuba.

Q. But the interesting thing is that you do state, it says, "Hall stated that this Cuban woman lived in Apartment A of the same apartments located on Magellan Circle where a Cuban friend of his by the name of Kiki Ferrer lived."

A. Now here's how that came about. He said, "Do you know a Mrs. Odio?" And I said "It's quite possibly I do, I don't know." And "What about Magellan Circle?" And the name did sound familiar to me and I said, "If its the same place that one of my Cuban friends lived at, it's possible that I met her." And he said, "What were the circumstances on this?" So I explained to him that it was one of the new apartment buildings, you know, one of the new modern type...I think she was about 40, I'd say in her late 40's and I asked her where this person lived, and she told me, so I went and knocked on the door and I went in. But I never met any other woman there and I was there twice and I still don't know if that was the name of the street or not, Magellan Circle.

James Hosty stated in 1993: "She thinks she saw OSWALD. She saw Seymour though. William Seymour. Loran Hall. I know of HEMMING. They were the ones that contacted Sylvia Odio. They were spying on her because she belonged to the more left-wing Cuban exile group, JURE. That was the group they were going to use when they were going to overthrow Castro when they were dealing with AMLASH. The Customs men were going after the ones that weren't part of that operation. Customs was working with JURE." James Hosty was asked if this was an attempt to dirty-up JURE by having OSWALD visit Sylvia Odio. He responded, "But OSWALD didn't visit them. The Cubans are like a lot of people, you know, all Gringos look alike. Yes. They've told me that. They have a hard time picking gringos apart."

HEMMING told this researcher: "It was OSWALD, not William Seymour. They didn't cut Hosty into too much information. I knew the guy 'Angelo,' who was with OSWALD at this meeting. I found out it was him years later. I have never asked him point blank, 'Who asked you to take OSWALD to Sylvia's house?' It's not proper to do these things. It would be kind of upsetting to him. The FBI never questioned me about Odio in 1964. I've been trying to find out how they got the name 'Hall.' It was a lead to me. They didn't ask anything. This was the first clue there was a cover-up. The HSCA never asked me about it." HEMMING said he had a personal relationship with certain FBI agents: "A couple of times I sat down with James O'Conner in Toby's Restaurant. All we talked about was how good the steak was. He'd say 'It's time for you to have a fuckin' meal.' O'Conner came by the house to bullshit a couple of times. In 1964, when they were looking for Ed Collins, they came by. My first conversation with O'Conner was in April 1961. That was my first contact in my life with the FBI. O'Conner was about 32 at the time. He was never a ASAC or SAC" James J. O'Conner was ASAC in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1975.

HEMMING denied having dispatched Loran Hall to Dallas in a similar time frame and situation to the Odio incident so that the name "Loran Hall" would surface in connection with OSWALD. HEMMING said William C. Sullivan asked, "Who do we got that we can put in fucking Dallas in this same time frame? He went to his punch cards. They know when the Pope wipes his ass. And guess who pops up? Dumb ass fuckin' Loran Hall is in town for the same period of time. Their snitch was in town, so they use him. Loran Hall was working for them. They didn't check with him first."

The HSCA noted all of this and remarked: "Of interest to the committee were the initial assertions of Loran Hall that he and his two associates, William Houston Seymour and LAWRENCE JOHN HOWARD, were the ones who had visited Sylvia Odio in September. All three had been actively involved in anti-Castro activity and were members of INTERPEN. The group was arrested as part of the Kennedy Administration's crackdown on anti-Castro operations. That policy, which highly incensed the anti-Castro and right-wing factions, was the result of an agreement that Kennedy had made with Khrushchev and Castro. Those factions considered the agreement a betrayal."

Sylvia Odio told the FBI that one of the men who visited her with OSWALD had odd hair, full in the middle, and short on the sides. When Richard Whatley visited Dick Hathcock, one of his associates had a "Mohawk style haircut." The visit occurred in July 1963. By September 1963, this man's hair would have grown in somewhat and would be full in the middle and short on the sides. When Gaeton Fonzi worked for Senator Richard Schweiker, Fonzi followed-up the Mohawk haircut lead. Dick Hathcock told him that he could not recall the names of the other two men who were with Richard Whatley: "But he does think now that the fellow with the Mohawk haircut was Latin looking. When I asked him if Angelo or Leopoldo could have been either of the names, he said he couldn't swear to it under oath but Leopoldo 'strikes a vague cord. It does sound quite familiar.'" Sylvia Odio was the Subject of an FBI investigation in New York City in 1965. [FBI 105-135351-6] Sylvia Odio testified before the HSCA: "Leopoldo was tall. The thing I remember the most was his forehead, which was bald on the side, had hair right in the middle. I think later on it has been like identified like a Mohawk haircut. He had little glasses...I probably said something to the effect that [Kennedy should be killed], that the Cubans felt this also...I was worried because when the Cubans say something like that, it is natural..." HEMMING told this researcher: "Bobby Willis was the guy with the Mohawk haircut. But this was in 1961. He was not the one who visited Sylvia Odio. I know who one of them was. When Whatley visited Hathcock with the guy with the Mohawk it was 1962. I was there asshole, don't fucking argue with me. It was not 1963. They showed up in California in the early part of 1962. I left Miami after New Years 1962 and went to California for a couple of weeks. They followed me out there. At that point in time Willis had a Mohawk haircut. They stayed in the back of a barber shop in Monterey Park, California. While Whatley was there he was visiting his buddy at Nature's Haven, where his lion was."

In 1965 HEMMING was involved with Roberto Alejos Arzu in an attempt to overthrow the Government of Guatemala. [CIA Intell. Information Cable IN 74057 10.16.65] The CIA reported that in April 1965 "Roberto Alejos Arzu, Guatemalan millionaire who resided in Miami Beach, Florida, planned the overthrow of the Government of Guatemala in the Spring of 1965, using a group of Cuban emigres he had recruited for the operation. On May 4, 1965, Alejos and Luis Sierra Lopez, military leader of the group, were apprehended and their arms cache seized by United States Government officials. There have been several reports on Alejos' recent involvement in another attempt to overthrow the Guatemalan Government. On October 13, 1965, Armando Medina Montes de Oca, a member of Roberto Alejos Arzu's abortive plot to overthrow the Guatemalan Government in the Spring of 1965, said that the pilot who flew Roberto Alejos to Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, a short time ago [October 13, 1965] was GERALD PATRICK HEMMING. The aircraft landed at Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, where it remained for about two weeks. HEMMING is now in Miami. (Field Comment: HEMMING, an American soldier-of-fortune and United States Marine, has been engaged in Cuban revolutionary activities for about five years. HEMMING, leader of INTERPEN, a guerilla group, was most recently involved in the recruitment of Cuban emigres with guerilla warfare experience who would be willing to fight the Communist guerillas in the Dominican Republic on behalf of General Antonio Imbert Barrera. It is believed this plan never materialized.) Medina intends to give this information to the new Guatemalan Consul General in Miami, hoping that this will sharpen his interest in Alejos. (Field Comment: It was recently reported that Medina accepted an offer of $30,000 to deliver Alejos safely to Guatemalan authorities)." [CIA IN 74057 - 10.16.65 - Source: "A Cuban emigre, former member of a Cuban Commando Group, who is no longer associated with activists. Source is regarded as reliable, and previous reporting from him has proved to be accurate."] HEMMING told this researcher: "We were going to overthrow Montenegro. He was cutting deal with the guerrillas. Alejos didn't like it. He wouldn't let Cuban exiles launch raids against Castro. He eventually got ousted." Before the 1980 election Alejos complained that "most of the elements in the State Department are probably pro-Communist...either Mr. Carter is a totally incapable president or he is definitely a pro-communist element." [Jay Marshall, The Iran-Contra Connection]

The CIA reported that "a commando team of 49 Cuban exiles and Americans is being formed in Miami by Odelio Garcia, Derizanz [Diaz Lanz?] and GERALD PATRICK HEMMING, an American adventurer and soldier-of-fortune. Aton Constanzo Palau and Ramon Escarda Rubio appear to be leaders within the group. The commando team is allegedly to be used by Dominican General Antonio Imbert Barreras, head of the loyalist forces in the Dominican Republic, presumably to try and topple Francisco Caamano Deno, leader of the rebel forces. The backer of the commando team was described as an American lawyer living in Miami.

"On the evening of June 8, 1965, GERALD PATRICK HEMMING held a meeting at the home of Aton Constanzo Palau. Two of HEMMING'S men were there. HEMMING mentioned that he had made a trip that afternoon to see the financial backers of the Commando team that is scheduled to leave for the Dominican Republic...At 8:00 p.m. on June 9, 1965, HEMMING said that he and his backer would be leaving for the Dominican Republic on June 10, 1965. He did not know for certain how long they would remain there, but mentioned they might stay from one to five days. He said that they are scheduled to see General Antonio Imbert Barreras and, upon their return to Miami, they are to bring back with them one of Imbert's 'Supervisors' who is to oversee the processing of the men. HEMMING said that they intend to bring with them some money for the group. When Escarda mentioned to HEMMING the subject of salaries, HEMMING said that the backer would not put up any advance pay until the men have been processed and are ready to leave Florida. This step, he said, is being taken to insure that the men will not quit at the last moment. HEMMING described the backer as an American lawyer who had an import/export office in Miami and also owns a 'Buffet' (Field Comment: Possibly a delicatessen). HEMMING stressed that he would not push this man any harder because there were several other groups that wanted the job. He emphasized that he has the contract, and does not intend to lose it. Source: A Cuban refugee who is associated with activists in the Miami area. Source is regarded as reliable and previous reporting from him has proved to be accurate."

HEMMING said the training would begin after he returned from the Dominican Republic. [CIA DB-315/02029-65] The CIA: "HEMMING told I. Irving Davidson on June 15, 1965, that he was unable to keep his June 14, 1965, meeting because of (deleted) surveillance." On June 15, 1965, a CIA Intelligence Information Cable was titled "Financial Backer of GERALD PATRICK HEMMING Identified as Irving Davidson." It read: "On June 12, 1965, HEMMING, while under the influence of liquor, said is financial backer is I. Irving Davidson, who went to the Dominican Republic on June 12, 1965, by private plane." On June 16, 1965, Aton Constanzo Palau told (deleted) that I. Irving Davidson was the intermediary between Tony Imbert and HEMMING. I. Irving Davidson told HEMMING: 'I am tired of running, this show has a green light from the top, and I don't care if (deleted), Kubark, and (deleted) are watching us." [CIA 201-41581 6.17.65] On July 14, 1965, Aton Constanzo Palau told (deleted) that he had appointed FRANK FIORINI, Nino Diaz and others to leader his force which will number about 3,000 men. [CIA 201-41581 7.22.65]

HEMMING told this researcher: "You remember when the 82nd Airborne invaded the Dominican Republic in April 1965? After that there was some people who were worried about who was running the fucking government, so we wouldn't have to go in there and do the same thing all over again. You had Juan Bosch. With everybody threatening to overthrow everyone else it kept them off balance enough so they didn't turn around and throw the fucking U.S. troops out of there. Everybody was there in 1965. Mitch Werbell, PHILLIPS and DeBRUEYS were there. It was a critical thing. Because Fidel's boys were about to take over the fuckin' place. I was in the Green Beret Reserves in 1964, on active duty."

In 1965 the FBI generated five Letter Head Memorandums about HEMMING. [MM 2-387-6.15.65, 6.18.65, 8.5.65, 12.15.65; Bufile NR 7.27.65] Subject: Anton Constanzo Palau, HEMMING, Neutrality Matters, Internal Security, Dominican Republic, June 15, 1965, June 18, 1965, March 18, 1966, September 29, 1966, all at Miami. [FBI 2-387] That year the CIA sent the Justice Department a letter that acknowledged HEMMING had been a voluntary CIA informant who had been in contact with the Domestics Contact Division in Los Angeles.

In December 1966 HEMMING said he went to Africa, to work on an National Aeronautics and Space Administration project. In HEMMING'S Motion for Favorable Evidence he asked for: "All reports, files and documents held by CIA, FBI, Department of State, and other agencies reference to the defendant's employment during the calender year 1966 under Contract NBy-710005, Support Facilities, Phase I, Ascension Island, in connection with United States Air Force downrange missile program, especially those that refer to CIA and U.S. Armed Forces support of both government and insurgent forces within the then Republic of the Congo." HEMMING said he was tracking down Ché Guevara: "Ché was in the Congo at that time. He was in Baraka, on Lake Tanganika. We were the backup team. Felix Rodriguez had never met Ché. I was the only one who could pick him out of a crowd." In 1966 HEMMING claimed he was involved with the United States Air Force Down Range Guided Missile Program as a CIA advisor. HEMMING 1994: "I asked for discovery, for a trial, as to what they were saying about me on the Down Range Missile program. I'm not claiming anything. It's called greymail. You gonna put me in jail? Okay? How about when I was doing this? What do you say about that?" In 1966 the FBI generated four Letter Head Memorandums concerning HEMMING and one FBI message: "Subject: Haitian Revolutionary Activities (Confidential)." [Director, FBI message, 5-25 PM 2-15-66; LHMs MM2-387 3.18.66, 9.29.66, 7.15.66 NR DC, 9.1.66 NR NY]

In early 1967 HEMMING was considered for a position in Vietnam with the Agency for International Development. The FBI conducted a background investigation: "Several Miami acquaintances of applicant variously described him as untrustworthy, lacking in integrity, unreliable, emotionally immature and lacking in character. Confidential informant furnished information regarding trip by applicant to Guatemala during which he drank excessively and spoke of the U.S. Government in a derogatory manner. Informant reported most of applicant's friends in Miami have been soldiers-of-fortune who do not have excellent reputations. Investigation reflected in this report was conducted by S.A. Norman Bliss at Miami Florida, except where otherwise stated. The case was referred by the Civil Service Commission under provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 as amended. (Deleted) family and left Miami with the expressed intention of returning to live at his mother's home in California. For some days before leaving he did not bring his 1967 Dodge Polara car home to part it, as the finance company was trying to repossess it. In addition he owes Sears Store and numerous other people. MM T-1 [Howard K. Davis] advised that Robert K. Brown, a writer, has recently been living in Miami at 1925 S.W. 4th Street and is well acquainted with HEMMING. Brown has heard that HEMMING, after leaving Miami, traveled to New Orleans and got in touch with Dick Whatley and Roy Hargraves. The three of them reportedly got in touch with Jim Garrison, and were utilized by him in some way in regard to the Kennedy assassination investigation. MM T-1 stated that his wife, whom he got pregnant several months before he married her, seems to be a decent sort of girl, and is apparently loyal to the applicant." [FBI 62-109060-5766 NR 9.26.67 Bliss NARA FBI 124-10052-10403] On November 7, 1967, the FBI checked its OSWALD file and found three documents that mentioned HEMMING. [FBI 105-82555-6551, 5016, 5242] HEMMING told this researcher: "I was going to be a State Department Foreign Service Reserve Officer attached to the Public Safety Division of AID in Vietnam. What the fuck you think I was going to Vietnam for? I'm a shooter. I was hired despite the FBI. I'm going there to die. But people had plans, and they didn't work out, and they have tragic consequences."

It was at this time that New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison began to look at HEMMING as a suspect in the Kennedy assassination. HEMMING told this researcher: "I had to resign because of the Garrison investigation. I wanted to know who the fuck set it up? If it was a KGB damage control operation, I wouldn't have had to resign from the State Department. Garrison starts talking about Loran Hall, Robert K. Brown and a lot of people linked to me. He was gonna haul my ass back from Vietnam."

The New Orleans District Attorney's office stated:

"On Friday, July 7, 1967, GERRY PATRICK HEMMING came without warning into the DA's office and offered to help us in our investigation. He was interviewed in Jim Garrison's office. ROY HARGRAVES accompanied GERRY PATRICK, but, on PATRICK'S orders HARGRAVES remained sitting outside in the lobby during this visit.

"GERRY PATRICK, who is approximately 6 feet 7 inches tall, was dressed in khaki fatigues and advised he had decided to visit this office because he was en route from Florida to California, where he has now relocated, and it was convenient for him to visit us.

"PATRICK primarily discussed the involvement of Hall, Howard and Seymour during this interview. He explained that he was in Miami at the time of the assassination, and as soon as he heard that Kenney had been shot in Dallas, he telephoned Lester Logue to find out if Hall was in town. PATRICK said he did this because he believed at the time that Hall very well could have assassinated the President. PATRICK said that he still does not reject the possibility that Hall was involved. PATRICK identified Lester Logue as the person who bailed out Hall and Seymour in October 1963, when they were arrested for possessing narcotics.

"PATRICK said that the people who went to see Mrs. Odio were Hall, Howard and Seymour, however, he added they were accompanied by a fourth man, Enrique Molina Rivera, whom he identified as a Castro agent, thereby suggesting that the plot to assassinate Kennedy might have had Castro origins.

"On Saturday, July 8, 1967, PATRICK returned to the office with ROY HARGRAVES. We went out to lunch with them and PATRICK discussed the fact that he was presently attempting to get a job with the State Department in some advisory or supervisory capacity.

"PATRICK indicated to me that he had in the past worked for Life Magazine, and had had an office in the Time-Life Building. When I mentioned this to Dick Billings he said that the extent of PATRICK'S involvement was that he sent letters to the White House on Life stationary, without authority to do so. Billings added that PATRICK was more of a talker than a doer. He said that HARGRAVES has been described to him as a 'bomber.' i.e. HARGRAVES engaged in such activities as knocking on doors and throwing a hand grenade inside when the door was opened."

In May 1968 HEMMING told an investigator for Jim Garrison that he had met Guy Banister, Sergio Arcacha Smith, BRINGUIER and Edward Butler. [Burton to Garrison 5.8.68] In 1994 HEMMING stated: "I first met Ed Butler in 1978 at The Miami Herald building. He tried to convince me he worked with Tony Cuesta." HEMMING was not hired by Garrison because: "There is reason to believe that he is still working for the CIA." New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison was quoted by The New York Times as having said: "Loran Hall of California had inside knowledge of the assassination the day it happened. He said government officials had not called Mr. Hall before the Warren Commission." [NYT 12.27.67] HEMMING told this researcher: "I was threatened with phony exposure by Garrison. Who came forward of any consequence? I'm the only real motherfucker Garrison talked to. Oliver Stone had me on the payroll and he was still paying attention to Garrison? He was living in fantasy land. He wouldn't know the fuckin' truth if it was right in front of him."

Lawrence J. LaBorde visited Alberto Fernandez in Miami in April 1967 and lived on board the Tejana III. Lawrence J. LaBorde then contacted the New Orleans Domestic Contacts Division office:

May 11, 1967

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

SUBJECT: LaBORDE, Lawrence J. Born August 27, 1909

1. Dick Hanna, Western Hemisphere/Security, advised that Western Hemisphere had just received a call from Domestic Contacts Division. Subject, who was apparently used during the Cuban operation, had called Domestic Contacts Division stating that he had just received a subpoena from Garrison. He asked if he should leave the country or what?

2. Dick Hanna advised that Donovan Pratt, Ray Rocca's deputy, has been informed as has Nancy Gratz, WH/CI (RL 9008). He asked that we pull up Subject's file and advised WH and CI what were have on the man. (Deleted) Sayle (Deleted) A review of La Borde's file in the Office of Security, on March 17, 1961, received a verbal request for a (deleted) for Subject' utilization as a maritime asset for Project (Deleted). His occupation was described as Port Captain, and he was indicated for having served eight years on the vessel SS Tejana. A (Deleted POA) was granted on March 24, 1961, for 'contact assessment only.' On May 29, 1961, the Office of Security notified WH Division that biographic data provided on Subject was inadequate for further processing. WH was being advised the case was being placed in "pending, deferred status" until such time as additional data was furnished OS. No additional data was forthcoming, and a year later WH Division advised OS that the (deleted) and pending (deleted) actions may be canceled since it had no further interest in Subject.

Mr. Donovan Pratt, CI/R&A, who reviewed the 201 file on the Subject, had advised that Subject was never recruited or paid directly by the Agency, but did serve as an engineer and captain on a ship used in the Cuban operation. (The owner of the ship was recruited and paid for its use). Subject, did, however, become privy to a great deal of information about the operations, none of which would probably be compromising at this late date. Pratt advised that the Subject is a "swindler, crook, drunken bum..." who is known to have been the source of anti-CIA articles in the press. He also allegedly has impersonated himself in the past as having CIA backing (a boat sale). Pratt feels this was a provocation by Garrison [to entrap the CIA into obstructing justice]. (DCS in New Orleans has no secure commo link to the Hdqrs.. and Subject's contact would have to be called up to Hqs. -- Pratt assuming Garrison has DCS phone tapped.) CI plans to discuss the matter further with DCS)

[NARA 1993.08.20.14:49:21:650028 also 1993.06.24.14:14:42:340410]

HEMMING told this researcher: "LaBorde shows up and I can't even remember what his fucking cover story was. I thought he was dead. This is a safe house. Like we ain't advertising where we're living. He shows up in 1978 when we're in the smuggling business, hearing all kinds of stories from people that he knows, so evidently he's been inside doing that type of work on Black Tuna, Banco, Grouper One and Grouper Two, Swordfish. This fucker shows up and he knows a lot of the principals. So I figure he's still on the company payroll. They're pissed off because we're going after company people. The guy that ran the intelligence for the Bay of Pigs was one of the top smugglers. The fuckers threw down on me with silenced MAC-10 for about four hours. He had a condo with a fucking drain in the floor. These are bad assed motherfuckers, they're all top CIA people, and they're all fucking smugglers. We went after their Colombian assets. LaBorde scuttled a Canadian Corvette in Key West in 1978 because he wasn't paid for smuggling. I went over my Freedom of Information Act stuff with him 1979. He ran afoul of smugglers that year, and ended up floating in a bay in Key West."

HEMMING termed FBI Lawrence J. LaBorde "a snitch." HEMMING told this researcher: "Lawrence J. LaBorde showed up in 1962. A safehouse was set up, and who ends up knocking on the door like a Loran Hall, Larry LaBorde, the engineer, a nobody, a grease monkey. And he's got plans. He's gonna take out this ship on pier three that's hauling stuff to Cuba. All these little ploys that people have tried to set us up on - bombings, kidnappings and shit - over the months. Robberies, all kinds of criminal activities that they're trying to get people involved in so they can bust their ass...LaBorde did what he was told to do, set us up."

HEMMING and his crew the smugglers that Lawrence J. LaBorde ran afoul of.

In June 1967 Michael W. LaBorde (born November 29, 1942), the son of Lawrence J. LaBorde, went to New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison's office and spoke with investigators. The FBI obtained this information: "Michael LaBorde mentioned the publicized photograph which Garrison contends shows people standing behind a fence on the grassy knoll and Michael LaBorde told investigators that possibly PATRICK and ROY might be connected with the people on that knoll."

On July 12, 1967, Michael LaBorde telephoned the FBI office and stated that Jim Garrison was "getting pretty close to uncovering the activities of the Cuban Group that LaBorde's father was a member...LaBorde stated his only interest in the matter is to keep Garrison away from his father. He stated his father is a true American and will be until he dies. LaBorde stated: 'You have to stop Garrison before he harms the country.'" [NARA FBI 124-10251-10306]

On July 13, 1967, Michael W. LaBorde appeared in the New Orleans FBI office. Michael W. LaBorde stated: "LaBorde's father, Lawrence Joseph LaBorde, had formerly worked with the CIA and worked with Cuban organizations against Fidel Castro. One JERRY PATRICK and one ROY (LNU) used to work with CIA with the Cuban organizations with Lawrence J. LaBorde in the Miami Florida, area; but PATRICK and ROY duped Cubans out of money and were dismissed by CIA."

Approximately three weeks ago, Michael LaBorde went to District Attorney Jim Garrison's office in New Orleans and spoke with investigators Lynn (LNU) and Louie Ives. LaBorde mentioned the publicized photograph which Garrison contends shows people standing behind a fence on the grassy knoll overlooking the sight of the assassination of President Kennedy, and LaBorde told investigators that possibly PATRICK and ROY might be connected to the people on the knoll. LaBorde suggested to the investigators that someone be sent to Miami, where he thought PATRICK and ROY to be, and talk with them to see if they might be able to furnish any information about the assassination of President Kennedy...

On Saturday, July 8, 1967, JERRY PATRICK and ROY walked into District Attorney Garrison's office. They were dressed in Army fatigues, and they stated they were now living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. According to investigator Ives, PATRICK and ROY are allegedly working for some magazine and had come to New Orleans for information about the assassination probe by Garrison for the magazine. Ives told LaBorde that PATRICK and ROY wanted to know if Garrison has any witnesses who claim they saw someone in a building opposite the Texas School Book Depository shooting at the President. Ives showed photographs of PATRICK and ROY and asked LaBorde to identify them, which he did. LaBorde stated the photographs show PATRICK and ROY outside the District Attorney's Office with investigators from the District Attorney's Office and LaBorde believes the photographs were taken without the knowledge of PATRICK and ROY. [NARA FBI 124-10046-10312]

On July 18, 1967, the CIA cited this New Orleans FBI report. A CIA document stated that "ROY may be identical to LeRoy Collins an associate of HEMMING. He may also -though the possibility is more remote -- be identical with one I. A. Roy, or his son, I. A. Roy Jr., both of whom were members of a group that bought a schooner from Lawrence J. LaBorde." [Unmarked CIA doc.] The FBI prepared a Letter Head Memorandum dated July 18, 1967, on the visit, with background reports on the people mentioned in it. Michael LaBorde had been the Subject of an investigation involving Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Motor Vehicle. [FBI 62-109060-5583] LaBorde admitted riding in the automobile with Charles Rennick Knotts, but denied any knowledge that the car was stolen.

HEMMING 1994: "It was not ROY HARGRAVES [behind the fence on the knoll]. The kid was pissed off with his dad at the time. He was a pudjoe, and looked nothing like his father. He used to hang around to hear war stories." The CIA generated several documents on HEMMING around this time.

William Broe, Chief of the Western Hemisphere Division of the CIA, prepared a paper, "Interlocking Relationships between Robert K. Brown, Ralph E. Slafter and Garrison," in which he named HEMMING, Edwin Anderson Collins, Lawrence J. LaBorde and Dennis Harber as links between Robert K. Brown, who had been investigating JMWAVE activities in August 1967, and New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison. William Broe believed HEMMING and Robert K. Brown were cooperating with Jim Garrison in an effort to entrap and discredit the CIA.

A CIA cable from Merida, Mexico dated July 8, 1967, to CIA Headquarters, stated the Mexico CIA station reported that Robert K. Brown visited Dennis Harber in prison. Robert K. Brown first met Dennis Harber in 1962, when Dennis Harber was a language instructor at a Cuban refugee camp. In 1963 Dennis Harber attempted to place a radio-activated bomb on a Yugoslavian ship carrying phosphates between Mexico and Cuba while it was in a Mexican harbor; he was captured and imprisoned by Mexican authorities. Dennis Harber knew Edward Anderson Collins. Robert K. Brown asked Dennis Harber if he knew Loran Eugene Hall and HARGRAVES. He showed Dennis Harber a picture of David Ferrie. Robert K. Brown commented, "I don't recollect that I ever showed a picture of Ferrie to Dennis Harber. That name never surfaced. Harber was a very bizarre guy, very bright. He was alcoholic and gay, when into his booze. But in getting back to this thing of me showing him a picture of Ferrie, that's somebody smoking bad dope." [FBI AT-105-3193, 12.4.63, 62-109060-1521; CIA 1100-976; McCracken/Swilley Miami P.D. Memo 10.15.67] On July 17, 1967, the FBI in New Orleans ran a file check on HEMMING. [FBI 89-33-(?)]

In September 1967 HEMMING and Robert K. Brown stored an arms cache in a Miami rooming house. [HEMMING HSCA file - seq. docs.] Robert K. Brown commented, "No way, no way. That's wrong." The CIA reported: "Local police have genuine interest in case due to ascertained presence of arms, possibly automatic weapons, in rooming house. Have been holding off planned raid, started surveillance, and pursued investigation at Station's recommendation. It was their initiative to put undercover man with Robert K. Brown (Police requested and were given financial assistance for this from Station.) Should Station withdraw, believe police will proceed to raid rooming house. Would appreciate Hqs. guidance as to whether station should take hands off posture, or continue seeking information on what Robert K. Brown and Company are up to...Robert K. Brown had been talking with HEMMING group i.e. Martin Casey, Joe Gorman and Joe (?) Collins." [CIA 201-189473 10.13.67] On September 15, 1967, Sgt. E.W. McCracken of the Intelligence Unit of the Miami Police Department sent an Inter-Office Memorandum to Lieut. H. Swilley of the Intelligence Unit: "On August 31, 1967, information was received from a reliable and confidential informant that a revolutionary group, residing at 1925 S.W. 4th Street, had in their possession a warehouse loaded with arms, ammunition and C-4 explosives. An immediate surveillance of the aforementioned location was established by this office and the following was learned. By keeping these persons under surveillance and through license tag checks the following names were developed: Martin Francis Casey, Joseph Cavendish Garman, Ralph Elmer Slafter, James Arthur Lewis, Ralph Grant Edens, Alfredo Dominquez, Harry G. Worley, Robert Kenneth Brown. Person who visited the above Subjects: Peter Ojozy and Donald Willis 66 Comet HW 661 (1967 Illinois)." On October 12, 1967, S.A. James D. Hayes generated a memorandum titled "CIA Operations - Miami" that was highly deleted and contained the name of Robert K. Brown and identifying data along with several FBI file numbers. The rest of the document was labeled: "Non-Assassination Related." [NARA 124-10265-10127]

In 1967 the CIA ran a "Covert Special Inquiry" to determine if Robert K. Brown was connected with Ramparts magazine. The CIA: "A dispatch from Chief of Station/JMWAVE dated July 26, 1968, concerned the agitation caused by Robert K. Brown during recent inquiries into (deleted). Precautions were taken to protect the status of present and former JMWAVE members as a result." In 1968 Robert K. Brown formed Panther Publications, which specialized in do-it-yourself bomb manuals and books on partisan warfare. He began publishing Soldier-of-Fortune magazine in 1974.

On January 11, 1968, the FBI in New Orleans ran a file check on HEMMING. [FBI-89-69-3742] On February 21, 1968, the FBI in Los Angeles generated a document about HEMMING.

(Deleted)

November 19, 1968

MEMORANDUM FOR: Headquarters

SUBJECT: Project (Deleted).

1. Attached is a report regarding ROY EMORY HARGRAVES, 882 Via Wanda, Long Beach who was arrested for the October 22, 1968, bombing of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) Peace Center, 2628 East Anaheim, Long Beach. HARGRAVES, an unemployed ironworker, married to Carol L. was born in Missouri on February 14, 1940. His Social Security number is 527-48-2730.

2. (Deleted) stated that HARGRAVES, who admitted an arrest for gun smuggling in Miami in 1965, claimed he worked for the CIA in Florida.

3. (Deleted) said that HARGRAVES was interrogated by representatives of the FBI while under arrest by the Long Beach Police Department. (Deleted) had no information regarding the results of the interrogation.

4. HARGRAVES is presently in jail completing his sentence resulting from misdemeanor traffic convictions.

William P. Curtin, Special Agent in Charge

On December 13, 1968, the CIA reported on ROY HARGRAVES: "Reference (deleted) Memo dated November 19, 1968, with Report on Subject from a Confidential Source. Office of Security records are negative on Subject except for a newspaper clipping dated December 5, 1962, in file of GERALD PATRICK HEMMING. The clipping reported the arrest of a band of anti-Castro guerillas at No Name Key, Florida...GERALD PATRICK HEMMING is a figure in Garrison's investigation. He is an ex-Marine, soldier-of-fortune, who is the leader of the anti-Castro group called INTERPEN. His group had no Agency connection, but he is known to other Cuban organizations. (Deleted) A list of these reports was furnished the FBI in August 1964. HEMMING is also known as JERRY PATRICK. Reference report states HARGRAVES is close to Jose Antonio Durarte Oropesa. Jose Zacasias Tallet Duarte was of interest in June 1968 because of newspaper publicity in connection with the case of Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, accused assassin of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Jose Zacasias Tallet Duarte said he had argued and scuffled with Sirhan Sirhan on May 21, 1968, at an Students for a Democratic Society meeting held at the home of Robert and Raquel Leanle, Colombians, now residing in Hollywood, California. Sirhan accused Duarte of being a CIA Agent. (Deleted) Duarte, a Cuban poet and writer, had been a special advisor to Raoul Roa and a writer for El Mundo, Cuban newspaper. Cuban Power is an auxiliary action group of MIRR, an anti-Castro organization of Cuban exiles headquartered in Miami under the leadership of Orlando Bosch. On November 15, 1968, he was convicted on five charges of violating the Neutrality Laws of the U.S. at Miami, Florida. Cuban Power has been responsible for a number of bombings and has been under continuing investigation by the FBI. Office of Security records were negative on Pam Barsby, Robert Barsby, Charles Whittington and Theodore Gloum. Regarding Lloyd Pullen, a report on Mort Sahl for a Confidential Source of the Office of Security advised on July 1968 that Pullen is a local leader of an organization called 'Staff' which is the front name for the Minutemen. Pullen was described as a close associate of GERALD PATRICK HEMMING. 'Jerry' referred to in reference report is possibly HEMMING." [CIA Memo re: HARGRAVES 12.13.68] HEMMING told this researcher: "Duarte was with Rolando Masferrer. He was a suspected Castro agent. What is a Castro agent doing with Sirhan Sirhan? Somebody set it up, tried to burn fucking Fidel for another hit. I was a block away from the Ambassador Hotel when the assassination went down. Lieutenant Hendricks of the Long Beach Police Department put Duarte on HARGRAVES and was stunned that they knew one another. They immediately started speaking Spanish. Because the Long Beach Police Department and the CIA thought he had come out of Mexico, that he'd defected. HARGRAVES says 'Bullshit, this motherfucker has been working with us in Miami for five fucking years, working for Rolando Masferrer.'

"The whole scheme was to get the Brown Berets together with the Black Panthers so that the final solution could all happen at once. You had the Watts riots, then the Martin Luther King thing in 1968. They said 'Enough of this shit, we're gonna eliminate these motherfuckers. If they ain't here, they can't riot.' Duarte is supposed to be a Castro Cuban because he wasn't known in the Miami exile community that wide. He came through Mexico. So all these Fidelista's from Mexico were gonna help the Brown Berets."

Journalist Peter Noyes told the FBI that a source who was a former officer in the Black Panthers in Los Angeles told him that Sirhan Sirhan attended a Black Panther Party meeting in May 1968. [FBI LA Memo 6.20.69]

HEMMING 1995: "What happened the next day after the Robert Kennedy assassination that's got my name on it? The next morning at 7:30 a.m. they had Sirhan's mother's house bannered off as a crime scene. Dick Hathcock, who was working for Baxter Ward, was there with a camera man and a sound van. I drove up in my black and white and went inside Sirhan's mothers house. Hathcock almost had a heart attack when I walked by him." HEMMING was asked: "Did you go on behalf of the Los Angeles Police Department?" HEMMING told this researcher: "No, on behalf of me."

In 1968 HEMMING collaborated with the CIA in Los Angeles in running operations against the Black Panthers. HEMMING was never carried on the books of the CIA, but his operative, ROY EMORY HARGRAVES was. HARGRAVES had a CIA Office of Security Security File: "Security Support to (deleted) (ROY HARGRAVES) SF 518 334 F SD/1. Attached is a self-explanatory memorandum to the Chief/ (deleted) from the undersigned. The information is being furnished to him because of the alleged prior connection between one of the individuals involved and Project (deleted)." A CIA Index Card regarding HARGRAVES read: "PROJECT (deleted)." [CIA FOIA 42922] These deletions probably read: "MHCHAOS / Revolutionary Guerrilla Training in Mexico."

MHCHAOS was a CIA Operation of the Chief, Counter-Intelligence Staff, in which New Left radicals were followed when they went overseas, in order to determine if they made contact with the Soviets, Communist Chinese or Cubans. It was started in 1967. In 1968 CIA Stations overseas began having certain American citizens who traveled abroad monitored by friendly foreign intelligence services. In mid-1969 the CIA began sending its own CHAOS agents abroad. The Rockefeller Commission reported that Operation Chaos produced files on American citizens and many reports to the FBI. What the Rockefeller Report did not mention was that several New Left figures who traveled abroad were the subject of violent attacks by the assets or CHAOS agents who were surveilling them. Abbie Hoffman, a leader of the Youth International Party, was beaten by three men when he visited Paris while OPERATION CHAOS was in effect. Songwriter and singer Phil Ochs throat was slit when he visited Algeria during this period.

Richard Ober, former Chief of Station in New Deli, India, was transferred to CIA Headquarters where he became Chief of Counter-Intelligence (Special Operations) and was in charge of OPERATION CHAOS. His boss was JAMES ANGLETON. Charles Colson told Senator Lowell Weicker that on several occasions Richard Ober received packages from HUNT which he then passed on to Richard Helms. "Colson indicated he did not know the contents of the packages." [USDC SDF 75-640-CR-Peter Fay Defendant's Exhibit 4 Werbell]

In 1969 and 1970 the CIA was asked by the White House to determine whether foreign governments were supplying undercover agents and funds to the Black Panther Party. [NYT 12.22.74] A CIA document regarding MHCHAOS read: "The dissention among American black political extremists and hijackers abroad i.e. the break up of the (deleted) Black Panther Faction (deleted) and other similar fractionalizations, to a great part the result of an inability of the main protagonists to capitalize on the status as 'international revolutionaries' have reduced these activities to a shadow of former dimensions." [CIA MHCHAOS #20 8.20.73 by CI] ANGLETON told Seymour Hirsch that he had obtained information from Communist sources about alleged demolition training of black militants by the North Koreans. ANGLETON believed the anti-Vietnam war movement in the United States was controlled by foreign powers. Jerry G. Brown believed the same. Ron Kessler related:

"Heaping ridicule on the efforts of the Church Committee and the Presidentially appointed Rockefeller Commission that investigated the abuses, Brown said the CIA'S Operation Chaos - the effort to investigate domestic dissidents - was seen by our 'unsophisticated detractors' as 'a purposeful attempt by the Agency and the NIXON Administration to subvert the domestic political process by spying on American citizens.' This was not the case at all, Brown claimed. In fact, he said, Operation Chaos represented an effort to address 'serious National Security questions. Those who would destroy us and our efforts were not Soviets and our other worldwide enemies, but our own elected legislative representatives. The tragedy of the congressional and Rockefeller Commission inquiries into Operation Chaos was that none of the staff investigators bothered to find out how the operation began,' Brown said. If they had, they would have found out that it began with what Brown called a serious problem - the leak in 1967 to Ramparts magazine of the fact that the CIA was secretly funding the National Student Association. According to Brown, this funding was essential so that the National Student Association could fight Soviet efforts to control international youth organizations. The tip to Ramparts, he said, was 'one of the most flagrant leaks of classified information ever known to the Agency.' And who leaked the information? According to Brown it was the KGB, which obtained the information directly from the CIA and gave it 'through individuals peripherally connected with the magazine' to Ramparts. 'The exposure of the Agency's involvement with the National Student Association by Ramparts was 'totally inspired by the KGB,' Brown said." Brown claimed the CIA learned this information from a Soviet defector.

Cord Meyer, the man in charge of the National Student Association's funding, stated that Michael Wood, an employee of the National Student Association, gave the information to Ramparts. [Kessler, Inside the CIA page 192]

HEMMING said HARGRAVES worked on construction jobs with Richard Whatley in Baton Rouge in 1967. HEMMING: "I got to Baton Rouge, talked to everybody there, met with HARGRAVES and went to see Garrison. After two weeks with Garrison HARGRAVES decided to turn over his construction company to Richard Whatley, Louis Van Hook and take off with me to California." In Los Angeles HARGRAVES got a job as a bodyguard for Black Panther leader Eldridge Cleaver.

A CIA Index card read: "/N HEMMING, GERALD PATRICK OR C534051 /D MEM September 30, 1968, P2 Black Power Threat (copy in file October 1977) 2249241 68." [CIA FOIA 42992] HEMMING'S claim to have trained Black Panthers was corroborated by a CIA document that stated he "trained Black Panthers." [Allen v. DOD CIA Memo Headquarters 9.25.69 #41277]

On November 21, 1968, the FBI generated a document entitled Pedro Eduardo de Jesus Arnao-Garcia. [FBI File 105-25454]

On January 16, 1969, this Secret Dispatch was sent to the Chief, 5, Info. Chief, WH Division, from Chief of Station, Mexico City, "Subject 5/MHCHAOS/Revolutionary Guerilla Training in Mexico.

1. Attached for your information is a copy of a memorandum on the above Subject, dated December 27, 1968, from the Legal Attache.

2. The Station's files contain no record of ROY HARGRAVES. For information on Jose Antonio Duarte Oropesa see WAVE -3924 of March 22, 1964, WAVE-7683 of June 13, 1967, etc. For information on GERALD PATRICK HEMMING see WAVE-7632, and WAVE 7619. (Deleted) for Willard Curtis." [HMMA 36214 Hdqrs.. File Reference 200-60387/3 CIA FOIA #09258]

SUBJECT: REPORTED GUERRILLA TRAINING SCHOOL IN MEXICO

105-7255 (December 27, 1968).

On October 29, 1968, a confidential source who has furnished reliable information in the past and who has been active in Cuban revolutionary matters for the past ten years advised as follows:

GERALD PATRICK HEMMING is an American soldier-of-fortune and adventurer who currently resides in Los Angeles, California, and has been involved in Cuban Revolutionary Activities for the past six years. The source learned form HEMMING that ROY HARGRAVES, another American adventurer currently living in Los Angeles California was formerly active in Cuban revolutionary matters in Miami. As of October 29, 1968, HARGRAVES was in jail in Los Angeles, charged with dynamiting right-wing organizations and also the headquarters of the Black Panther Party in the Los Angeles area. HEMMING reportedly learned from HARGRAVES that he works for Jose Antonio Duarte Cropesa, a Cuban exile living in Los Angeles who is associated with black militant organizations and extreme right wing groups. Duarte apparently wants racial warfare between these groups and is promoting unrest.

HEMMING told the source he was informed by HARGRAVES that there were guerilla warfare camps in Mexico and that such groups as the Panthers and SDS send members to Mexico to receive guerilla warfare training. HARGRAVES claimed that Duarte said that he sent an American friend to Mexico to inspect these guerilla warfare camps and to report back to him.

The source described HEMMING and HARGRAVES as extremists, activists, mercenaries, opportunists and immoral. However, they have a thorough knowledge of Cuban Revolutionary Activities, have participated in many proposed raids and invasions, are knowledgeable concerning Cuban matters and are acquainted with the Cuban exile community in the United States. The source stated that HEMMING, however, while in a position to furnish information, frequently alters, distorts and changes the information to suit his fancy.

The Black Panthers are a militant extremist Negro group based in California, but with a nation-wide membership. The Students for a Democratic Society is an anarchistically inclined group of the New Left. Pertinent portions of the foregoing information have been furnished to the Mexican Federal Security Police, Ministry of Government and Attorney General's Office."

[MKCHAOS - Revolutionary Guerrilla Training in Mexico 1.10.69]

HEMMING told this researcher: "I'm HARGRAVES' case officer. He ain't telling me shit. HARGRAVES blew a nigger right through a plate glass window - put him in the hospital for nine months! He's Cleaver's bodyguard for some operations. When he blew the Panther through the window, it was approved by Cleaver. Cleaver was on the CIA pay roll... Project Long Beach, fucking M-60's, AK-47s all over the fucking place. They were going to go and hit the downtown Panther Headquarters. I told 'em, 'There ain't nothing there. There's four boxes of 50 caliber ammo, but there's tunnels, steel doors, sandbags and bad motherfuckers that walk in there. Four guys walked up to the front and they blew their fuckasses away. Ended up having to bomb them from the fucking roof. "

HEMMING credited HARGRAVES with having been approached to set up Donald Freed on bogus charges of possession of hand grenades in 1968. Don Freed, who led the Black Panther support committee in Los Angeles, was tried and acquitted of the charges in 1970. HEMMING: "Did you ask Freed if he knew how we were setting him up in L.A.? They approached HARGRAVES to set-up Donald Freed with the grenades. HARGRAVES approached me and I said no. Because right now I'm going to put you into the Panthers, so I don't want you bombing them. So he went into the Panthers and he was Eldridge's boy. Eventually Freed was set up by Jarrett. But they threw it out. What I'm hinting at here is 'Hey, you guys want to talk about my three years in California, huh, it will make Watergate look sick. You want to know about California, because they don't know what the fuck I was doing in California. Well I got some logs and some memories which tell me what I was doing in California. I was watching those cocksuckers because they tried to set me up on the Dallas thing."

In HEMMING'S Motion for Favorable Evidence he asked for: "All files, documents, and memorandums held by CIA, FBI, U.S. Treasury Department, and other agencies that refer to the defendant's activities within Los Angeles County, California, during calender years 1967, 1968, 1969, and 1970, inclusive, especially those activities involving terrorist activities, bombings and conspiracies by militant groups specifically the case involving a certain Donald Freed, who was charged with illegal possession of destructive devices, to wit: fragmentation hand grenades."

A CIA document read "October 20, 1968. At 9:50 a reliable source advised [CIA] that Subject ROY EMORY HARGRAVES approached him to 'blow up a left-wing' office in Long Beach. The source was shown explosives, but declined to accompany Subject. He was not told what was to be blown up, or when. He indicated that Subject resided at (deleted). This information was passed on to (deleted) officers with a list of potential targets. The arresting officers (deleted) were alerted to watch Subjects residence. October 22, 1968: (Deleted) The SDS Peace Center, 2628 East Anaheim, Long Beach, was bombed at 3:00 a.m. this date. When Subject returned to his residence, he was arrested on outstanding traffic warrants and was found to also have traffic warrants from El Monte. Subject was interviewed and admitted the bombing. He indicated that he would take all the 'heat' and not involve anyone else, but would later tell more about his activities. He said that he went alone to the peace center and placed a bomb. He used a cigarette placed inside a paper match book. This was connected to a soda straw that had been filled with match heads and gun powder (#4750 reloading powder) and was connected to a light aluminum detonator. The detonator set off the main charge which was connected with masking tape and consisted of four one quarter pound charges of 'Tem-Type' explosive. He said that he had 'sweat-out' the 'Tem-Type' to weaken the charge and placed it back in an alcove where it would not blow the front glass windows into the street. He left the scene and did not hear it go off; a short while later he drove back by the location and observed the police vehicles and knew the explosion had occurred. Facts were presented to the District Attorney's office, Long Beach, and a written rejection was issued. The facts were then presented to the Long Beach Prosecutor who issued complaint #M87122, charging Malicious Destruction of Property. Subject was taken before Judge Sutherland, Long Beach Municipal Court and pleaded guilty. Probation and sentence was set for November 12, 1968. Subject was remanded to custody in lieu of bail plus the time to be served on the traffic warrants, then to be released to El Monte for the other traffic warrants.

October 24, 1968. Subject was re-interviewed and gave the following information. He is close to Jose Antonio Duarte (ex-Major in Fidel Castro's Army) (Deleted) Major Duarte is trying to get close to the Cuban Power group, but is not trusted by them because of his ex-ties with Castro. Subject denied any connection with Cuban Power except through Duarte. He said he got the explosives from Duarte and that Duarte was supposed to also give him some Cuban Power stickers to leave at the Students for a Democratic Society bombing scene, but that he never received the stickers. Durarte knew he was going to do the bombing and indicated that this type of action could get him into the Cuban Power group.

Subject admitted that he and Duarte went to a Black Militant house or office in Compton some time back and broke windows. Duarte had a smoke grenade but 'got shook' and could not get the pin pulled and they ran.

Subject hinted that he was also responsible for the bombing of the Free Press in Los Angeles about one or two days prior to the Long Beach S.D.S. bombing, but would not fully admit it. JERRY indicated off the record (and after he had plead guilty as indicated above) that there was a girl and another man with him on the S.D.S. bombing but would not identify them.

Additional Information: Shortly after the Subject was arrested for the traffic warrants, he called (Deleted) this original source of this information and asked him to go to Subjects house and remove a box of 'Christmas decorations." Source knew him to mean explosives. He went to this address and talked to Subject's wife who denied knowing about such a box. It was later determined that Subject's wife had overheard the original arresting officers question Subject about the bombing, and it is assumed that she had already disposed of any explosives.

Subject also called from jail to the Wallace for President, North Long Beach Office. It is unknown who he talked to, however, a short while later he had a visitor in jail named Pam Barsby. She is apparently well-known to the jailors and no visitors pass was recorded. The jailors were questioned and stated that they knew her to be working in the above Wallace office from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day...

After the above visit to jail by Pam, she called the wife of the original source (deleted) and told her about the visit to jail. She indicated that she and a 'Jerry' who also worked at Wallace Headquarters and owned a Volkswagon was with the Subject when the S.D.S. bombing took place. It is noted that there were two bombs (Deleted) one of which was placed on a red yard stick. It is believed that 'Jerry' set the second bomb. The wife of source said that Pam's true last name is Barsby but that she used the name Barbee while working for Wallace. Pam told her that three of them used the Subject's black Renault on the Long Beach S.D.S. bombing, but that they used her red Corvette to 'blow' the Free Press. She also said that the three of them pulled some type of attack against a Black Militant in Compton. This incident could not be located and may not have been reported, if it did in fact occur.

To date, 'Jerry' has not been identified. Subject admitted having been along with Lloyd E. Pullen on July 28, 1968, (deleted) when they broke windows out of the Peace and Freedom Party office, Long Beach, and committed a Battery on Theodore Glaum, however he said Pullen has never taken part in any bombings.

[CIA D01238 1.9.69 NARA 1993.07.20.14:20:50:370280]

HEMMING 1994: "Jerri or Jeri was a female who worked for the George Wallace people. She was built like a brick shithouse, looked like Angie Dickinson, married, but fucked like a pig. I had her riding in my lap in a Volkswagon. She got off on these bombings. Running around with Lloyd Pullen and fucking HARGRAVES blowing up these fucking buildings and shit, but she was working for the company too." In January 1996 this researcher called HEMMING and asked if HARGRAVES ever called him from jail and asked him to remove some Christmas decorations from his (HARGRAVES) home. HEMMING said, "Yes, he did." When confronted with the significance of this information HEMMING said HARGRAVES called Lloyd Pullen.

HEMMING told this researcher: "Lloyd Pullen was very prominent on TV and in the press as one of the guys that, during the Watts riot, organized a group of like militia that protected a lot of properties in Long Beach. This was a case where I got connected with the guy through Joe Pine. Pullen had an incorporated group and their big thing was getting ready for the next one. He would tell people and he would tell Joe Pine, 'Hey you people who have problems with nigger gangs or any of this kind of bullshit you let me know, we'll do something about it.' So he was favorite with the cops...He was on the Joe Pine Show regularly, called all these people niggers and all kinds of shit. So HARGRAVES had a sort of a welfare thing, lived in the projects. He showed the niggers how to organize. He got the community affairs volunteers all agitated cause there were a lot of Latinos there, and all that kind of shit there. One thing led to another and we had TV cameras, we got him before the county commission, got him on KHG-TV-9, Maria Coles program, Bob Dornan's program. HARGRAVES did some benefits for these people because they were being fucked over by these conservative anti-welfare shitheads. So Pullen was shocked that HARGRAVES was doing all these good things for the niggers.

"I told HARGRAVES when Pullen confronts you with this try to get as much information so we know who his sources are, how accurate his sources are, because I'm dealing with the LA County Sheriff's Intelligence Bureau and they wanted to know what Long Beach Police Department is doing and what all these other people are doing. So Pullen confronted him and practically told him how he wiped his ass the night before. I mean this is up to date accurate fucking information. So HARGRAVES came back on him and said 'You're dealing with top fucking people. Who is it, Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit?' So Pullen figured, 'Wait a minute, what have we got here?' Then they turned him over to Lt. Hendricks of Long Beach Police Department Intelligence who was the chairman of the LEIU. Somebody's giving money to Lt. Hendricks of the LIEU and some operational funds are dispersed out to Pullen and a little bit might get to HARGRAVES. But what is he going to use money for other than gasoline, or this or that? He wasn't allowed to have a car. Then somebody might question how you afford a car when you're living in a fucking project. He has to be poor, white trash. That's his best role. Any money he had an explanation...he had a license to steal - he could have gone down and robbed banks and got away with it - but it would have fucked up the operation. It would have brought the Bureau in...And here's HARGRAVES, we're down in Watts and kicking in the front of one of the Panther operations. We got niggers that are shaking down old folks down in Compton and shit, regular gang bullshit. The cops were happier than shit because we're coming in and fucking these people over. And they think they're bad." According to HEMMING, Pullen was shot by blacks spent a week in the hospital. In a Freedom of Information Act request to the United States Service HEMMING requested: "Reports reflecting my liaison with ROY E. HARGRAVES in Los Angeles California, including:

a) The presence of HARGRAVES as COPE delegate at a reception for Vice President Hubert Humphrey at the Century Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles.

b) The activities of HARGRAVES with Lloyd Pullen in Long Beach, California area. At the present time there are rabid revivals of accusations and insinuations, certain writers who allege knowledge by my group in a past tragic event. Those revived accusations and insinuations have caused jeopardy to my person, hence my imperative need to review the fore-mentioned material."

The FBI generated two documents on HARGRAVES on January 16, 1969: FBI 100-300-044/MX and FBI 100-300-044.

THEORY: HEMMING, HARGRAVES & THE KING ASSASSINATION

Circa August 15, 1967, a fugitive named James Earl Ray met a man who called himself "Raoul". Evidence suggested "Raoul" was a member of HEMMING'S crew. James Earl Ray served a life sentence for the murder of Martin Luther King. He died in April 1998.James Earl Ray claimed he was framed.

James Earl Ray was born in 1928. The father of James Earl Ray was a criminal. James Earl Ray never graduated from high school, and was ejected from the Army after two years of service. In the early 1950's he began to commit a series of crimes including burglary and forgery. On April 23, 1967, after serving seven years of a 20 year sentence for armed robbery, James Earl Ray escaped from Missouri State Penitentiary by concealing himself in a box that would normally contain bread from the prison bakery. HEMMING told this researcher: "Ray had no ambition. You know what the ambition factor is? Is there anybody on this planet who can say James Earl Ray ever aspired to anything, or thought of any grandiose schemes, or wanted to be somebody? No. He never wanted to be shit. This is the last guy to do a shooting job. Nothing complicated. Nothing that requires heavy thinking. But it would have been a stretch of the imagination to have Castro agents mad at Martin Luther King, right?"

Circa August 15, 1967, James Earl Ray met a man who called himself "Raoul" and said he was a seaman, at the Neptune Tavern in Montreal. Ray claimed they met by chance and they had no mutual friends. Ray said he "sort of let the word get around that he had a little trouble down in the States, that he was looking for I.D. and capital, and just might be available for activities that didn't involve too much risk."

Would James Earl Ray have leaked the fact the he was a fugitive in a public bar? Bar owners often double as police informants. HEMMING told this researcher: "That's what Ray wants you to believe. This is what keeps people secure, that he's not spilling the beans. There are people that would worry, 'Maybe this son-of-a-bitch really found out more than he's ever admitted before the incident itself? Maybe somebody was loose? Maybe this guy really knows some shit? He didn't do it, we know that.'"

Evidence suggested that the brother of James Earl Ray, Jerry Ray, might have told him that "Raoul" was "alright," but James did not want to involve his brother in the Martin Luther King assassination, and so he never came forward with this information. HEMMING told this researcher: "A guy like Ray would say, 'Who told you about me?' You got to have a fucking name. It's got to be somebody that's worthless to you that you can go ahead and burn, and the guy doesn't know you, so it's not traceable. That's made plain right off the bat, 'I know you through so and so, but so and so doesn't know me. A friend of mine knows him and I'm not gonna tell you who the fuck he is.' If it isn't done this way, a guy like Ray would say, 'Boy, this guy's a blabber mouth. He's giving me all his fucking contacts, I know more about him than he does about me, which is a bad way to be.'" HEMMING also stated: "Somebody had to produce some sort of bona fides to prove who the fuck he was and he expects Ray to check the arms of that through his own sources of 'Who the hell am I dealing with here?'"

James Earl Ray described "Raoul" as a 35-year-old blonde or red-haired Latin, 5'8", 140 pounds. He told author William Bradford Huie that "Raoul" was "a Cuban exile." James Earl Ray wrote: "In the spring of 1968 I James Earl Ray was working with agents of the Federal Government, including Raoul. They told me I was helping them to supply arms and guns to the Cuban refugees there to overthrow Castro and the communest I cuba. The reason why I'd made trips to Mexico was in regard to helping the agents of the federal government to supply arms to cuban refugees there to overthrow Castro. The Federal Agents led me to believe that I was working in Memphis in April 1968 for the same purpose. I knew I was working with Federal Agents the way they had me passed across the Mexican and Canadian borders is only one thing that proves they were federal agents. At a later time, if necessary, I will give more extensive proof about the federal agents with whom I was involved. It is a known fact that Agents of federal government and, the Mexican Police knew about my trips to Mexico and protected me there. I knew nothing about King being in Memphis until after King had been killed. I could not argue with the federal agents I worked for becous they would have put me back in the Missouri State Prison at Jefferson City if I failed to take orders from them. I know that the federal agents merly used me as the fall guy when they killed King. I now realize that they had no interest in overthrowing Castro and their whole purpose was to use me to cover up their own crime. Two federal agencies are guilty and I am fully innocent." [FBI 44-38961-5811 Sec. 81]

James Earl Ray had at eight meetings with "Raoul" over the next three weeks. HEMMING told this researcher: "Ray was involved in a homicide with Raoul." The FBI found that Ray was in possession of "Qc351 Photocopies of 4-page hw letter dated at Montreal, Que., signed "Code letter 'G.'"

According to James Earl Ray, at the last meeting, "Raoul" told him to go to Windsor, Canada, where he would give him some packages to smuggle into the United States.

After this, James Earl Ray was paid and told to drive to Birmingham, Alabama, and keep out of sight until "Raoul" arrived. James Earl Ray arrived there August 25, 1967. James Earl Ray opened a safe deposit box at the Birmingham Trust National Bank on August 28, 1967. "Raoul" told James Earl Ray he spent a lot of time in New Orleans and gave him several telephone numbers there. On September 1, 1967, he received a letter from "Raoul" regarding their next meeting. When they met, "Raoul" gave James Earl Ray $2000 and told him to purchase a late model Mustang. James Earl Ray wrote: "I suppose I became involved in some sort of plot to kill King when I first took those packages into the United States from Canada. I would think it had all been decided before the car was bought in Birmingham as no one would have given me three grand just to haul narcotics across the border." [Look 11.26.68] HEMMING told this researcher: "You give them a couple of test runs. It's gonna be something that brings back a couple of bucks and pays for your expenses in recruiting these people. Now he's gonna be hesitant to admit this because it could be fingerprints back to other crimes that have no statute of limitations, namely homicide."

James Earl Ray said that his next assignment (mid-October 1967), was to order several hundred dollars worth of photographic equipment then drive down to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, where he was to meet "Raoul". The HSCA stated that Ray planned to make pornographic movies in Mexico using a remote controlled camera. Ray met "Raoul" at a hotel there, then followed him across the border, into Laredo, Texas. "Raoul" took a cab and they met in Laredo, where "Raoul" gave him a spare tire which James Earl Ray was supposed to smuggle into Mexico. "Raoul" rode with Ray as they again crossed the border into Mexico. James Earl Ray: "At Mexican customs he got out and waited beside the building. Following his instructions, I asked the customs men for a Tourist Card, telling them I was going to the interior of Mexico, not just to Nuevo Laredo. (No tourist card is needed to visit the border towns in Mexico; only if you are going into the interior.) When the Customs men started to search the car, I gave them $3 as Raoul had told me to do, and they stopped the search and put a mark on everything." "Raoul" rejoined James Earl Ray in Mexico, transferred the tire to the automobile from which it originally came. James Earl Ray drove the car through a checkpoint in the interior of Mexico. He received $2000 for this trip. HEMMING told this researcher: "Raoul was a cut out. He's a guy you can trust with money, he's a guy a you can trust with the location of an arms cache or a seller of select type weapons. He's a guy that gets a very simple job done and does what he's told to do and not ask questions or even gives a shit why it's being done."

In November 1967 James Earl Ray drove to Los Angeles, where he moved into a cheap hotel. His associates in Los Angeles included Rita Stein, whose husband had overdosed on morphine. [FBI LA-44-1574]. The cousin of Rita Stein, Myrial Tomaso, had been arrested on seven felony charges involving narcotics and forgery. [FBI 44-382861-5553] New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison described Rita Stein's brother, Charles Stein [born, May 11, 1929], as a "good boy who keeps bad company." Charles Stein was married to Mickie Medina, the "Queen of Vice of New Orleans" from 1962 to 1963. He had one arrest linked to prostitution. [FBI 157-10672-654]

Journalist Louis Lomax wrote that in Los Angeles Ray was associated with a blonde woman named "Jerri" who frequented the Sultan Room bar and the Rabbit's Foot bar. "Jerri" was unknown at both these establishments and the FBI concluded: "Investigation has not identified any Jerri as an associate of Ray." Lomax later believed this woman was Dyrell Dennis. The FBI: "When initially contacted on April 25, 1968, she advised she had no knowledge of James Earl Ray and through viewing his photographs said she did not know him or anyone named Eric Starvo Galt. Subsequently, she was recontacted on April 27, 1968, at the Belmont Hotel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, She advised that she had resided at the St. Francis Hotel, Los Angeles, California, from March 1, 1968, to March 9, 1968. One night in the Sultan Room, Hollywood Boulevard, she was approached by a man who introduced himself as Eric (Last Name Unknown). This person drank screwdrivers and claimed to have worked with computers. He had in his possession a large sum of money in $10 and $20 bills. She talked him into giving her a $20 bill after which they left the Sultan Room and went to another club where they continued to drink and then went to Eric's room, #403 in the Saint Francis Hotel. As they drank he told her on more than one occasion that he could become violent. She began to fear that he might possibly be a psychopath (deleted). Under pretext, she left the Saint Francis Hotel. Subsequently she again encountered Eric at the Sultan Room at which time he asked for and she returned his $20 bill. She stated she has not seen this person since that time." [FBI ME 44-1987]

Myrial Tomaso convinced James Earl Ray to take her cousin, Charles Stein, and two children, with him to New Orleans. James Earl Ray agreed to drive Charles Stein and the kids to New Orleans, but insisted that Myrial Tomaso and Charles Stein first register in the Independent party of George C. Wallace. On December 13, 1967, Ray sent a letter to the Birmingham Trust National Bank "enclosing the keys to the safe deposit box, wherein he advised the bank that he was living out of Birmingham and was surrendering his safe deposit box. She advised she made a notation to this effect on the Record of Access to Ray's safe deposit box and that she also put on there that he lives in Baton Rouge. Miss Battle advised she does not recall anything specific in the letter indicating that Ray was residing at Baton Rouge, and that she believes she obtained this information from the postmark on the envelope in which this letter was received. She advised that this envelope has been destroyed, however, to the best of her knowledge, a copy of the letter would be maintained in the Safe Deposit Box Section." [FBI BH 44-1740]

Ray, Stein, and the two children left Los Angeles circa December 14, 1967. They arrived in New Orleans on December 15, 1967.

The HSCA reported: "Charles Stein recalled that James Earl Ray was definitely going to New Orleans for reasons of his own and that he was not making the trip merely to accommodate Rita..." The FBI claimed that Charles Stein told the Bureau that he never heard James Earl Ray mention anyone named "Raoul," however, Charles Stein also stated, several times during an FBI interview, that "he recalled James Earl Ray mentioning the name 'Raoul.'Charles Stein was confronted, during this initial interview with the HSCA, with an FBI interview which reflected his statement that the person he [James Earl Ray] was going to see had an Italian-sounding name - a well known name in New Orleans. Stein agreed that Raoul was not Italian-sounding, and stated that perhaps he was dodging the FBI's questions." [HSCA MLK Vol, 13 p273] During his later testimony before the HSCA, Charles Stein was asked if James Earl Ray had mentioned the name "Raoul" prior to the Martin Luther King assassination. He stated: "I think that he did."

Charles Stein thought that James Earl Ray told him that he called New Orleans, in advance, to let them know when he would arrive. This call was made after James Earl Ray pulled off the road outside of Houston, Texas. He stated that in the evening of December 16, 1967, Ray made a telephone call from a public coin box phone. Ray talked for quite some time. Stein was of the opinion this call was made somewhere in the vicinity of Houston, Texas. He also stated it was dark at the time as he can recall the light in the phone booth shining down on Ray while he made the call. Stein advised he did not recall the general surroundings of the area in which the phone booth was located; or whether it was in a gas station, shopping center or standing by itself. He did think, however, if he saw the phone booth again he would probably recall it. Stein was questioned further regarding this phone call and in response to questions, advised this phone call was the only one he actually observed being made by Ray. However, at several other stops they made, Ray was out of his sight for short periods of time and during those times Ray could have made other phone calls. Stein advised that when Ray returned to the car after making the phone call he appeared to be tense and somewhat deep in thought. This condition lasted about 20 minutes or a half hour. When asked if he recalled traveling through Houston, Texas, Stein stated he did not recall passing through Houston, Texas, but commented that he was sleeping off and on during this time." [FBI LA 44-1547]

The FBI re-interviewed Stein: "He can recollect one telephone call made by James Earl Ray while they were en route to New Orleans. Stein advised that the call was made from a telephone booth located near Houston, Texas, west of Houston. He advised that at approximately 9:00 p.m. on December 16, 1967, Ray was driving and turned off the freeway onto an access road paralleling the freeway heading toward Houston. He stated Ray stopped at a phone booth by a service station. He does not recollect the particular gas sold at this station. He advised that a liquor store was next to the service station, but does not recollect on what side...Stein advised that at the time of the call he bought a cup of coffee in the service station and some candy or gum in the liquor store. Stein advised that the above information is accurate. He advised that he did not intentionally withhold this information upon prior interviews, and only recently remembered the details of the phone call." [FBI LA 44-1574 4.24.68]

Another FBI document stated: "Stein has indicated that en route from somewhere in Texas Ray made one or two long distance telephone calls from coin phones and also indicated he was going to contact either architectural or contracting firm." The FBI contacted numerous construction firms in Louisiana but none of them had ever heard of Ray or any of his name variants. Note: HEMMING said HARGRAVES worked on construction jobs with Richard Whatley in Baton Rouge in 1967.

The FBI investigated James Earl Ray's calls to "Raoul" by checking the toll records of all the telephone booths James Earl Ray might have used while traveling from Los Angeles to New Orleans. It concluded: "An exhaustive search of countless telephone records, numbers and subscribers produced nothing." [FBI 44-8861-2014] Sometimes it was impossible to check on a pay phone because the toll records had been destroyed. [FBI 44-38861-2460] In many cases it was impossible for this researcher to determine if certain calls were, in fact, significant, because of heavy deletions. On December 15, 1967, a call was made to (deleted) in Montgomery, Louisiana, from an ENCO Station in Texas. James Earl Ray believed he might have made the call to New Orleans from a ENCO Service Station. On December 16, 1967, a call was made from the vicinity of San Antonio, Texas, to New Orleans. [FBI 44-38861-3105] The FBI discovered that on December 17, 1967, someone placed a call to 522-8495 in New Orleans. This number belonged to Hilda De Los Reyes of 1410 St. Andrew Street. De Los Reyes, a Cuban exile who spoke little English, denied ever receiving a telephone call from Texas and was unable to identify a photograph of James Earl Ray. [FBI NO 157-10673 5.10.68]

The FBI checked every telephone call from pay telephones in the area of Houston, Texas, for calls to New Orleans on December 17, 1967. One of these calls was to 522-8495 in New Orleans. The FBI reported: "(Deleted) [Hilda De Los Reyes] Apartment 7, (Deleted) [1410 St. Andrews] was contacted and furnished the following information:

"She advised her telephone number is 522-8495, however, she advised that to the best of her knowledge she has not received any long distance telephone calls from Texas during December 1967, or at any other time. She advised she has no relatives, friends or any other persons known to her to be residing in Texas. In addition, she advised that she is divorced from her husband and lives at her present address with her two sons, ages 10 and 18. Her oldest son is working, but she stated that he also has no friends or relatives in the Texas area. She advised after viewing all available photographs of James Earl Ray that such a person was completely unknown to her by either name or photograph. It was noted during interview of (Deleted) that she was of Cuban extraction and spoke broken English. The interview was conducted with some difficulty, although she was emphatic in her denial or herself or anyone else ever receiving any long distance telephone calls from Texas to her present telephone number at any time." [FBI NO 157-10673 5.10.68] The FBI withheld the called number of many of the pay phone calls made from the vicinity of Houston, Texas, to New Orleans. [FBI 44-38861-3132] The FBI reported that on December 17, 1967, a call was placed to (Deleted) Baton Rouge, La., from 330 E. Pierce. [FBI 44-38861-3105]

When Charles Stein and James Earl Ray reached New Orleans, James Earl Ray claimed he called the New Orleans telephone number given to him by "Raoul." James Earl Ray: "I was asked where I was staying then told where Raoul would meet me...He wanted me to help take some guns into Mexico and there would be ten or twelve grand in it for me plus the usual promise of travel documents. During the conversation he said after I got to Cuba I could go anyplace in the world. I told him I wasn't interested in going to Cuba and I wanted the travel documents and part of the money before I went to Mexico. The project would start about the first of May - he would write me as to the specific date later on...Late in February he wrote and asked me to meet him at the bar where we had met before in New Orleans."

The bar they were to meet in, the Le Bunny Lounge on Canal Street, was located across the street from the Hotel Monteleone, which was owned by William Monteleone, a former member of the Cuban Revolutionary Front. [Monteleone, William telephone 504-288-0643, 522-8923 hotel 523-3341] William Bradford Huie reported: "The Monteleone family has as their guests, pilots who had been ransomed from Cuba who had participated in the invasion of the Bay of Pigs. Huie related that Ray on his trip to New Orleans with Stein had met unknown, unnamed parties in a bar from which diagrams made by Ray, Huie concluded was across the street from the Monteleone."

HEMMING told this researcher: "This could be significant. They burn trails by making those kind of mistakes." James Earl Ray waited all day for "Raoul", but he did not appear. James Earl Ray was back in Los Angeles on December 18, 1967. He remained there until March 1968 when he left for New Orleans. When he called "Raoul's" telephone number he was told that "Raoul" had gone to Birmingham, Alabama. He met him there and the two men drove to Atlanta (a dry cleaning ticket placed him there on April 1, 1968) and then back to Birmingham.

On April 2, 1968, James Earl Ray was instructed to rent a motel room and he did so using the name "Willard." He was also told to purchase a deer rifle at the Aeromarine Supply Company. "Raoul" examined the weapon and determined it was unsatisfactory. James Earl Ray returned it and purchased a 30.06 rifle which "Raoul" accepted. The Aeromarine Supply Company was coincidentally located in the vicinity of the headquarters of General Reed Doster, who assembled pilots for the Bay of Pigs invasion.

On April 4, 1968, the two men then drove to Memphis, Tennessee, where a room had been reserved for James Earl Ray at the Rebel Motel under the alias of "Willard." According to James Earl Ray, after he checked in, "Raoul told me to rent the room at [a] rooming house at 3:00 p.m. I rented a room from the woman [Bessie Brewer]. I signed my name as John Willard...then I went downstairs and found Raoul in the tavern [Jim's Grill]. He had told me to get him some binoculars so I went up to the store and bought them and when I got back Raoul was up in the room."

James Earl Ray first claimed he was in a gas station, having a tire repaired, at the time of the shooting.

According to William Bradford Huie Ray stated: "I bought the binoculars. I took the rifle up into his room at the rooming house. I was sitting in the Mustang when I heard a shot. In a minute or so Raoul came running down the stairs [carrying my zipper bag which he threw down on the sidewalk]. Then he jumped in the back seat, covered up with a sheet, and we took off." "Raoul" jumped out at a traffic light eight blocks from the scene of the shooting.

Ray drove back to the flop house and saw numerous police cars parked in front of it. He thought the law was on to "Raoul" and he headed for a pay phone to call "Raoul's" number in New Orleans. He turned on the car radio and found out Martin Luther King had been killed and the police were looking for a white man in a white Mustang.

William Bradford Huie stated that Ray told him "he was to be in the room and to get to the room so that they might meet an unnamed, unknown party and discuss the sale of weapons."

James Earl Ray had no alibi witnesses for any of these scenarios, however, version two seems the most plausible because it does not require any witnesses. "Raoul" would also stick to Ray as long and as closely as possible to further dirty him up. HEMMING told this researcher: "Ray might have guessed. What is Ray's thinking as to 'What the fuck am I doing in Memphis?' He has to have a reason for being there. He reads in the newspapers that King is there, and says to himself, 'Wait a minute, nah, that couldn't be.' He's not going to admit to that kind of shit now, he's not going to admit to that. Maybe he tried to check out to see 'What are these fuckers up to that they're gonna put me in for a nickel or a dime and I'm gonna be doing a big job. Wait a minute, I don't want this fucking tail-coating bullshit, turnip truck bullshit, where I do the big fucking job and these people get all the goddamn money.' There are people like that in the industry. They try to figure out if there's been any leaks that would endanger them, they try to guess who the target is. They check the newspapers to see who the target might be. Of course he would [have an idea he was going to be set up]. Of course he would, that's what keeps you alive. An inkling would be that he might have done some snooping, he didn't trust the people he was dealing with. They wouldn't be happy with that today. But for him to turn it around and know that this whole thing was a big assed plot, that's too much for his little peanut brain to figure out."

Rooming house manager Bessie Brewer stated that her husband "returned home from work at 5:25 p.m. on April 4, 1968, and at that time Mr. and Mrs. Brewer commenced their dinner. After diner Mr. Brewer then turned on the television set and was watching the "Rawhide" television program, and Mrs. Brewer did the dinner dishes. Shortly after completing the dinner dishes, Mrs. Brewer also sat down to watch the "Rawhide" television program. Within a matter of a couple of minutes, Mrs. Brewer heard what she thought to be a gun shot coming from the back of her rooming house. Mrs. Brewer believed that this must have been around 6:00 p.m. on April 4, 1968. She advised her husband that she thought it was a gun shot. Her husband took time to put on his slippers and both of them then proceeded to the southeast exit of the building. Upon arriving at this point, Mr. Brewer attempted to go out the back door; however, a law enforcement officer was in the back of the building and instructed both Mr. and Mrs. Brewer to close the door and return to their apartment. Mrs. Brewer did not hear any noise such as someone running through her building after hearing the gun shot, and the only noise she could recall hearing was a lot of hollering and screaming near the back of her building toward the Lorraine Motel."

When the FBI displayed a photograph of James Earl Ray to Bessie Brewer she told them "I just don't know if it was him."

Two other residents of the rooming house, Gracie and Charles Stephens, also witnessed the gunman make his getaway.

Gracie Stephens described the man she saw as "in his fifties, with salt and pepper hair." She said it was not James Earl Ray. On July 31, 1968, Gracie Stephens was committed to a state mental institution, by an assistant administrator at the hospital. Mrs. Stephens was diagnosed as suffering from Korsakoff's disease. Gracie Walden Stephens [born October 15, 1915] had a long arrest record beginning in 1942 for soliciting for prostitution, public drunkenness, bad checks and carrying an unregistered pistol.

"Charles Stephens, Apartment 6B, 422 ½ South Main Street, Memphis, advised that on the afternoon of April 4, 1968, he was with his wife at the above address. He stated that at about 3:30 p.m., on the above date, he began working on a table model radio which was in need of repair. He said he took the radio to the kitchen and placed it on the table which was against the wall that was adjacent to the bathroom which was used by all the tenants on his floor. As he was working on his radio he could hear the man in the next apartment go into the bathroom. Mr. Stephens stated that he knew it was the man who had just checked in to Apartment 5B that afternoon because he could hear the door of Apartment 5B open then footsteps would go down the hall to the bathroom, the bathroom door would open and then close.

Mr. Stephens said that during these various trips that the individual in Apartment 5B made to the bathroom he failed to flush the toilet or run any water with the exception of the last time he was in the bathroom. At this time he flushed the toilet. He stated that this individual seemed to be spending an undue length of time in the bathroom. At about 6:00 p.m. on April 4, 1968, Mr. Stephens heard a loud noise which he described as sounding like a gunshot come from the bathroom. Upon hearing this noise, Mr. Stephens ran from the kitchen where he was repairing his radio to his door that led to the hallway. He stated this is only a distance of about 10 to 12 feet. Upon opening the door he saw a man leave the bathroom carrying a package of about three feet long and wrapped in what appeared to be a newspaper. He saw the man run down the hall and then turn left as if he were trying to leave the apartment building. As this was happening, Willie Anchutz came out of his apartment and went to the bathroom. Anchutz then told Stephens to look out of his window. Stephens said that he then looked out of his kitchen window which faced the Lorraine Hotel and saw a lot of policemen scurrying about and people running screaming in the vicinity of the hotel.

Mr. Stephens stated that the man who was in Apartment 5B had checked in about 3:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. on April 4, 1968. He stated he was sure of this because he had heard the landlady showing him the apartment at that time. He stated he glanced out of his door and got a fairly good look at the man who he described as being a white male, 5' 10" to 5' 11; weighing 165 pounds; slender build; ruddy complexion; sandy hair; had a long, sharp, pointed nose; wearing what appeared to be a dark blue or black suit, white shirt and dark tie.

Mr. Stephens stated that the man who he saw running out of the bathroom closely resembled the man who had checked into Apartment 5B. He said he could only see the man who ran from the bathroom from behind, but his general build, hair coloring and clothes were the same as the individual in Apartment 5B. Mr. Stephens added he had never met the man who checked into Apartment 5B, talked to him or knew his name. When Charles Stephens was shown a photograph of James Earl Ray, Stephens said "Unless he was wearing a wig or had a full face lift or something it's not the man I saw. The hair is too full, and the face is too young." [Montreal Sun 4.18.68; Wash. Post 8.16.70; FBI ME 44-1987 JWB:raf 4.5.68; FBI Memo Tolson: DeLoach 7.2.68] Stephens was described as "a drunk and disreputable" by Prosecutor Canale, who wanted the FBI to put Stephens in protective custody. On April 25, 1968, "Photographs of James Earl Ray taken in 1955, 1960, and 1966 were shown to Mr. Charles Quitman Stephens, Apartment 6B, 422 ½ South Main Street, Memphis, Tennessee. Stephens said that the 1955 and 1960 photographs of Ray were not familiar to him, but he advised that the 1966 profile photograph of Ray appearing in the Wanted Flyer 442-A, April 19, 1968, and identification order dated April 20, 1968, looked like the man he saw in apartment 5B on April 4, 1968, talking to Mrs. Bessie Brewer. Stephens said that he only saw the man's profile in the boarding house and as a result, could only say the profile of James Earl Ray in 1968 looked very much like the above mentioned man in Room 5B. Stephens said he had never seen the bedspread of any similar bedspread either at the rooming house or anywhere else."

One of HEMMING'S crew, probably ROY HARGRAVES, had Ray rent a room from Bessie Brewer. This was why Stephens identified Ray as the man he saw with Bessie Brewer. HARGRAVES had Ray buy a rifle and a pair of binoculars. Ray's car was seen parked outside this flop house. Lloyd Jowers, owner, Jim's Grill, 418 South Main Street, advised that at approximately 3:55 p.m. on April 4, 1968, he arrived at the Grill, and parked directly in back of a while Mustang that was parked on the street directly in front of his Grill. He did not see Ray in it. (King was assassinated at approximately 6:00 p.m.) HARGRAVES told Ray to leave the hotel room because the arms buyer was coming and this man did not want to meet Ray. Ray was told to wait in the Mustang that was parked downstair, in front of the flop house. When the arms buyer arrived, HARGRAVES left. The arms buyer turned out to be DAVID CHRIST, who went to the toilet, shot King, then left the premises. Several residents of the flop house saw CHRIST flee. No one got a good look at him. CHRIST left evidence incriminating Ray outside the flop house, then got in the Mustang and covered himself with a sheet. Ray, who never really got a good look at the man under the sheet, thought he was HARGRAVES. A few minutes later CHRIST disappeared. HARGRAVES walked away. HEMMING told this researcher: "In most cases you can just walk away. Remember, all the sound is on the other side of the building. This guy went out the front door of the place and just walked down the street. You don't draw attention by running or looking furtive. Get a newspaper and pretend like you're reading it."

HEMMING told this researcher: "They didn't have anybody, there was no fucking evidence. Someone had killed Martin Luther King. And even amongst the blacks they weren't sure that it wasn't one of their own. There was enough time bought there so the damage from riots was minimal around the country. This guy King was going down. Are we gonna let the Klan get proven guilty of it and have the cities burned in the United States, or are we gonna take the fucker out ourselves and keep 'em guessing?" Minimal damage? After the Martin Luther King assassination, more than 100 American cities erupted in racial rioting.

James Earl Ray abandoned the Mustang and made his way to Europe via Canada. He obtained a Canadian passport by looking through forty-year-old Canadian newspapers for male births. When he found English sounding names, James Earl Ray looked for the same names in a current telephone directory. He surveilled these people, and found one who looked like him. When he determined this person never applied for a passport, he obtained his birth certificate and obtained a passport in the name of this man. From Europe James Earl Ray hoped to go to Angola, where he would become a mercenary for the Portuguese.

The FBI identified the prints on the rifle found at the King crime scene as those of James Earl Ray and the biggest manhunt in history was on. On April 28, 1968, the CIA reported: "Air Force Intelligence advises that Major Bernard F. Rehkopf, United States Air Force assigned to Macthai, had been in touch asking assistance in contacting an (deleted) official. Rehkopf claims that his daughter Rita, who formerly worked in Bangkok for law firm and is now based in New Orleans with Delta Airlines, has telephoned him from New Orleans approximately eight times in the last several nights. She states she is in the hands of (deleted). She claims that she knows James Earl Ray, and says she knows he went to London. She further claims that (deleted) is paying for her phone calls, at the same time implying, at least as far as Bernard F. Rehkopf is concerned, that she is under a certain amount of duress. Bernard F. Rehkopf is very distraught and concerned for daughter's welfare. Air Force advised they would try to put (deleted) in touch with him. They have asked him not to do anything drastic, such as surfacing matter to the press and they are reasonably sure they will comply, at least for the present. However, he wants assurances from (deleted) that daughter is being well treated and is in no danger. Recommend Hdqs. advise (deleted) for action as appropriate. Suggest (deleted) also pass gist of above to legal attache. (Deleted)."

On June 8, 1968, James Earl Ray was arrested in London, England, and extradited to the United States. James Earl Ray hired Arthur Hanes, a former CIA operative who compensated the wives of the Birmingham, Alabama, pilots killed in the Bay of Pigs invasion, as his attorney. Hanes had received the money for the Birmingham widows from the Cuban Revolutionary Council while he was Mayor of Birmingham and he told reporters: "It doesn't take a Phi Beta Kappa key to see there is an international communist conspiracy [operating here]...My client is a tool of revolutionary groups financed by Cuba." [NYT 1973 Waldron; Mem. Tenn. Comm. Appeal 7.28.68] James Earl Ray was ultimately represented by Percy Forman. Forman was a homicide specialist from Dallas who defended JACK RUBY. James Earl Ray plead guilty to avoid getting the electric chair, and was sentenced to 99 years. [Ray, James Earl #65477 7475 Cockrill Bend Ind. Road Nashville TN 37209-1010]

Similarities between the John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King assassinations included:

1. A rifle with a telescopic sight.

2. The use of phoney law enforcement personnel to facilitate the getaway of the assassin or assassins - when Bessie Brewer attempted to go out the back door of the rooming house right after the assassination, "a law enforcement officer was in the back of the building and instructed both Mr. and Mrs. Brewer to close the door and return to their apartment." [FBI ME 44-1987 2 p10] The tramps escape was facilitated by phoney Secret Service agents.

3. When the FBI searched the room of James Earl Ray in Atlanta, it discovered a map of Atlanta with a circle around the residence of Dr. Martin Luther King. OSWALD had a map of Dallas with the Texas School Book Depository circled on it.

4. James Earl Ray was sent to Mexico as was OSWALD. They both were instructed to obtain Mexican Tourist Cards.

5. The zipper bag left on the crime scene contained a rifle that could be linked to James Earl Ray, toilet articles, binoculars, cans of beer with the fingerprints of James Earl Ray on them and even a radio with his prison number on it. A Deputy Sheriff "patrolling routinely in the area observed a young white male throw a rifle and bag on the sidewalk and keep running." [FBI Memo To Rosen From McGowan 4.4.68] Unlike the Kennedy assassination, a few spare rounds of ammo were also left behind.

6. Frangible ammunition was used in both murders. After the Martin Luther King assassination, a fragment of a Remington Peters "Core-Lokt" bullet was removed from Martin Luther King. The "Core-Lokt" bullet is designed to mushroom or explode on impact. The fragment was linked with the other rounds found in the zipper bag that was left in front of the flop house, however, it could not be linked to the 30.06 rifle. FBI S.A. Frazier testified "because of distortion due to mutilation and insufficient marks of value, I could draw no conclusions as to whether or not the submitted bullet was fired from the submitted rifle."

In 1978 HEMMING told this researcher that in late 1963 Edward Collins introduced him to Jerry Ray. HEMMING said that Jerry Ray was employed by J.B. Stoner, who was the head of the National States Rights Party. Jerry Ray told the HSCA that he first met J.B. Stoner in late 1969. Jerry Ray said Stoner hired him as an errand boy. The HSCA reported that Harry Avery, the Commissioner of the Tennessee prison system, was interviewed by staff counsel and Harry Avery indicated that Jerry Ray advised him that J.B. Stoner had been attorney for the Ray family for two years prior to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jerry Ray was asked: "Is that statement accurate or inaccurate?"

Ray: It is a joke, a sick joke.

Speiser: Mr. Stoner has represented you in a prior criminal action, is that correct?

Ray: That's true.

Speiser: And Mr. Stoner has represented your brother, John Ray?

Ray: Yes.

Speiser: And at a time Mr. Stoner has represented James Earl Ray?

Ray: Yes.

James Earl Ray also denied having heard of Stoner until he received a letter from him after the Martin Luther King assassination.

HEMMING did not elaborate further regarding his relationship with Jerry Ray. In 1994 he stated: "Collins came back from a little visit to his sister in Mississippi and came back describing this guy that used the name 'Ray.' We presumed it was Jerry Ray, the brother, years later. Because at that point in time James Earl Ray was locked up. Collins belonged to a little clique of people in there. Collins knew the guy that gunned down Medgar Evers. Collins knew everybody who was anybody in the Klan. This is 1960. He came over just before Bay of Pigs. He was with us until 1964. A short period of time he spent with Loran Hall. He mentioned Jerry Ray in 1962. I never met Jerry Ray, not that I know of. Collins gave us a description of a guy that we were trying to fit in with this Butler guy at National States Rights Party. Trying to keep track of who's who, who's a snitch and who's a Klansman and everything else. Now, Richard Lauchli knew 'Ray,' that he presumed to be Jerry Ray, because he's seen him on T.V. and everything. Sold guns to him. Remember Lauchli was a co-founder of the Minutemen. He's the guy that brought in DePugh. That was Lauchli's idea. He's the one that pushed it. But DePugh had more of a political presence and all that shit. Lauchli's just an ex-82nd Airborne Paratrooper type good old boy farmer." James Earl Ray stated: "I don't know if Jerry knew HEMMING and Collins or not. I think you asked me about these two several years ago. I will ask my brother about it during his next visit. Anyway I suspect that if Jerry did meet either of them they were traveling under an assumed name." [Ltr. to A.J. ajweberman 8.31.94, 9.22.94] HEMMING told this researcher: "Collins made a contact with Lauchli which he wasn't supposed to and we got certain impressions from that, this is during 1963. Collins made a lot of contacts. In 1963, National States Rights Party people wanted Whatley and Collins and these people to come out and train some of their people. We turned them down on that after we checked it out. The head guy was Butler, he was from Missouri. Our only interest with the National States Rights Party at the time was as a source of weapons, they were sitting on a lot of weapons that we could put to use. Some of them showed the inclination to go along with the weapons, back then, okay, we'd look at 'em. If they had a bunch of guns laying around that they didn't need, we'd get it from them." HEMMING told this researcher in 1995: "Collins introduced me to a number of people. Jerry Ray may have been one of John Bloomer's guys. See I was going to send Whatley and Collins and those people to train one of Bloomer's teams, but we got involved with something else. Bloomer was with the NSRP. He came out with four people. Collins came by the house, he was in a cab and went to a meeting on the corner bar."

In 1978 HEMMING told this researcher that just before Martin Luther King was assassinated in April 1968, he and HARGRAVES were approached to kill him: "A Navy guy from Memphis approached us on the King thing a week before it happened. Moved to an apartment house right next door to HARGRAVES in El Monte. Said he had money and financial support and was stationed in Memphis. Were we interested? I said I had to catch a train and left. These things occur quite frequently."

In 1993 HEMMING stated: "HARGRAVES tells me, 'Hey, there's a sailor over here. He's AWOL a couple of days from the Memphis Naval Air Station and I've been getting drunk with him now for about a week and half. And he's been saying some very strange shit.' Do they talk about pussy, do they talk about this? And here's a guy that right away starts talking about guns and revolutions and hinky bullshit. Well that kind of tells you something. Like this wasn't a year after we were dealing with Garrison and he starts gettin' real hinky, like somebody trying to set us up or something. He's got this connection and that connection and somebody's gonna do this. HARGRAVES says, 'Ah more likely the guy's a drunk or this or that.' But the guy starts using some trade craft words and it makes him nervous as shit. He mentions it to me and I says, 'Do an anonymous thing to the Bureau.' This was about a week before the assassination."

In a Freedom of Information Act request to the FBI HEMMING requested documents on: "Report to FBI Field Office, Los Angeles, regarding suspect in the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King at Memphis, Tennessee in 1968." HEMMING 1993: "HARGRAVES filed a report with the Los Angeles FBI about it. He did two of 'em. In detail. He read it from a script prepared for him. It gave a couple of trade craft numbers and it mentioned 301, Nitetel, that they would recognize the trade craft. And that there is a particular individual who is apparently AWOL from the Navy, resides at such and such an address, has been overheard in discussion away from that address, in various locales, gun dealers etc. Radical elements including the Nazi organization. I threw the whole package in there. It represented a threat not only to Martin Luther King, but possibly the President. They couldn't ignore it.

"They came down like a swarm of fucking bees pissed off. How dare you? We just ignored their ass. HARGRAVES was wise to them because by that time he was dealing with Los Angeles Police Department. He talked his way into this shit. Well, all of a sudden after the thing went down they came straight to HARGRAVES. These calls had been made from public telephones that had been tampered with. I mean there was no way to trace the call back. But somehow they did. How did they know it was HARGRAVES unless they knew the sailor, they knew the whole goddamn scheme themselves? Now what I got to do is, somewhere down the line, get the Bureau files on that out of Los Angeles. They're supposed to be declassifying that shit now. And say, 'Okay, who the fuck told you to go to HARGRAVES? Where the fuck did HARGRAVES name come into this?' All of a sudden, out of goddamn nowhere, is this sailor and his buddies and the girlfriend and the shits that had moved in next door in El Monte talking this weird shit about Martin Luther King. Well, I just been going over the bulletins from AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) and was very aware of Memphis and all that, but I hadn't discussed it with anybody. There wasn't a hell of a lot of press coverage. Then this shit started popping up, I said, 'What the fuck is going on here?' A pattern. It made HARGRAVES nervous as shit and he was ready to move out of the goddamn place. I told him 'We are not going to pursue this kind of shit, we are not going to get involved.'" HEMMING was asked if the FBI might have recognized Hargrave's voice. HEMMING told this researcher: "Oh no, no. He never talked directly with them, never once in his life. He was never interviewed or talked to by any Feds, including the CIA, in his entire life. Just the Secret Service in Miami. And I tricked him into going there. Like I didn't want him to be nervous and I had him go down to the courthouse, step in the building real quick and take the elevator, walk in and he's there. The government was just using their snitches to find out what the hell we're up to. We're in PROJECT CHAOS at the time. That's the word they put on the paperwork."

HEMMING told this researcher in 1995: "They moved in on HARGRAVES in El Monte. I knew the Humphrey visit was coming up and I put him into COPE. About the time that HARGRAVES was shaking hands with Hubert Humphrey this asshole sailor shows up a couple of days later. I thought, 'We'll it's the Secret Service' but they're getting a little bit heavy here. Intelligence been getting inquiries from people. So I told HARGRAVES, ignore the motherfucker. And this guy has parties, has his own pad there, a lot of drinking and shit and he's AWOL from Naval Air Station, Memphis. HARGRAVES probably ran his mouth about political stuff but he was suspicious because this guy seemed to know too much. He was really on his toes, people trying to set him up. So out of the blue here's some fucker talking he's got a contract to do King and all that. We're wondering if its beer talk? I told him, 'While we're working this shit, don't be seen with these people.' I mean he'd been with Garrison, he knew the patsy scenarios and all that kind of shit. I said it could be right out of the blue, set you up with hot car, a car full of dope, whatever, to put you out of circulation. And you'll never know why. You'll never know why. They're gonna take you out of circulation. We just couldn't get rid of this guy. Then, a day or two before the event, the guy packs up very quietly and says he going back to Memphis. Well, HARGRAVES had already sent him over, used the pay phone to call the Bureau. Ask for so and so, who I didn't know, his name was given to me. He met with them, miles away from El Monte, he refused to identify himself, but they knew who he was, so that made him nervous. The Bureau was paying for the meal, freeloading a big meal, they were happier than shit 'cause they were eating a big meal. Then the thing goes down, and he was more worried about FBI now. HARGRAVES moved out of El Monte real fast. He knew the safest place to go was in Niggertown 'cause he knew there was no niggers in the FBI. He was worried about the FBI at that time. He figured they were part of it. He'd warned them and nothing was done. It's an AWOL sailor, they should have busted him. They should have come by, nobody came by that apartment, nobody fucked with this guy. HARGRAVES was on unemployment workmen's comp, injury stuff. He injured himself working in L.A. in early 1968. He ended up getting forty grand for that in the latter part of 1968, it took about a year to get it, then he went back to Florida, got a bunch of weapons for Alpha and they wouldn't let him go on the trip, everybody died on the fucking trip, he's still bitching about, all the M-16s and shit that he bought through Lauchli on the way back."

In an Freedom of Information Act request to the FBI HEMMING asked for "Report to FBI Field Office, Los Angeles, regarding suspect in assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King." [HEMMING ltr. to FBI 8.27.75]

As stated, evidence suggested that "Raoul" was one of HEMMING'S operatives, perhaps ROY HARGRAVES. James Earl Ray was sent a Xerox of a photograph of HARGRAVES. He stated: "It would be difficult to say if I ever came in contact with those in the Xerox you sent me." HEMMING used the name "Raoul" because he had a sense of humor. The most famous "Raoul" was Raul Castro. He called OSWALD "A.J. Hidell" after "Fidel," and STURGIS, "Q/M Turgid," because he thought FRANK'S brain worked kind of slow. Other HEMMING signatures included the 30.06 rifle and drug smuggling. HEMMING was arrested for drug smuggling in the late 1970's. The meeting near the Hotel Monteleone associated "Raoul" with the Cuban Revolutionary Front and the Bay of Pigs as did the location of Aeromarine Supply. The fact that the scenario involved arms smuggling to Cuban exiles sounded like HEMMING. HEMMING was familiar with General Doster: "He was the Commanding General of the Alabama Air National Guard. I had no direct contact with him. He went out three or four years after the Bay of Pigs." HEMMING was in Los Angeles at the same time James Earl Ray was. James Earl Ray resided there from November 19, 1967, to March 17, 1967. In 1995 I asked HEMMING if HARGRAVES was "Raoul." HEMMING told this researcher: "Raoul's first name was Robert. He's dead now, he died three years ago. He ain't no spic, but he spoke perfect Spanish, he could pass as a spic, but he wasn't no spic. Raoul, aka Robert, his files are in Maryland, at a relatives house. He most recently was with the Croats till he died three years ago. His files are available if we had some money. You've heard the guys name before and you've heard his aliases, but you never put him together with this. This guy was an author of many many things that had to do with this kind of business, coups and all that shit, under a pseudonym. The relative doesn't know the guys nasty background, he just knows the intelligence side. The sketch looks like Robert. Died a horrible death, cancer, horrible fucking death. The treatment weakened him, he bled to death in the middle of the night. HARGRAVES knew this guy well. All of our people knew him well."

HEMMING 1994: "You've got to remember, I'm the President of an AFSCME Local. We are well aware that AFSCME is sponsoring the garbage strike and that King is coming into the thing. Some of our California people have been invited to Memphis the next week." Martin Luther King went to Memphis to support local members of AFSCME. In 1995 HEMMING displayed a AFSCME business card when I visited him at his home in Florida. According to Philip Agee, AFSCME was used by the CIA in labor operations. AFSCME played a part in the overthrow of Jeddi Jagan in British Guyana in 1962.

James Earl Ray said he had come by a name and address linked to "Raoul" shortly before crossing the border in November 1967 from Mexico, into the United States. James Earl Ray said he "found a pack of cigarettes in a cigarette case dropped down between the bucket seats in the Mustang. There was a business card in there and I think on one side it had this person's name, crossed out and what looked like the name of a city." [Playboy 8.77] According to James Earl Ray, "the name was something like Rosen 1180 N.W. River Drive, Miami, Florida."

Randolph Erwin Rosenson had a Federal narcotics conviction in New Orleans and a long criminal record for narcotics and customs violations. The Miami telephone directory listed a Randy Rosenson at 11802 North West South River Drive, Miami. Ray wrote to this researcher: "There was also a Rosenson, it was finally determined he was listed under "Randy Rosenson" 11802 N.W.S. River Drive, Medley Florida. I found this name while shaking down the Mustang in Mexico before crossing the border in November 1967."

HEMMING had lived on North West North River Drive in Miami, however Patricia S. Hemming that was from 1995 to 1996 [Ray 12.28.73; Atlanta Journal 10.75; USDC-Tenn. C-76-274] James Earl Ray: "A lawyer went to New Orleans in 1975 & got Rosenson's federal convictions & found out he was an informer."

Ray said that "Raoul" had the word "LEAA" written on a business card. LEAA was created in August 1968, a year after he remembered finding this card. James Earl Ray might have seen LIEU (Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit) which HEMMING was associated with in 1967, and confused it with the better known LEAA. HEMMING 1995: "HARGRAVES was indirectly employed by the CIA. The money came through third parties. The money came through law enforcement circles. It was grant money from LIEU. People in charge were working for CHAOS and this other crypto project. LIEU was a clandestine, nationwide intelligence unit. They were running the operation, doing the job. He got that through Hendricks, the lieutenant in the Long Beach California Police Department that ran the Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit, LIEU, which is all Special Forces types around the country. Ray wouldn't know what the unit was. Wackenhut helped set it up. They were going to set it up in Florida in 1967 with Governor Claude Kirk and the Miami Herald put the end to that shit, they were going to set up a private intelligence agency in the state of Florida." The Washington Post News Service reported that the LIEU, a police intelligence gathering association, which federal officials tried to merge with the computer operation of the FBI in 1975, had serious leaks to the underworld since 1960, according an FBI file. The files indicated that an official in the Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit, a privately chartered group that received federal funds until 1978, apparently took a file on organized crime from federal agents during the 1960's. The theft so angered FBI officials that they set up their own intelligence network inside the Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit to report on the group's activities. The Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit was started in 1956 to exchange organized crime data among local police departments. The Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit came under fire from civil rights activists who contended that the Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit intelligence files included material on civil rights activists. [Miami Herald 11.24.78] James Earl Ray: "In regard to the LEAA you mentioned, in the early 1970's I had a relative write the Justice Department asking the Department if they had any ongoing pilot projects in 1967. A JD official responded, yes, there was pilot projects in Newark, N.J. and New Orleans in 1967...I received information indirectly from the JD saying a OLEA was funding project prior to the LEAA coming into existence but JD claim they are unaware of which project OLEA funded." [Ltr. from JER to AJW 10.19.94]

HEMMING told this researcher: "The professionals don't bring in strangers, it's a very small grouping of people in the business." As stated, "Raoul," the man who set up James Earl Ray, did not assassinate Martin Luther King. Evidence suggested that DAVID LEMAR CHRIST did the shooting. CHRIST, who worked for the Technical Services Division of the CIA at the time, was "the technician." Despite the testimony of James Earl Ray, who is a habitual liar, he was not "Raoul". He did not have time to associate with James Earl Ray since he had a full time job at the CIA. CHRIST moonlighted as a hitman. HEMMING told this researcher: "He has a business to run. He gets back and he's running the goddamn business by then. You haven't identified CHRIST as a permanent member of an assassination team. I haven't seen that yet. I can't see the same guy being used, even in a supporting role." HEMMING was asked if CHRIST was "Raoul." HEMMING told this researcher: "You can't identify him by name. It is a small crew of people. We're working with a very small circle. This was one of the Dealey Plaza crew. You have to go worldwide to find that kind of talent, A.J. I'm talking about technicians and support. I'm not talking about shooters, per se." James Earl Ray denied that the CHRIST tramp was "Raoul": "[Attorney Percy Forman] came to visit me and he had a picture for me to look at. This picture was about 8 X 10 inches. Mr. Forman said Mr. Huie had given him the picture and that Mr. Huie had got the picture from someone in the Federal Government. The picture contained two or three men, followed by two or three policemen. Mr. Forman described one of them in the picture as an 'anti-communist' Cuban refugee who was arrested at the time President Kennedy was shot. 'The arrest took place in Dallas,' I was told. I was asked if I would identify the man if he was brought to Memphis. I said no, although he did look similar to the man I was involved with. After I wouldn't identify the man about all I was told was that I would go to the electric chair if I went to trial." [Ltr. from James Earl Ray to Senator Eastland 3.14.69 Sec 78 MURKIN file] Percy Forman allegedly visited the family of James Earl Ray in St. Louis and asked them to persuade James Earl Ray to plead guilty. James Earl Ray: "The gist of Forman's message was that if the plea were not forthcoming, the FBI would have both of my brothers indicted for complicity in the King homicide." In a letter to this researcher James Earl Ray stated: "As to DAVID CHRIST, I have mentioned before that he has striking similarities to Raoul, and could have been his brother, but I doubt very much if he was Raoul." In an affidavit James Earl Ray contradicted this statement: "I have made a positive identification of the individual in the statement as Raoul..." [HSCA V3 p564]

James Earl Ray told Playboy in June 1977: "Well, I've seen all these pictures, I've looked at a hundred of them. That's the first one Percy Forman showed me. See, Forman at one time wanted to have this individual arrested. I'm pretty sure that was the individual. Then bring him to Memphis, then I was going to identify him and he was going to use that in the defense. I didn't want to do it because I wasn't one hundred percent sure of this picture. All I said was he had a striking resemblance to this Raoul. Just that it was a striking resemblance. Of course I never made a hundred percent positive identification. I'd say there was really a strong resemblance. We'll still look at other pictures, but I'm not going to be no state witness against anyone." During other testimony James Earl Ray said that the reason he did not want to identify CHRIST as "Raoul" was because "I'm not interested in, you know, identifying anyone from you know, for some type of state witness." [HSCA MLK Vol 1 p236]

James Earl Ray claimed that "Raoul" had set him up on a murder charge. Would Ray really have been reluctant to testify against "Raoul" because the dictates of prison morality forbade it? Ray wanted to bolster his story about being framed by saying "Raoul" looked like the tramp, but he would never use it in his legal defense because he knew it was untrue.

Percy Forman remembered showing photographs to James Earl Ray, but denied wanting to arrest anyone. He said: "There was no Raoul. Ray told me he invented him to feed conspiracy theories." Percy Forman swore under oath that James Earl Ray told him he had invented "Raoul." [N.Y. Daily News 6.14.77] James Earl Ray was asked by the HSCA: "Now, Mr. Kershaw just gave me the book Coup D'Etat in America, and I'm opened to page 212 and 213. Can you take a look at this and tell me if this is what you made reference to?" James Earl Ray: "Yes, that's it. Very similar but as I have mentioned before, I don't - I'm not going to make any visual identification of anyone, but that person is the most similar to any picture I have ever seen of him in my life." [HSCA KING V9 p369]

Analysis of the MURKIN file revealed that the Bureau failed to put together a composite sketch of the suspect based on descriptions furnished to it by eyewitnesses to the shooting in Memphis. Instead, the FBI relied on the recollections of people who came into contact with James Earl Ray in Birmingham, Alabama, such as the owners of Aeromarine Supply. [FBI 44-38861-254 4.8.68 teletype] A Airtel from the SAC of the Memphis Office revealed: "Submitted herewith for Bureau's information is a Polaroid copy of the artist's conception, as prepared in Birmingham. It might be noted that this conception is acceptable to Birmingham witnesses. It, however, was rejected by five rooming house witnesses in Memphis. This would seeming suggest a possibility, as has been previously considered, that there may well be two people involved in the murder." [FBI 44-3886-253]

William Harrington of the Memphis Commercial Appeal drew a sketch of King's assailant based on the reports of eyewitnesses to the assassination. William Harrington's sketch was based on "descriptions from the men living in Memphis rooming house from which the killer fired." [FBI 44-38811-473 p2 Sec. A] The sketch showed a profile of a sharp-nosed man.

Sergio Jaubert, a police artist in Mexico City, put together a sketch, on the day of the assassination, based on "a description provided by the FBI following speculation that the assassin may have fled to Mexico." [UPI telephoto NXP-MXP 1 4.10.67] When the United Press published Sergio Jaubert's sketch, the FBI Legal Attache in Mexico City cabled J. Edgar Hoover: "For the Bureau's information, the local police artist who prepared the sketch in question is Sergio C. Jaubert, who serves the Metropolitan Police and the Judicial Police of the District and Territories in Mexico. He has not been in direct contact with this office and has, according to police sources, relied completely on press accounts concerning the appearance of the unidentified Subject." [FBI 44-98861-1181] The FBI also denied that they were "looking for any individual in Mexico." [FBI 44-98861-1181] The FBI was definitely looking for a "sharp-nosed" suspect in Mexico. A college student from Arizona was detained at the border because he fit this description. [NYT 4.11.68] The FBI never released a sketch - instead it released James Earl Ray's graduation picture from bartender's school.

On May 14, 1968, while investigating the Martin Luther King assassination, FBI S.A. Bardwell Odum questioned Felix McKnight of the Dallas Times Herald about the tramp shots, also on the basis of the CHRIST tramp's similarity to the sketch. Bardwell Odum: "It appeared to him that the alleged newspaper artist's sketch appeared to have been made by someone who was looking at the photograph of the unknown look-alike." Bardwell Odum continued to investigate the tramps and, as stated, was the agent who questioned Bass, Wise, Vaughn and Kitching. Bardwell Odum was questioned about the tramps by this researcher in 1993: "I heard about them. I didn't have any contact with them. I don't know that the FBI released them. I don't who it would have been. I never knew about any three tramps until a long time after that. They were interviewing all kinds of people, and not paying much attention to them. I didn't have anything to do with that. Fritz didn't like the FBI much, so there's no telling what he said. I sure don't remember questioning that publisher. I don't recall working on anything involving the Martin Luther King assassination. If I interviewed a publisher about it, I certainly don't recall him saying anything that it looked like one of those tramps, 'cause I never wrote anything about those tramps and never even heard about 'em. Never heard of Bass, Wise and Vaughn. I know Kitching, but he was just an identification officer. No sir, I never did it. In fact, I never heard about those tramps 'til years later. And that was mostly from people like you, writers who work up all these things, but I never had anything to do with it in an official, I never even heard who, if they were identified, or what? I thought the police department couldn't even find out who they were, so I don't know how anybody figured that out. They had nothing to do with the FBI. I never heard of those people until 1975. I retired in June or July 1968. It is my recollection that I never did anything in connection with MURKIN. I think they got my name in place of some other agent, because a lot of that stuff sounds like Greek to me." James Hosty commented, "Maybe he doesn't want to remember?" Odum was sent FBI document 62-109060-7138 that linked him to the MURKIN case. Odum commented: "The document did not refresh my memory. I don't remember anything like that. If it was significant, I would remember it. You cover thousands of leads, something that never amounts to anything, you don't remember. The tramps, I didn't run into them when I was investigating for the FBI. That was some rumor some newspaper came up with, I don't remember doing anything on that. The only publisher I ever talked to was Felix McKnight. I talked to him on a lot of occasions. He was my friend. I never knew anything about the tramps. That all came out years later." [Odum, Bardwell 9518 Parkford Drive Dallas Texas 75238 telephone 214-348-3165]

The FBI reported: "One latent fingerprint of value found on board from window sill (Q71)...Latent print on board currently being compared with fingerprint of all suspects. Results will follow."

In December 1973 James Earl Ray sent a statement to a local television station in which he swore he had provided his attorneys with two telephone numbers given to him by "Raoul." James Earl Ray told the Atlanta Journal: "Look, I know the telephone numbers of two men in Louisiana. The authorities could have got their names. For some reason they didn't want to pursue the case. Get the two guys in New Orleans and you will know a lot more." In 1976 James Earl Ray stated:

(a) during one period of plaintiff's confinement in 1968 he wrote down on a money receipt issued forth from the Sheriff's office of the Shelby county, Tennessee, jail information which plaintiff believed had a direct bearing on said criminal indictment.

(b) the information consisted of telephone numbers & one name & address; all numbers were written down backwards, including the address.

© The two telephone numbers were listed next to the word "Sister," the first being listed in New Orleans, Louisiana, the second being in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

(d) The address is listed under the name Vera C. Staples.

(e) The telephone number listed under the Baton Rouge address was furnished to plaintiff's attorney, Percy Foreman, who was representing plaintiff in criminal indictment.

(f) the address was not investigated until plaintiff was incarcerated upon pleading to said indictment. A compendium of the first trial investigation would indicate: the information cited above was given to a St. Louis, Missouri, labor leader, [Lawrence Calahan of the St. Louis, Missouri, Steam fitters Union] and informed it pertained to the MLK case, who apparently in turn furnished the information to a Nashville, Tennessee, ex-Attorney to investigate: said attorney had sources in the State of Louisiana investigate the matter and thereafter said attorney reported the Baton Rouge listed number resident was under the influence of the Teamster's Union and in New Orleans listed number resident was among other things an agent of a mideast organization disturbed because of Dr. King's reported, forthcoming, before his death, public support of the Palestine Arab cause. (References to the address if any was unclear).

(g) the plaintiff had come by said name and address shortly before crossing the border in November 1967 from Tijuana, Mexico, into the United States. The name was Randolph Erwin Rosen, 1180 N.W. River Drive, Miami, Florida; other reference was made to aa LEAA. A check through the Miami directory in 1970 indicated no Rosen listed with the above first and second name; thereafter and attorney in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was furnished the Rosen name and asked if he could find any information regarding the Subject in New Orleans, and informed the Subject might have criminal record; the attorney reported back that the Subject's last name most likely was Rosenson and that he had a criminal conviction in New Orleans, Louisiana, federal court for a narcotics violation; thereafter a Tennessee licensed attorney procured the transcript of said conviction; subsequently another check was made through the Miami telephone directory which did list a Randy Rosenson but with an address discrepancy. That is February 1969 after Percy Foreman had entered into literary contracts with defendant Huie, plaintiff furnished Attorney Foreman with the above mentioned Baton Rouge phone number and asked him to investigate. In connection with the MLK jr. homicide. Shortly thereafter Mr. Forman replied, in effect, that if there were to be any phone numbers referred to in court he (Forman) would furnish them through contacts in interstate gambling. Mr. Forman mentioned a Mr. Meyer Lansky as his source." [USDC-Tenn. C-76-274; USDC Nashville, Tenn. Div. Civ-7338]

The Baton Rouge telephone number written backwards belonged to Mrs. Jane and Herman Thompson of Baton Rouge. Herman Thompson's wife ran the Abstract Office there. In an interview with this researcher in 1978 Mrs. Thompson admitted the number belonged to her in 1968, but said she never received any telephone calls from James Earl Ray, or from researchers who had linked her number to the Martin Luther King slaying. She denied having any knowledge of the King assassination. She said that her husband worked for H.E. Weiss Construction Engineers and was not involved with the Teamsters.

Traces on Herman Thompson included a libel suit filed against a political opponent:

"On June 27, 1962, petitioner Phil A. St. Amant, a candidate for public office, made a televised speech in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In the course of this speech, St. Amant read a series of questions which he had put to J.D. Albin, a member of the Teamsters Union Local, and Albin's answers to those questions. The exchange concerned the allegedly nefarious activities of E. G. Partin, the present relationship between Partin and St. Amant's political opponent. One of Albin's answers concerned his efforts to prevent Partin from secreting union records; in this answer Albin referred to Herman A. Thompson, an East Baton Rouge Deputy Sheriff and respondent here:

"'Now we knew that this safe [containing the records] was gonna be moved that night, but imagine our predicament knowing of Ed Partin's connections with the Sheriff's Office through Herman Thompson, who made recent visits to the hall to see Ed Partin. We also knew of money that had been passed between Ed Partin and Herman Thompson *** from Ed to Herman. We also knew of his connections with State Trooper Lieutenant Joe Green. We knew we couldn't get any help from there, and we didn't know how far that he was involved in the Sheriff's office or the State Police office through that, and it was out of the jurisdiction of the City Police.' Thompson promptly brought suit for deformation, claiming that the publication had 'imputed*** gross misconduct' and inferred 'conduct of a most nefarious nature.' The case was tried prior to the opinion in New York Times v. Sullivan. The trial judge ruled in Thompson's favor and awarded $5,000 in damages." The case eventually went to the United States Supreme Court: 'By no proper test of reckless disregard was St. Amant's broadcast a reckless publication about a public officer. Nothing referred to by the Louisiana courts indicates an awareness by St. Amant of the probable falsity of Albin's statement about Thompson. Failure to investigate does not in itself establish bad faith. St. Amant's mistake about his probable legal liability does not evidence a doubtful mind on his part. That he failed to realize the import of what he broadcast - and was thus heedless of the consequences for Thompson - is similarly colorless. Closer to the mark are considerations of Albin's reliability. However, the most the State Court could say was that there was no evidence in the record of Albin's reputation for veracity, and this fact merely underlines the failure of Thompson's evidence to demonstrate a low community assessment of Albin's trustworthiness or unsatisfactory experience with him by St. Amant. Other facts in this record support our view. St. Amant made his broadcast in June 1962. He had known Albin since October 1961, when he first met with members of the dissident Teamsters faction. St. Amant testified that he had verified other aspects of Albin's information and that he had affidavits from others. Moreover, Albin swore to his answers, first in writing and later in the presence of newsmen. According to Albin, he was prepared to substantiate his charges. St. Amant knew that Albin was engaged in an internal struggle in the union. Albin seemed to St. Amant to be placing himself in personal danger by publicly airing the details of the dispute." [St. Amant v. Thompson 88 S. Ct 1323 (1968)] In a letter to this researcher James Earl Ray wrote: "I am certain Thompson didn't have involvement in the Martin Luther King case. Policemen might thump a head in the back room, but assassination is something else, further I never contacted him with the phone number and suspect it was given to me for diversionary purposes --- this is Hollywood fare, red neck cop assaults Black man. There is more to the case than that type b.s." In another letter to this researcher Ray wrote: "Regarding the phone number.

1. Thompson used to be a sheriff (dep.) In the parish Baton Rouge is in. We have determined that phone number was planted on me and I never used it.

2. There was an earlier phone number but I can't recall it and we don't know whether we can locate it.

James Earl Ray told the HSCA: "I think they are bogus because [Huie] never got them off me, and they are probably somebody he's prejudiced against. I think one of them's name was a, Grady Partin."

Edward Partin told his life story to Life magazine: "I'm a Teamster, and some people think, a hard one. I've been in fights and jails and packed a gun, and I've been shot twice and knifed once. My daddy was a sawmill worker in the red clay hills around Woodville, Mississippi, when I was born in February 1924." Edward Partin joined the Marines but "hit an officer once and went to the brig on bread and water. And once I helped roll a sailor. Later they put me in front of a summary court and gave me a bad conduct discharge." After his discharge, he did three years in the Washington State Reformatory. He joined the Teamsters in the mid-1950's and moved to Baton Rouge. I. Irving Davidson told the FBI that he had heard there was a photograph available of Edward Partin in the presence of JACK RUBY. I. Irving Davidson was unable to furnish any additional details regarding the photograph or his source for this information. I. Irving Davidson told the FBI that Edward Partin had run guns to Fidel in the late 1950's. "Davidson stated that it was felt by Teamster's Union officials (not identified) that Edward Partin furnished some information to the Subcommittee relating to his activities on behalf of Castro." In 1961 Edward Partin was indicted for vehicular manslaughter. In 1962 became a government informant after he was indicted for labor racketeering in New Orleans. He was also indicted for kidnapping by the local authorities. In 1962 Edward Partin was approached by Jimmy Hoffa: "Jimmy asked my help in a scheme to kill Attorney General Robert Kennedy...There were a lot of troubles going on in teamsters particularly in Philadelphia....Hoffa said 'You know anywhere you can got hold of a plastic bomb?...somebody needs to bump that son-of-a-bitch Robert Kennedy off...the person who does it can hide out in Puerto Rico.'" [Life 5.15.64] Edward Partin's report on Hoffa was corroborated by a lie detector test supervised by Life magazine. Edward Partin attempted to get Jimmy Hoffa to incriminate himself on tape, but Jimmy Hoffa refused to discuss any such matter over the telephone. In 1978 Edward Partin told the HSCA that Jimmy Hoffa may have approached him about the assassination proposal because Jimmy Hoffa believed him to be close to various figures in CARLOS MARCELLO'S organization. [HSCA Rep. p176] Edward Partin was a key witness in the trial of Jimmy Hoffa and three others, which resulted in their conviction for obstruction of Justice in Chattagnooga, Tennesse, in 1964. The FBI, at the request of the Attorney General, interviewed Edward Partin on two occasions with the aid of a polygraph. The first test was inconclusive, the second indicated he was telling the truth. Edward Partin, by his own admission, was a habitual liar. He had an extensive arrest record and has been charged in the past with forgery, aggravated kidnaping and assault and battery. The FBI's files indicated he was an unscrupulous individual. [FBI 62-109060-4833] In 1971 Edward Partin had his wife contact the Cuban Embassy in Mexico City and ask it for a visa. [CIA No. 14,636 2.26.71]

HEMMING told this researcher: "You're card that keeps you alive may be that you're keeping quiet, or if you aren't keeping quiet, you're giving out wrong answers that satisfies the people who are going to let you live. Now, if Ray wants to put some heat on these people, he suspects that this was this, or this was that, whether he was set up or not, he knows the business, he knows these people could have his ass. If he's figured out who one or more of them may be, he's not gonna blurt it out to just anybody. He wouldn't tell his own goddamned mother, why the fuck would he tell a stranger? He would rarely even tell a lawyer, he doesn't know where these lawyers come from. And it's his ass, if somebody makes a mistake, it's his ass."

HEMMING 1995: "HARGRAVES was dealing with Grady Partin when he was still friendly with Jimmy Hoffa. Partin helped do a number of things in Baton Rouge for HARGRAVES. And HARGRAVES was puzzled what the hell could they get on Grady to make him roll over that way. I never asked HARGRAVES [about the connection of Edward Partin to Fidel Castro] but HARGRAVES and Partin were like two of a kind in talking about revolutionaries, that was a term that was used, the real revolutionaries, starting with the American revolution. HARGRAVES got along famously with Grady because he talked like a revolutionary and he had the stories and he had the shit together in the exact (?) and that kind of stuff."

In October 1977 this researcher corresponded with James Earl Ray and discovered that Ray only remembered the last four digits (3757) of the second number he found on the business card and thought that the exchange of "The partial New Orleans phone number maybe 866 or 668 (the lawyer has the number, you have the last four digets. I recalled the last four digets and when through various phone books etc. and the above 866 seemed the most familiar but I'm not sure. This phone number as I say may be wrong, but it is listed under a double name, a french name & I believe a name similar to "Levine." It is a Marine Supply establishment." You have the last four digits on the receipt written backwards."

The 1968 New Orleans Criss Cross Directory listed 866-3757 as Laventhal Marine Supply. "Laventhal" was a Jewish name, so James Earl Ray blamed the Mossad for the death of Martin Luther King. James Earl Ray: "The resident listed in New Orleans was, among other things, an agent of a Mideast organization distressed because of King's reported, forthcoming, before his death, public support of the Palestinian Arab cause." [USDC Nashville, Tenn. Div. Civ-7338] James Earl Ray attempted to disguise his hatred for the Jews when he told HSCA: "I don't want to get into this libel area again and say something that might be embarrassing to -- disservice some group or organizations...he intended, like Vietnam, to support the Arab cause..someone in his organization making contact with the Palestinians for an alliance.." [HSCA MLK V1p299]

James Earl Ray said he was not sure of the exchange. This researcher checked every exchange in New Orleans for numbers ending in 3757. When I checked under 833-3757, a number similar to 866-3757, I found that the number belonged to the Town and Country Motel. David Ferrie called this telephone number. JACK RUBY called Nofio Pecora, who was a former manager of the Town and Country Motel. CARLOS MARCELLO maintained an office there. [Cong. Rec. Kohn 8.6.70 E7389] Life magazine reported: "CARLOS MARCELLO directs his criminal empire from this office at the Town and Country..." [Life 9.67] James Earl Ray wrote to this researcher and stated that Attorney Jim Lesar had brought the Town and Country connection to his attention, but told him "CARLOS MARCELLO had an extension which I did not have." James Earl Ray told the HSCA that he called this number "several times but I never did talk to him directly. It was always someone who seemed, who was speaking for him so..." James Earl Ray testified that he did not call this number after Martin Luther King was hit because "I didn't want to have contact with anyone, family members, criminal associates." [MLK Vol. p 201,417]. HEMMING told this researcher: "It would not be that direct. A cutout, like an attorney, would have been involved. A mob lawyer."

Why would James Earl Ray have been given a number to contact "Raoul" that might have been tapped? Other researchers, however, linked MARCELLO to the Kennedy assassination including Louis Lomax, a black journalist from Los Angeles.

Louis Lomax was born August 16, 1922, in rural Georgia. Lomax attended a Negro college then did graduate work at American University. The FBI reported a case emanating from its Washington Field Office dated July 20, 1945, entitled "Foreign Inspired Agitation Among American Negroes in the Washington Field Division - Internal Security." This case was a result of that fact that Louis Lomax was the "first Negro to write and present dramatic sketches on the radio in the District of Columbia." Lomax was identified as a newsman and a student at American University.

Lomax obtained a Masters Degree from American University in 1947 and became a preacher in Waycross, Georgia. He was a complainant in a civil rights case in May 1947 wherein a police officer was alleged to have used too much force on "a local Negro" for which the Department of Justice ruled did not constitute a civil rights violation. He worked as a newspaperman until December 5, 1949, when he was arrested for larceny for having rented a car in Indiana and taken it to Chicago where he was arrested for selling the car under fictitious registration.. He served two years at Illinois State Prison at Joliet, from 1952 to September 28, 1954. After he was released, Louis Lomax wrote books about the Black Muslims and the Civil Rights struggle.

FBI official L.B. Nichols sent a memorandum to Clyde Tolson on February 8, 1956, regarding Louis Lomax: "Max Rabb of the White House called me on February 7, 1956, to advise me that Jim Hagerty had sent him a letter from Louis E. Lomax requesting an interview with the President along with a copy of a letter which Lomax sent the Director. Max stated that he was inclined to see Lomax and he thought the time had come to make the point that the tactics of some of the Negro leaders were ill-advised, were alienating support and were uncalled for."

Maxwell Rabb was Legal and Legislative Counsel to Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal in 1946. He was Associate Counsel to the President of the United States from 1953 to 1954 and Secretary to the Cabinet of the White House from 1953 to 1958.

On February 8, 1956, FBI official L.B. Nichols, in a memo to Clyde Tolson dated February 9, 1956, stated: "I told Maxwell Rabb that Lomax still reports to his parole officer and that the parole officer had advised Lomax not to marry a white girl (Suzanne Avery) although there was some indication the two were living together without benefit of matrimony." [FBI 62-102926-3] By 1965 Lomax was a well known television commentator in Los Angeles. In August 1966 KTTV, a television station that employed Lomax, received this letter: "How long are we going to have to listen to that red nigger preach and defend Communism over your station, I mean Louis Lomax. Last night's session was a disgrace, to hear him tear to pieces the Cuban Government official who had defected to his country..." In late 1963 the FBI instituted an investigation of Lomax due to his having traveled to Cuba for Harper's Magazine. [FBI 62-102924-16] In 1964 Lomax wrote a book that focused on Malcolm X. In 1967 Lomax traveled to Thailand, to do a book on the war he thought was imminent there. [NYT 8.1.70] Louis Lomax came to the attention of the CIA that year, when he planned to go on a peace mission to Vietnam with Martin Luther King. [CIA FOIA #F94-1945. On 1.23.97 Lee S.Strickland of the CIA informed this researcher that this document was the only one the CIA possessed on Lomax] Louis Lomax was very much involved in the civil right movement and the anti-war movement. The FBI had an extensive file on him. He called for a Warren-type commission to investigate the Martin Luther King slaying.

In the Summer of 1968 Louis Lomax convinced Charles Stein to accompany him on a trip to Texas in order to find the pay phone James Earl Ray used when he called "Raoul". He offered Charles Stein $4000 to show him the phone booth. Louis Lomax asked the FBI to accompany his crew on trip. It declined, although Louis Lomax's photographer reported back to the Bureau. [FBI 44-38861-2190] Louis Lomax was free lancing for the North American Newspaper Alliance.

Charles Stein and Louis Lomax retraced the trip from Los Angeles to New Orleans by traveling from New Orleans to Los Angeles. Charles Stein pointed out a couple of phones that were familiar, including a coin telephone located at an Enco Service station in Uvalde, Texas but the FBI found no calls from this pay phone to New Orleans. The FBI checked nine booths near Houston and determined no calls went out on December 17, 1963, to New Orleans. [FBI 44-38861-2460; Memo: To DeLoach; LA FBI 44-1574 5.25.68] The FBI reported that Stein was described by "(Deleted) as extremely vague and not sure of the area where the call was allegedly made."

On April 25, 1968, Louis Lomax asked the FBI Los Angeles Field Office to secure the toll records of Sam J. Recile, 510 O'Keefe, New Orleans, telephone 821-1411. The Los Angeles FBI Office called the telephone company in New Orleans and determined that 821-1411 was listed to The New Orleans States Item. The FBI asked the phone company not to pull the toll records. The FBI could have pulled the toll records on Sam J. Recile, and not on The New Orleans States Item. [FBI 157-10623-536] On April 30, 1968, the FBI ran a check on Sam J. Recile. It discovered that Sam Recile was born in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, in 1932 and was engaged in the oil leasing and real estate speculation and development business. "According to a highly confidential FBI source, Sam Recile is a friend of JOSEPH and CARLOS MARCELLO (Deleted). His legitimate holdings consist of hotels and large real estate holdings. (Deleted) Re: serials 157-10673-536 and 157-10673-550 pg #2 and 157-10673-685 in New Orleans file entitled MURKIN. The following is a summary of the pertinent details found in New Orleans Office files under the Subject (Recile) name and aliases. All references listed under the above names containing data identical or possibly identical with the above described Subject have been included herein." [FBI 157-10673-701] Another FBI document stated: "Sam Recile is a New Orleans real estate manipulator whose business enterprises are currently in litigation."The FBI never checked Recile's toll records. [FBI 159-10673-536; FBI 44-38861-2547; FBI 159-10673-685; FBI 159-10673-550; 157-10673-701]

In June 1970 Lomax was indicted for Federal income tax evasion. On July 31, 1970, Louis Lomax lost control of his car while traveling east on Interstate 70 during a late night drive. His car skidded off the highway, overturning three times and stopped on the right shoulder of the highway. He was thrown from the vehicle and Lomax, 47, died of a concussion and internal injuries. [NYT 8.1.70]

In January 1976 the Village Voice ran a story by Dick Russell that alleged that, Jack Youngblood, a one time associate of HEMMING, was in Jim's Cafe, located on the first floor of the flop house, eating bacon and sausages, just before the Martin Luther King assassination. Llyod Jowers told the FBI about this man. The FBI: "Lloyd Jowers, owner, Jim's Grill, 418 South Main Street, advised that at approximately 3:55 p.m. on April 4, 1968, he arrived at the Grill, and parked directly in back of a white Mustang that was parked on the street directly in front of his Grill. He stated that he believed that the car had Mississippi license plates on it because they were of an orange or orangish-yellow color. He stated that upon parking the car he went into the Grill where he saw a stranger sitting at the bar having a meal. He stated that it was unusual for him to get any strange customers in the Grill since most of his customers were local people of a steady nature. Mr. Jowers stated that this same individual returned to the Grill about 8:00 p.m. on April 5, 1968, and ordered breakfast. Mr. Jowers stated that in his estimation, this individual acted strangely because he seemed very calm when everyone else at the Grill and in the area was excited over the shooting. In view of the fact that he felt the individual was acting strange and also because he was a stranger in the area, Mr. Jowers called the Police, and told them that he had a man of a suspicious nature at the Grill. He said that when the stranger finished his breakfast, he left the Grill and was arrested on the sidewalk in front of the Grill by the Memphis Police Department. (Deleted) Homicide Bureau, Memphis Police Department, later identified this arrested individual as Gene Pearson Crawford (Deleted) Jackson, Tennessee, who was determined to have had no part in the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King." [FBI 44-1987 4.5.68] HEMMING encouraged Dick Russell: "Youngblood looked like somebody with intelligence connections. He knew too much." Loran Hall stated: "Youngblood's a friend of PATRICK'S. And if I'm not mistaken, Youngblood had been to PATRICK'S camp or something now in the Keys and was -- I'm almost positive in 1963 when we were in Los Angeles before we went to Miami together, that Youngblood was in San Francisco."

A recently released CIA Office of Security document stated: "Despite Dr. King's statements the Washington protests are for jobs or income for all, there can be little doubt the activity will be closely interlinked with the 'peace' movement, as the activity escalates. The FBI noted that Dr. King has shown not only a willingness, but even an eagerness, to accept Communist aid, to support Communist causes, to confer with high-ranking Communist functionaries, and to rely heavily upon the advice and direction of dedicated Communists with concealed affiliation. It notes, specifically, that one of these Communist advisors wrote King's vicious denunciation of U.S. policy in Vietnam, which he delivered before the April 15, 1967, rally held in New York City by Bevel's National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam. According to the FBI, Dr. King is regarded in Communist circles as 'a genuine Marxist-Leninist who is following the Marxist Communist line.'" [CIA Charles Kane AD/OS 3.15.68] King was placed under audio surveillance when he stayed at the Americana Hotel in January 1966. [FBI 100-106670-2224X] And FBI document stated: "The initial OPR report (page 134) contained a discussion regarding a proposed counter-intelligence action against King. This entire page was deleted in the revised report, apparently for privacy reasons. This proposal concerned a woman with whom King was involved and a child born to her in 1965, reportedly fathered by King." HEMMING: "Could you have gotten government sanction to do the job from a consensus of intelligence professionals who are not opposed to taking out a Soviet agent now and then?"

A lot of the information in this date base may come as a surprise to the members of the intelligence community who access this site, a lot of it may not. Nonetheless, if this independent researcher was able to piece together this information, why couldn't intelligence analysts within the CIA do the same? The CIA never attempted to trace the Martin Luther King assassination to HEMMING or HARGRAVES since both men were part of MK/CHAOS anti-Black Panther operations at the time. As for CHRIST, he was employed by the CIA at the time of Martin Luther King's assassination.

The Department Of Justice Martin Luther King Task Force never acknowledged the existence of "Raoul" and believed that the brothers of James Earl Ray were involved in the assassination of Martin Luther King. The Department of Justice report concluded "James Earl Ray was lying about the existence of Raoul...an underworld figure...and Ray's self-serving attribution of Raoul who directed him to buy the car and who supplied him cash is uncorroborated...the source for Ray's funds still remains a mystery today." The Report suggested "Raoul" might have been Jerry Ray. In June 1977 James Earl Ray and several prisoners, one of them black, escaped from Brushy Mountain Prison. James Earl Ray was captured three days later.

HEMMING claimed HARGRAVES was present as a COPE delegate at the reception for Vice President Hubert Humphrey. HEMMING told this researcher: "You have to know your target before you penetrate. Humphrey was running for President in 1968. I got HARGRAVES a pass, and he got his picture taken with Humphrey." Prior to this, HEMMING claimed to have met with Hubert Humphrey at the Harbor Square East Condominium, Washington, D.C. HEMMING told this researcher: "That was a casual encounter when I was helping Strom Thurmond move into his new apartment in 1967. I was standing there talkin' to Hubert Humphrey. One agent goes behind my car and checks the Florida National Guard license plates on my 1966 Polaris. Meanwhile, I'm talking to Hubert Humphrey on the sidewalk."

HEMMING claimed he began working with the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's office in 1969 and was in Mexico in 1970 selling arms for Mitch Werbell. HEMMING told this researcher: "Werbell's MAC-10's and all that shit, that opened the door to the palace level, the highest level, in every fucking country south of the Rio Grande. And opened us to everything that was going on. This group wanted to pull a coup, death squads, the whole fucking thing. The only element that has that whole package of civilians, foreign ministers, ex-ministers, a cabal in each country including wealthy land owners [is the gun people]. The only element that has more than the gun people are the dope smugglers. Because all these people are on their payroll." According to HEMMING, the nephew of Rolando Masferrer, Kiki Masferrer, and Ed Kaiser, constituted Mitch Werbell's sales staff in Florida. Sonia Kaiser reported: "Ed used to take trips to the Turks and Cacaos islands. He was kicked off the Turks and Cacaos. They wouldn't let him go back." In 1970 two FBI Letter Head Memorandums were generated about HEMMING. [FBI LHMs Miami 105-3973 FBI 105-86406-28 9.21.70 pgs. 1-3, 5-6 w/h, 12.10.70; HQ 2-1693-55 p7 w/h; HQ 105-92196-8 pgs. 1-3 w/h] On September 16, 1970, and December 10, 1970, the FBI in Miami generated two documents about ROY HARGRAVES in which HEMMING was mentioned. [FBI 105-3973]

In a self-generated document HEMMING wrote:

"Subject HEMMING initiated new foreign (Government Level) contacts within Mexico after 7 months of preliminary research beginning early 1971 while working in Miami, Florida, area. Mexican Government contact was established through cut-out during November 1971. Reference following:

a. Narcotics activities MEXICO-CONUS.

b. Special weapons procurement for Mexican law enforcement agencies at a state level.

c. Assessment of communist guerilla groups directed by M. Rojas and Lucio Cabanias operating within the states of Guererro, Morelos, Sinaloa, Michoacan.

d. Arranged U.S. visit by Mexican Government law enforcement officials for inspection and demonstration of special weapons and law enforcement equipment at defense plant located near Atlanta, Georgia.

e. Evaluated reports that one or more major heroin laboratories in Mexico is under direct control and supervision of individual holding cabinet level position in administration of President Luis Echavarria. f. Arranged for Staff Intelligence Officer, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, to travel with small team to Mexico to copy Mexican law enforcement official files and photographs of all U.S., Mexican, and other foreign nationals involved in narcotic smuggling to the Southern California areas. Team to carry photographic and copying equipment under both corporate proprietary and news media cover.(Staff Intelligence Official Los Angeles Country Sheriff's Department is NT/MOUNTAIN.

Most of the 1970 HEMMING FBI files concerned Cuba and HARGRAVES. HARGRAVES was arrested in Miami in 1970. He was charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. HEMMING claimed he acted as a lawyer for HARGRAVES, and so HARGRAVES was acquitted. A CIA report stated: "HEMMING is reportedly carrying CIA identification and telling Miami Cubans that he and Werbell are CIA." HEMMING told this researcher in 1994: "Not likely. The only I.D. we carried were our Federal Firearms Class Three Licenses. CIA does not have I.D."

Dick Russell asked HEMMING: "Last year you told Senate investigators about a situation in 1970 when you discussed a plot by some anti-Castro Cuban exiles in Miami - who worked closely with the CIA - to fire a missile at RICHARD NIXON'S Presidential compound in Florida and make it look like a Castro-planned operation." HEMMING: "That was the fall of 1970. This particular group of exiles was working on a commodities exchange operation out of Florida. There's a tremendous shortages of commodities inside Cuba, coffee, flour, you name it. So the original intent was to compromise some of Castro's Cuban Army types by getting them a few goodies now and then. There were a number of fishing boats moving out from Florida and taking commodities down there - primarily rice, lard, used clothing, used shoes, things like that. One thing led to another and one of the exile groups got absorbed by the CIA. The CIA started using this operation for getting agents in and out of Cuba...About this time one of my contacts was [HARGRAVES]. And before long this group starts talking in Miami about having the full cooperation of some Castro military types who were about to be issued a Russian Ossa patrol vessel, that kind that carries Styx missiles. They said they also had some contact with some SAM [Strategic Air Missile] site people inside Cuba with Castro Air Force artillery. And the exiles were going to use those people by putting together a simultaneous plan. First, one of the SAM's would 'accidentally' hit one of the aircraft heading into the U.S. base at Guantanamo and at the same time, the presidential compound on Bay Lane in Key Biscayne would get hit with a couple of Styx missiles. Their patrol boat would innocently be three or four miles out to sea - very easily identifiable with Cuban markings. They were going to make sure to hit the compound when NIXON was in town. Maybe they'd wait until he stepped out of his helicopter. I don't know what the coordination was. I didn't get that close to it. But my impression was that there wouldn't be any survivors in the Presidential compound." [Argosy 1976]

In a Freedom of Information Act request dated January 3, 1977, addressed to the United States Secret Service, HEMMING asked for "Reports to the Secret Service regarding a conspiracy to assault the Presidential Compound at Key Biscayne by United States and foreign nationals, including:

a) A memorandum to the Miami Field Office of the Secret Service regarding past illegal activities on my part, which memo was sent that office by another Government Agency.

b) Statements by the CIA that the above alleged conspiracy was 'wired in' by their agents.

c) An attempt by U.S. Customs Officers and FBI Agents to 'burn' my informant in the presence of the conspirators.

d) An attempt to color the participation of a Cuban P.T. boat in the conspiracy by alluding to an alleged sportive MIG Aircraft, strike at Boca Chica Naval Air Station or Homestead Air Force Base.

e) The intrusion of local law enforcement agents into the situation."

(Deleted)

July 23, 1970

MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief (Deleted)

SUBJECT: HEMMINGS, Gerald P. Jr. HARGRAVES, Roy Emory

2. At about 3:30 p.m. on July 21, 1970, two white males entered the Miami Secret Service office and requested to speak with a particular agent who had been transferred from the Miami Office to the San Antonio office. The two individuals were directed to Joseph Gasquez, Chief/Intelligence Unit whereupon they identified themselves as HEMMING and HARGRAVES. (Bio sheets attached)...

3. HEMMINGS opened the conversation with Gasquez by establishing the fact that he had cooperated with the Miami Secret Service. He considered himself an American patriot and wished to introduced HARGRAVE, who had something to report. With this, HEMMING remained quiet, without substantive comment, while HARGRAVE related the following situation.

4. HARGRAVE, who has resided in the Miami Florida area in November 1969 met a local Cuban male by the name of Yvonne Vidal Santiago (no further biographical data available) during Christmas of 1969. Santiago, over an unspecified period of time, has supposedly been in contact with an unknown number of Cuban leaders who reside in the areas of Cuba which are adjacent to the United States Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay. Santiago has been able to engage these leaders in anti-Castro activities through patriotic reasons and by assuring the safe removal of their families from Cuba. This has supposedly already been accomplished and their families are now in safe areas outside Cuba.

5. Santiago's objective is the downfall of Castro and the present Cuban Government. He plans to accomplish this by training the aforementioned leaders who will cause Cuban missiles located in their areas to be fired at the United States Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, thus provoking the United States into an all out war with the Castro Government. If these leaders are unable to cause missiles toward the United States Naval Base, they will cause a conventional attack of Cuban military forces to be made against the United States Base, hoping to accomplish the same objective. The minimum result of either is expected to be a stronger and more aggressive United States policy against the Castro Government.

6. HARGRAVE further stated that Santiago has solicited his help, for patriotic reasons, to join six other local Cubans who will be infiltrated into Cuba to train and assist the aforementioned leaders. (HARGRAVE classified himself as an expert in weapons, explosives and guerilla tactics.) The six other locals have supposedly already been infiltrated into Cuba twice for this purpose.

7. HARGRAVE is to remain in Cuba until the conflict with the United States is underway, then he and the other members of the infiltration team, plus the aforementioned leaders, will be removed to the Bahamian Islands by a friendly Cuban Government patrol boat. An aircraft will be waiting in the Bahamian Islands to take these persons to a safe area of their choice. HARGRAVE explained to Gasquez that he is making the above information known because he feels Santiago has gone too far, in that such an attack on a United States military base will result in the loss of life for many United States service personnel. As an American patriot he can accept this; however, he still feels if he accompanies the infiltrators to Cuba he will be able to direct the Cuban missiles or conventional attack against Soviet missile bases in Cuban areas. Somehow he expects to accomplish the same objective, the downfall of Castro. Although his logic was reportedly never clear, he somehow expects his identity as an American to become known, and thus draw the United States into conflict with the Castro Government.

8. HARGRAVE and HEMMINGS were noticeably evasive about details and time frame when questioned by Gasquez, who made numerous attempts to explore motives regarding the presentation of this information. Both said they did not seek money or favor in exchange for the information, but rather were offering the information for patriotic reasons.

9. HARGRAVES could offer very little additional information. He did indicate that one of his first responsibilities in the operation, as directed by Santiago, was to arrange for an aircraft to be standing by in the Bahama Islands to pick up the exfiltrators from Cuba once the objective was accomplished. He gave no further details in the regard.

10. He also stated that he will not know any of the other infiltrators until they meet at the boat to leave for Cuba.

11. He mentioned that he is acquainted with a member of a local Special Forces Reserve Group where he can train until he parts.

12. HARGRAVES described Jose Duarte as a former Cuban associate whom he knew in Los Angeles. Duarte is now residing in Miami and knows who is funding Santiago's operation. His association with the operation was not made clear by HARGRAVES who mentioned in passing that he and Duarte had bombed an SDS office in Los Angeles about one year ago. For this they were arrested and later released on bail.

13. HARGRAVES, when specifically questioned by Gasquez, stated that this operation was absolutely different from any operation lead by Torrenties of the Alpha 66 group. He however inferred that many of their members may join Santiago once Santiago's operation reaches final staging.

14. When further pressed by Gasquez, HARGRAVES used Gasquez's office phone to supposedly place a call to Santiago. During this conversation Santiago reportedly they would meet that night for the final plans. (Gasquez was unable to determine the number dialed, the identity of the party called, or their conversation).

15. Gasquez termed the incident as unbelievable but ridiculous enough to maybe be true. HARGRAVES refused to be specific as to when he might leave for Cuba, but inferred that it would be very soon. He said he would phone Gasquez when he is advised of his departure date.

16. Gasquez felt either of these two persons could be approached by another agency for additional information. He further stated that his name could be used if necessary.

Charles W. Kane Special Agent in Charge.

Attached to this document were two biographic reference sheets that indicated HEMMING was staying at HARGRAVES residence in Miami and that he was employed by "AMDEC (Disaster Relief for Peru. Hired in Santa Barbara, California)." HARGRAVES was unemployed "Iron construction worker until several months ago when he injured his back."

HEMMING 1995: "When we walked in on Gasquez I said I'm here to see Ernie Aragon, protective research. That gets you in the door. Aragon was a company man, CIA. He had all the ID but he hadn't gone through their school."

Headquarters

August 7, 1970

MEMORANDUM FOR: Special Agent in Charge, Miami Field Office.

SUBJECT: Support to Project #513 518 334 F-SB/H

Reference: MFO memo to Hdqs dated July 23, 1970.

Date: MARCH 19, 1971

To Hdqs.

From: SAC MFO

SUBJECT: SECURITY SUPPORT TO (DELETED) (ROY HARGRAVES) # 518 334 f sd/1 Ref MFO Memo dtd July 23, 1970.

The Security Officer of Southern Bell Telephone Company, Miami, Florida, has advised that one ROY HARGRAVES has been contacting telephone company repairmen in an attempt to find the names of former telephone company employees who were cable repairmen. His purpose was to learn the location of underwater cables between the mainland and Cuba. FBI contacted by Security Officer and they are aware of HARGRAVES and described him as a soldier-of-fortune type. FBI plans to open case on HARGRAVES. Southern Bell concerned over possibility of sabotage to their cables...Info previously forwarded Hdqs. regarding this individual in referenced memo July 23, 1970. Info passed to Secret Service. (Deleted) advised of above info. This forwarded for Hdqrs.. info. No further action contemplated.

On March 23, 1971, H.R. Keough generated a MFR about HARGRAVES and the telephone cables titled 518-334 (Deleted):

1. March 19, 1971 -- Special Agent in Charge (Deleted) called to advise that a person named ROY HARGRAVES had been contacting several cable repairmen...Mr. Kane had been contacted by the Security Officer of the Southern Bell Telephone Company who reported the above information. Mr. Kane also advised that the local FBI office reported no record of HARGRAVES but that they might 'open a case on him.'

2. The attached material pertinent to ROY HARGRAVES may pertain to the ROY HARGRAVES mentioned. Mr. Ense has seen this package and has said that we should take no further action at this time unless Mr. Kane requests that we do so.

H.R. Keough.

This document triggered a Memorandum for Headquarters:

Security Support to (deleted) (ROY HARGRAVES) SF 518 334 F SD/1

Attached is a self-explanatory memorandum to the Chief/ (deleted) from the undersigned. The information is being furnished to him because of the alleged prior connection between one of the individuals involved and Project (deleted). The entire matter is being referred to (deleted) for whatever action they deem necessary. It may be that they will merely refer the matter to the Bureau. Charles W. Kane.

HEMMING told this researcher: "HARGRAVES injured himself in construction and got insurance settlements on three occasions. Got addicted to the pain killer, had a spinal fusion, had ruptured disks, all kinds of horseshit. He became a junkie and robbed banks, went to prison and got out. He did time twice in the 1970's and 1980's. Suffice to say the word militia is close to his heart." A CIA Index Card read: "HEMMING, GERALD P. /Y M /B March 1, 1937, Los Angeles, Cal /D Mem July 23, 1970, PROJECT (DELETED) /T JR /Z 248358 (copy in file October 1977)."

A United States Secret Service Miami Field Office report that covered the period from September 21, 1970, to October 13, 1970: "GERRY PATRICK HEMMING was interviewed and photographs of him taken...Reference is made to M/R of the reporting agent dated September 15, 1970. On September 30, 1970, HEMMING was again personally interviewed at the Miami Field Office by the reporting agent. He advised that HARGRAVES had left on a fishing trip to Cuba and one of the purposes of the fishing trip was to make contact with some kind of Cuban underground boat which would meet them at sea from Cuba. On September 30, 1970, HEMMING was again personally interviewed by the reporting agent at the Miami Field Office. HEMMING stated that on September 28, 1970, HARGRAVES flew in from Bimini in the Bahama Islands after he had been left off the Cuban fishing boat. HEMMING stated that the reason HARGRAVES left was because he realized that the Cubans were not intending to make any contacts, rendezvous, and had nothing to do with the anti-Castro movement. HEMMING stated HARGRAVES no longer had any intentions about involving himself with the anti-Castro movement in Miami. On October 12, 1970, HEMMING came to the Miami Field Office and advised HARGRAVES was attempting to find work in construction and he was likewise doing the same. HEMMING at that point advised that intelligence work was his hobby and that he would report any Cuban information that came to his attention to the Secret Service. On July 2 (Deleted) and HEMMING appeared in the U.S. Secret Service Office, Miami, and both were interviewed in the presence of (Deleted) and the undersigned agent. According to HEMMING, a Cuban exile leader, (Deleted) had proposed a plan to assist some defectors composed of Russian and Cuban officers stationed in the Western end of Cuba to be taken out of Cuba. (Deleted) and GERALD HEMMING advised the trip would be in the near future, but at this time they did not have any solid plans for departure. The reporting agent advised since this was not in the jurisdiction of the United States Secret Service, it would be reported to the proper agency. (Deleted) and HEMMING left after they promised to advise the reporting agent exactly what time the boat would leave. (Deleted). HEMMING did not contact the Secret Service until approximately 8:00 p.m. on August 27, 1970. At this time HEMMING telephoned (Deleted) and advised that no date had been set concerning the boat trip, but he added it would be soon. On August 28, 1970, HEMMING came to the Miami Field Office and was interviewed by (Deleted). According to HEMMING, no date had been set regarding the trip as of this date. On August 31, 1970, the reporting agent personally interviewed HEMMING at the Miami Field Office in the presence of (Deleted). At this time, because of certain statements regarding Key Biscayne and the strafing of Boca Chica Air Station and Homestead Air Force Base, the reporting agent asked HEMMING about these statements made (Deleted). According to HEMMING, the strafing and shots fired at Key Biscayne were not true, and probably had been put out by the Cubans to find out exactly who might be an informant in their organization. This is a summation made by HEMMING regarding these acts against Key Biscayne and Boca Chica Air Station. HEMMING advised that as of this date no set date for HARGRAVES departure had been made by the Cubans. On September 10, 1970, HEMMING was personally interviewed at the Miami Secret Service office. According to HEMMING, HARGRAVES was either departing that evening, or the following evening, for Cuba. According to HEMMING, HARGRAVES was now under the control of the Cubans and would not be able to leave the Cubans until the time of their departure for Cuba. According to HEMMING, HARGRAVES and the Cubans were departing to Cuba without weapons, ostensibly on a fishing trip, in order to make contact to determine of plans of defection could be carried out in Cuba. (Deleted).

In 1970 HEMMING said he visited Peru after the earthquake there and made contact with the Peruvian President. This contact was made at the Presidential Palace which was the operations center for relief. HEMMING told this researcher: "Colonel Muldoon, who worked for Werbell, was the guy in charge of the operation. Robert K. Brown brought the second team down. We got support from NIXON'S people for the PERUVIAN OPERATION. Pawley talked to NIXON on the phone while I was sitting in his Miami office." HEMMING worked for Soldier-of-Fortune magazine as a leader of the Airborne Paramedics, the Department of Community Affairs of the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Office (under Sergeant Burger).

By 1971 HEMMING claimed he was in contact with the Drug Enforcement Administration/Special Operations Group in Mexico. HEMMING said he visited Mexico, spoke with government level contacts, and studied "narcotics activities and their relationship to communist guerrilla groups." STURGIS told Andrew St. George that he was engaged in similar activities. In Andrew St. George's outline for a STURGIS biography, STURGIS asserted that he "worked for months under HUNT'S direction in an undercover investigation of alleged illicit drug traffic in Mexico..." [NYT 1.14.73] HEMMING told this researcher: "In 1971 we were delivering weapons to the Mexican Judicial Police to take out Luchiano, the guerilla leader in the States of Moralos and Guerro. And he was taken out with MAC-10's and silencers. In 1972 we dealt with death squads in Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvadore for Parabellum. Supplying the death squad with weaponry so we can be friends with them. 1971 - 1975." HEMMING wrote: "During February 1972 I formalized business relationships with Parabellum Corporation of Miami, Florida, and participated in executive protection of foreign government VIP's, and special weapons demonstration for President Congress of Deputies of Republic of Guatemala, in Miami area. VIP's were en route to Guatemala from Washington, D.C. after extensive briefings at Langley and Pentagon. During February and March 1972, while traveling within Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua, I was able to penetrate a conspiracy to assassinate Chief Executive, Republic of Panama. Conspirators were active and/or former Ministers of Government, Republics of Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. During first week of March 1972 I had been accepted within this group of conspirators as a decision making advisor and was able to thwart aims and divert much of planning toward less lethal ends. During March 1972 I established liaison with JOHN MARTINO who introduced me to Cokie Zimeri. Zimeri assessed as senior government and paramilitary assassin in Guatemala and El Salvador. Zimeri was found to possess serious potential capabilities relating to terrorist employment of standard and special weapons, including Chemical, Biological and Radiological systems. Zimeri is of Palestinian descent and speaks Syrian dialect of Arabic fluently on daily basis. During May 1972 I returned to Miami area. Principal leader of conspiracy was assassinated in Guatemala City shortly afterward. Period ending December 1972 involved extensive follow-up activity relating to foreign government level contacts with official from Mexico. Reference all republics in Central America as well as Panama, Ecuador and Colombia with no foreign travel outside of Continental United States required." HEMMING gave me a brochure in which the offices of Parabellum in Miami was listed as being located at 290 S.W. 8th Street, Suite 305, Miami, Florida. This was where HEMMING's private detective agency was located.

Shortly after Watergate, Oliverio Castanieda Paiz, the First Vice President of the Congress of Guatemala, was killed in Guatemala City. According to HEMMING: "He was the guy that headed up the plot to kill Torrijos in 1972 working with the plumbers." Oliverio Castanieda Paiz was an ambitious 34-year-old former leftist who had been trained in guerrilla tactics in Cuba in the early 1960's. On June 26, 1972, Oliverio Castanieda Paiz attended the birthday party of his daughter at a Guatemala City restaurant. Bodyguards armed with pistols and machine guns normally accompanied Oliverio Castanieda Paiz, but that night they were nowhere to be found. Shortly before midnight, two men walked into the restaurant. One of them drew a pistol and fired once into Oliverio Castanieda Paiz heart and then into his neck. The victim slumped over, dead, and the two shooters walked quickly out of the restaurant, then drove off in a car. No arrests were made. [NYT 7.13.72 p9, 6.27.72 p43, 6.18.72 p11]

In HEMMING'S Motion For Production of Favorable Evidence he asked for "All reports, files, and memorandums held by the CIA, FBI and Department of State that refer to defendant's alleged connection with a conspiracy to assassinate the then President of Costa Rica, the Honorable Jose Figures, allegedly directed by the late Oliverio Castanieda Paiz and other members of the Guatemalan Government during the calendar year 1972, especially those that might be titled OPERATION CACTUS, OPERATION COYOTE and/or OPERATION BAMBU." HEMMING wrote "During Spring 1974 I was approached by United States and foreign nationals seeking assistance relating to their ongoing marijuana smuggling operations from Colombia to United States. Two individuals had in previous years a one time association with CIA during the Cuba project and anticipated capitalizing on this experience combined with planned involvement of long time agency assets that reside in Central and South American Republics. I was introduced initially by Drug Enforcement Administration asset Jerry Buchanan who soon severed his relationship with Subjects. I was also able to rapidly accomplish following:

a. Co-opted completely the entire Columbia-United States planned operations of this (Ken Burnstine).

b. Traveled to Georgia for briefing with Mitch Werbell reference future operations.

c. During September 1974 traveled extensively through Central and South America and Colombia for meetings with marijuana brokers and growers with mid-level capacities of Colombia-United States marijuana tonnage. Visited areas under cultivation and met with military commander involved in security use of landing and take off rights at joint civilian-military airport designated as primary entry-departure point for aircraft utilized on smuggling route.

d. Organized team of aviation-paramilitary qualified individuals with previous experience as DEA-CIA assets or law enforcement positions in Florida and Colorado areas.

e. Successfully engineered successive delays and total failure or first flight operation to Colombia which caused two month delay of activity by Burnstine's group which caused group to terminate relationship with me.

f. Simultaneous with operations with Burnstine's group I was approached by Burnstine for assistance in locating suitable ship's captain for marijuana smuggling operations from Colombia to eastern Bahamas. I contacted former CIA contract employee CQ/MAPLE a licensed ship captain with Agency experience in Caribbean and Congo areas, but not a Drug Enforcement Administration asset. CQ/MAPLE declined participation due to personalities maximum risk nature of the operation. No backstop available to support CQ/MAPLE."

The CIA : "The most recent incident wherein HEMMING claimed Agency affiliation was in May 1975 when he volunteered his services to the Drug Enforcement Administration. HEMMING is a long time cohort of FRANK STURGIS of Watergate fame, who also has a long time record of falsely claiming Agency affiliation." The CIA reported that "The Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Civil Service Commission conducted name checks regarding GERALD HEMMING in May 1975 and June 1967, respectively." [CIA undated MFR] On May 23, 1975, HEMMING visited the Drug Enforcement Administration in Washington, D.C., and asked to see Lucian Conein "who is the Acting Chief, Special Operations and Field Support Staff. HEMMING told Lucian Conein that Mitch Werbell had given him his name as a DEA official to whom HEMMING could talk. HEMMING told Lucian Conein he wanted to provide information on drug trafficking between Colombia and Florida. Lucian Conein asked S.A. Hughes, a CIA employee, to conduct a debriefing of HEMMING. S.A. Hughes was working on the collection of narcotics intelligence concerning Colombia and Florida. HEMMING stated that he is presently employed at Tecpole Security, 801 Madrid, Coral Gables, Florida, 305-443-9681. (HEMMING stated he believed this number was being tapped, he did not say who he believed was tapping the telephone.)...In August 1974 HEMMING was approached by Armando Bolet, a Cuban veteran of the 2506 Brigade whom HEMMING had worked with in anti-Castro activities and by John Varese to help them organize and run air smuggling operations for Thomas and William O'Donnel. The O'Donnel brothers, using the cover of their construction firm in the Fort Lauderdale area (American Eastern Development) were involved in the maritime smuggling of marijuana from Colombia to Florida. During an unspecified four years (probably 1970 to 1974) the O'Donnels had averaged approximately six to seven loads of marijuana per year at three to four tons for each load coming into Miami. Of these 24 to 28 loads of marijuana they had to jettison only five loads into the sea for security reasons. The rest of the loads had been successfully delivered into Florida. The source of the marijuana in Colombia is Dr. Arturo Romano-Fedullo of Barranquilla, Colombia. Beside running the smuggling for Romano, William O'Donnel handles the laundering of the money accumulated by drug trafficking through banks in the Grand Cayman, Switzerland and Curacao. Armando Bolet convinced the O'Donnels that they should add air smuggling to their narcotic trafficking methods, and that they should also try cocaine in addition to marijuana. Bolet told O'Donnel that there were many experienced men available in Florida who could be used to smuggle drugs into Florida by air. Bolet was especially interested in cargo parachute drops, and parachute jumps by individuals carrying loads of cocaine. Bolet recruited HEMMING to help organize the activities. A common technique used by Bolet and HEMMING was to fly an aircraft into Florida legally, but to have a parachutist fly onto a pre-selected drop zone in southern Florida prior to landing the aircraft. This way, police never found any contraband on the aircraft and the dropped narcotics would not be lost because the parachuter carried them on his person. If he missed the drop zone he could simply fold up the parachute and walk to the location of the reception committee. Bolet uses a DC-3 tail number N1099 in his smuggling operations. HEMMING had a falling out with the O'Donnell group and decided to leave them. He is now associated with Carlos Caraballo who operates a charter fishing business and traffics in drugs. HEMMING decided to inform on O'Donnel for revenge and in order to try to eliminate the competition.." [Operational Contact Report Project Title EMBRYO 5.23.75] HEMMING told this researcher: "What his this got to do with JFK? How did they get the authority to release this shit? They were never touched, they were all company. Very wealthy people. Carlos Caraballo is an importer-exporter. O'Donnell and Thomas, they're all international land developers. They have part of Paradise Island over in Nassau. Varese has a yacht over at Fort Everglades." HEMMING wrote:

"Traveled to Washington, D.C. and met with Col. Lucien Conein of the Special Operations Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration at DEA HQ, 1405 I Street N.W. and briefed Col. Conein and his assistant Tom Briggs reference the following:

1. Senator Jackson investigation in Miami refer-Vietnam business.

2. Parallel operations involving Mitch Werbell of Powder Springs, Georgia.

3. Private investigations group working yacht hijacking and murder on the high seas of numerous United States citizens.

4. Penetration group anticipating future 'Bounty Hunting' operations against narcotics smugglers as per Title 16 and 18 United States Code.

5. Detailed information reference names, aircraft and connections of both previous smuggling groups QZ/PLAYMATES and QZ/ALKALI."

HEMMING was mentioned in a "Report dated June 4, 1975, file #29-1297, Subject: Nathan Cohen and Others - Bank Fraud and Embezzlement; Fraud by wire; Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property; Anti-Racketeering, Mail Fraud, White Slave Traffic Act; Bribery."

On June 22, 1976, the CIA reported that Robert and GERRY HEMMING were involved in a plot to kill Guatemalan President Kjell Eugenio Laugerud Garcia of Guatemala on behalf of Jorge Antonio 'Cokie' Zimeri Safie (201-35422).

1. (Deleted) passed station written report and made verbal report in detail, all with knowledge of President Laugerud, ref A case and results. According to report and (Deleted) National Liberation Movement (MLN) was involved with 'Cokie' Zimeri, who has been living in Miami since August 1975 in plot to assassinate Laugerud. Plot was to have been carried out September 15, 1975, but Zimeri was the victim of attack on his life late August 1975, and, as a result, went to Miami for medical treatment. Report and (Deleted) claim that two Americans, GERALD PATRICK HEMMING (No Station Traces) were also involved with Zimeri in plot, and that they assisted him in acquiring arms, among other things, which were flown to Guatemala illegally in small aircraft. Report ends with five requests by Laugerud as follows:

A. Is Zimeri still in the United States?

B. Does Zimeri receive any kind of preferential treatment by U.S. authorities which permits him to carry firearms, as well as to purchase arms and ammunition for shipment to Guatemala. The report also claims that Zimeri has close relations with police officials in Miami and New Orleans.

C. Is Zimeri recruiting mercenaries in the United States for possible use in Guatemala?

D. Any information on Robert and GERALD HEMMING?

E. In event Zimeri not in States legally, the request he be deported to Guatemala. (Deleted) says he left Guatemala illegally, but arrived in the States legally, but Government of Guatemala thinks his visa has expired and he there illegally.

2. Station plans dissemination info on Zimeri case, but without mentioning HEMMINGS by name. Plan prepare memo for Charge and RSO and will suggest that latter attempt answer questions for President Kjell Eugenio Laugerud Garcia.

4. For (Deleted) one source of info on Zimeri case may well have been (Deleted). Saw later by accident on June 8, 1975. Said that he had been providing info to Government of Guatemala on Zimeri for past six months or so and added that two Americans involved with Zimeri. One of who runs a guard service in Miami. He did not mention names but described one as about six feet four inches and weighing about 230 pounds. (Deleted) plans to return Miami within two weeks since in over two years here he has been unable to find job with sufficient salary permit him to live comfortably.

The CIA reported:

Secret 241726Z CIA 246074

To: FBI

Attention: Criminal Intelligence Division.

Secret. Warning Notice -- SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED - Not releasable to foreign nationals.

CIR-316-01395-78

Subject: Alleged Plot to Assassinate Colonel Cesar Quinteros, Chief of Guatemalan Security.

1. On June 23, 1975, Colonel Cesar Quinteros, Chief of Guatemalan Security, was provided with the reference B excerpt of information on the alleged plot to assassinate Quinteros which was reported to this Agency in Ref A.

2. Colonel Cesar Quinteros had not been previously aware of the plot against him, but speculated that if there is substance to the reported plot, Zimeri, now in Federal Custody in Miami, Florida, could be involved. Quinteros had been involved in the Zimeri case by providing documentation required for the extradition of Zimeri from Guatemala to the United States.

3. Should his hypothesis that Zimeri is involved be correct, Quinteros said he believed that Bob or GERRY HEMMING, brothers, believed by Quinteros to be living in either Miami or Fort Lauderdale, would be directly involved. According to Quinteros, one of the brothers (he could not remember which) had lived in Guatemala from 1972 to 1974, and on one occasion had assisted Zimeri by piloting the aircraft used by the latter to escape Guatemala.

4. Colonel requested that he be advised whether the HEMMING brothers are currently in Florida. If they cannot be accounted for, Quinteros is of the opinion that one or both brothers will be involved in the plot to kill him.

5. This Agency requests any information which may be developed on the present whereabouts of the HEMMING brothers which may be appropriate for passage to Quinteros. [CIA 1994 rel. CIR-316-01395-78]

HEMMING told this researcher in 1994: "After they shot up Cokie Zimeri in September 1975 I brought him out, and he recovered in the States. He had been the palace assassin for Laugerud. My brother and Zimeri were real close to President Laugerud's son. And they were involved in some hits, including a hit against the U.S. Embassy. Zimeri was plotting to kill Laugerud's son, who was a heroin courier using his diplomatic pouch. We were trying to lock the son-of-a-bitch up. Laugerud was in Miami Beach during my trial. Cokie wanted the opportunity to blow President Laugerud's fuckass away. You got guerilla operations in the country and its about to fall to communism. They are going to accuse me of trying to assassinate him?" HEMMING 1995: "Cokie Zimeri, the palace assassin, had a falling out with President Laugerud. Laugerud's son, Shelito, was running around throwing hand grenades and shooting at people. Cokie and the old man didn't like it because the kid got wounded by a German grenade in the streets, with my brother, out on an operation. Cokie's not one to take a lot of shit, plus he had enemies in the palace military, mostly intelligence assholes. So they tried to do a hit on him and President wouldn't believe it, so he had a confrontation with the President and the President Laugerud was embarrassed that he had been bullshited. In Cokie's book that's when you kill people, but Laugerud would discipline them, just send them out of the country, Spain or somewhere. That pissed Cokie off because Cokie's a bit of a psychopath and he had (?). Plus, he's very wealthy, his family they're Palestinians. They're personal friends with Arafat and Qaddafi, world travelers, they owned banks here in Miami. At that time they were worth 80 or 90 million. They did a major hit on Cokie a couple of days after my brother left. My brother was living with him as a bodyguard and all that shit in 1975. He's driving and his hands were shot up so bad because he's trying to drive with his elbows. And he can't see out the windshield because its covered with blood. But he turns on the windshield wiper and says it didn't work worth a shit, cause the blood was squirting out of his chest on the inside. Arrangements were made, I flew down there, things happened, he was taken to El Salvador to recuperate."

On June 11, 1976, Jerrold G. Brown of the CIA wrote this memorandum:

1. On June 9, 1969, (Deleted) contacted Staff and Operations Branch, Operational Evaluation Section for information concerning GERALD PATRICK HEMMING. (Deleted) was referred to the writer, who is holding the HEMMING file. When (Deleted) contacted the writer, (Deleted) advised that he is the action officer for a cable from (Deleted) reporting on an assassination plot on the life of President Laugerud of Guatemala. (Deleted) was unfamiliar with the case of GERALD PATRICK HEMMING and had not yet reviewed the 201 file on HEMMING. (Deleted) was requested to alert (Deleted) and JMWAVE to the below-mentioned cable, and to provide the writer with a copy of the report coming in from (Deleted).

2. (Deleted) provided the writer with a copy of the cable (IN 944357, (Deleted) dated June 8, 1976, which is attached. In substance the cable reflects that circa June 8, 1976, a Guatemalan source, (Deleted) provided (Deleted) a written report, and a detailed briefing, concerning a plot to assassinate President Laugerud. According to the information the plot was to be carried out on September 15, 1975; however, one of the major conspirators, Jorge Antonio 'Cokie' Zimeri Safie left Guatemala in August 1975 as a result of an attack upon his, Zimeri's, life. Zimeri has been living in Miami since August 1975.

3. According to the report, the National Liberation Movement was involved with Zimeri in the assassination plot, and Zimeri in turn was involved with two Americans, brothers, Robert and GERALD PATRICK HEMMING. The HEMMING brothers assisted Zimeri in acquiring arms, among other things, which were flown to Guatemala in a small aircraft. The report also claims that Zimeri has close relations with police officials in Miami and New Orleans.

NOTE: The (Deleted) also included information (Deleted) had received from (Deleted) on June 8. (Deleted) said that he had been providing information to Zimeri to the Guatemalan Government for the past six months or so. He claimed that two Americans were involved with Zimeri, one of them runs a guard service in Miami. (Deleted) did not mention names, but described one of the Americans as about six feet four inches and weighing about 230 pounds.

4. The Guatemalan report on the assassination plot ended with five requests for information (deleted).

a. Is Zimeri still in the United States?

b. (Deleted)

c. Is Zimeri recruiting mercenaries in the United States for possible use in Guatemala?

d. Does Zimeri receive any kind of preferential treatment by U.S. authorities which permit him to carry firearms, as well as to purchase arms and ammunition for shipment to Guatemala.

e. Any information on Robert and GERALD HEMMING?

5. On June 19, 1976, (deleted) advised that DDO is referring the entire matter to the FBI and State Department.

6. Office of Security indices are negative in pertinent variations of the name of Zimeri or Robert Hemming.

7. From the name, physical description, activity and alleged employment, it is apparent that GERALD PATRICK HEMMING is identical with the Subject of Office of Security file 429 229, who had been described as six-foot five, 250 pounds, who is a notorious mercenary and soldier-of-fortune and who as of May 1975 was ostensibly employed by a private investigation company, TEPCOL Security (Office of Security -- no record) in Miami, Florida.

8. GERALD PATRICK HEMMING is well known to this Agency, the Office of Security Miami Field Office, and JMWAVE. On numerous occasions since at least the early 1960's HEMMING has claimed Agency affiliation when in fact there has been none.

9. For an appreciation of the possible ramifications of a Guatemalan Government expose of this assassination plot involving HEMMING, you are referred to attachments to instant memorandum, to wit: a memorandum by the writer dated June 10, 1975, in the name of FRANK STURGIS and EVERETTE HOWARD HUNT JR.; and an extract from a book published in early 1976 written by Michael Canfield and Alan J. ajweberman. The book, Coup D'Etat in America - The CIA and the Assassination of John F. Kennedy, is a diatribe against the Agency and attempts to link the Agency with the assassination of President Kennedy. One of the major links attempted by the authors is thought to be HUNT to STURGIS to HEMMING to Loran Hall. Loran Hall was a member of HEMMING'S INTERPEN. Loran Hall received nationwide publicity in 1967 when New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison alleged that Loran Hall and INTERPEN was involved in the assassination of President Kennedy and that members of this unit were connected with the CIA. Jim Garrison shortly thereafter dropped his interest in Loran Hall, but it is interesting that he did so after HEMMING and another cohort, Robert K. Brown, joined Garrison's investigation.

[CIA D001212 Jerrold G. Brown 6.11.76]

HEMMING told this researcher: "They hauled my ass before a grand jury. Gave me immunity. They wanted to railroad Cokie's ass back to a fucking death cell. They said he kidnapped a broad, murdered a police agent, all this horseshit, while trying to kill the President."

The CIA made sure that the press did not find out about HEMMING'S assassination plot against the President of Guatemala because it would have lent credence to my charges that HEMMING had been involved in other coups, most notably the one that took place in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. This is an indication that the CIA has sought to suppress the work of this researcher.

HEMMING was indicated for conspiracy to import marijuana and cocaine in July 1976. On August 23, 1976, when he appeared at the marijuana smuggling trial of Mitch Werbell, HEMMING was arrested. [USDC Miami 76-71-Cr-CA] His codefendants were Benjamin Franklin Thomas, Joseph Thomas Oliveti and Jacob Cochran. In October 1976 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms charged HEMMING with the illegal transfer of a silencer. Assistant United States Attorney Robert Rust, HEMMING'S former attorney, handled the prosecution.

HEMMING told this researcher: "I was sitting in a bar drinking a beer listening to two Drug Enforcement Administration agents talk to someone who was trying to sell them a pre-World II airplane. The guy who set me up, Thomas Benton, [a friend of HEMMING'S sister-in-law] had been popped in the Bahamas. I did the guy a favor by running the plane up every weekend to keep the engines in shape. He wants my brother to get his car and transfer an item from one trunk to another. At another meeting they showed me a bankbook with a $600,000 balance."

HEMMING'S codefendant, Joseph Olivetti, was an associate of Thomas Holt. Joseph Olivetti was murdered by his brother. HEMMING represented himself at his trial. HEMMING'S trial was severed from that of his codefendants. Before going to trial, HEMMING filed a Motion for Favorable Evidence, alleging that certain Warren Commission documents would vindicate him: "Copies of all files both classified an unclassified now held in the National Archives, Washington, D.C. included within those documents known as the Warren Commission Report on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, especially documents 759 through and including 784."

HEMMING told this researcher: "Why do I want the Warren Commission stuff? I'll explain why I want it in open Court. That's what they're gonna find out. All of a sudden they're accusing me of conspiracy to import marijuana and cocaine. Hey, what about all the other things I've been into for the last 15 years, let's talk about them. Let's talk about the Martin Luther King thing, let's talk about Don Freed, Le Coubre, nigger-killers in bed with the mafia, and the mafia in bed with the FBI, and the goddamn CIA in bed with all of them. Let's talk about all the people I dirtied up for them over the years. They say I'm crazy for defending myself, shit, I ain't even sure of that anymore when I hang around with people like you, ajweberman.

"If I represent myself I got me a long opening argument and a long summation. A lawyer wouldn't go near it. Then, spontaneously, I may erupt into something akin to measles. They don't know if your bluffing or what the story is. Well, they would never be allowed to know. Bob Rust, the U.S. Attorney here was defending our fucking boys back in 1963. He knows me better. The big thing is not who did what, but how many goddamned people could be doing it this week again in collusion with the FBI, in collusion with the CIA? These are federal agents who are paid to advise Secret Service, they are paid to do their job in the country and instead they got into bed with nigger-killers, they got into bed with Jew killers, they got into bed with the Heinrich Himmler cocksuckers, and that ain't done in this country. They've been doing it for too goddamn long and a fagot like J. Edgar Hoover let them get away with that shit. A.J. you write a book like Coup and Jesus Christ, everybody's saying you are telling these people you are after them. Them guys don't give a shit -they're pros - they ain't gonna get caught. You gotta take out their colleagues, you got to expose the goddamn system that allows guys like that to get away with it. I can get on the goddamn phone and have six contracts out in 15 minutes on Jesus Christ himself. Right now. Cause its out there. This country is run like a goddamned Banana Republic. "

HEMMING 1994: "What's the secret hand behind this bullshit? Is someone trying to put us under pressure so we'll spill the beans on these Kennedy dicksuckers? Have we been targeted because we're nasty motherfuckers and probably had something to do with killing him? They were purging the cowboys." A DEA agent who worked for the CIA filled out an Outside Activity Approval Request on January 7, 1977:

"I was advised by my supervisor that she had been telephonically contacted by a Mr. Fredricks of the DEA in Miami and told that DEA wants me to travel to Miami to attend a pre-trial conference on Monday January 10, 1977, in order to prepare for possible appearance as a witness for the DEA against GERALD PATRICK HEMMING...In engaging in requested activity, I will make no reference to, or discuss, my CIA assignments or duties. I (will, will not) be identified as employed by CIA for the following reasons: I was a CIA employee from January 1969 to May 1974 prior to transferring to the DEA. I was under cover at that time. I have not yet been put under cover ever since my new FOD (January 3, 1977) (Deleted) Security approval has been granted for the activity contemplated by this request. Robert L. Morris Jr. Chief, Security Support Division."

On January 19, 1977, the CIA generated this Routing Slip: "To: OS/OSB 4E-27, AC/SSD. C/SSD From LA/SEC. For your retention or passage to anyone in the Office of Security who might have an interest in attachment." [FOIA #81-0351 D0538]

On January 24, 1977, DC/SSD sent an Official CIA Routing Slip to C/OSB and to Lynch file. "Remarks: Please note page 6 on ex-CIA types now with DEA 0- is (Deleted) one of the guys we talked to on Lou Conein? Who is (Deleted) soon to return to us??"

On January 26, 1977, a Official CIA Routing Slip was sent to C/ OSB, DC/SSD, C/SA6 Reardon. From (Deleted). "(Deleted) File was reviewed. No indication he was ever interviewed concerning Lou Conein. 2. There is record of a (Deleted) as only employer. (Deleted) is referred to in cables from Vietnam in the file of (Deleted) was employed by Computer Science Corp. In 1971 assigned as a military regional analyst in Vietnam for A.I.D. project. Cables dealt with smuggling activities of (Deleted). Bruce FYI'"

HEMMING attempted to greymail the government into dropping the conspiracy charges against him. When Lucian Conein had a heart attack, HEMMING visited him in the V.A. hospital, and asked him if he was burning Mitch Werbell. HEMMING said Lucian Conein had no knowledge of his indictment. HEMMING prepared a document in which he called himself NT/STRONGBOX and gave it to Lucian Conein at the airport. HEMMING used comical cryptonyms in this report. STURGIS was QM/TURGID, MARTINO was QM/RAFT (he looked like George Raft), Zimeri was QJ/ZIPPER and was described as "a senior government and paramilitary assassin in Guatemala and El Salvador." HEMMING offered to furnish a list of people involved in the Kennedy assassination. I was a conduit for HEMMING'S greymail. HEMMING leaked information that was transmitted to Gaeton Fonzi. Then the CIA would get HSCA requests on Subjects such as DAVID CHRIST. When HEMMING obtained his Freedom of Information / Privacy Act CIA file it contained several chapters from Coup D'Etat In America. The CIA commented: "That there was a book excerpt in HEMMING'S file is not surprising. There are thousands of newspaper clippings from hundreds of papers in our files as well...neither would there necessarily be a memo regarding the insertion of any information in a file. There would also be no official CIA reaction to your book. The CIA neither confirms nor denies the accuracy of anything stated in such publications." [CIA ltr. Gene Wilson to ajweberman 7.8.77] HEMMING: "The agency take you seriously? You couldn't find your ass with both hands! You're not at the top of the list of threats to these people. I think you're the only comedy in their lives."

HEMMING wrote that in early 1975 he was "hired as an investigator by a Jacksonville, Florida, attorney whose clients filed suit against the CIA alleging CIA Agent, (past and present) involvement in an interstate mortgage fraud (4.5 million dollars) conspiracy with undertones of cocaine smuggling." This case involved Cuban businessmen (Andres Castro) who had previously been asked to set up a CIA proprietary called Bell Mortgage. The proprietary went bankrupt, and the exiles sued the CIA for the money they had lost. Before they sued, they were warned by their Case Officer: "If we can get rid of a President, we can get rid of you." The CIA admitted that the man who made this threat, (According to HEMMING, Antonio Ingleses) was associated with the Miami CIA Station. [75-515-Civil USDC SDF; undated art. Wash Post. by Bill McAllister "D.C. Fraud Figure Jailed In Fla. Case"] HEMMING told this researcher: "Ingleses was in the Congo and on the team to get Ché. They worked with the Villaverde brothers. Richardo Morales brought out Technical Services Division viral material [swine flu] and transferred it to the Villaverdes."

When HEMMING supplied the DEA with information on May 23, 1975, the DEA official he spoke with was either an employee of the CIA, or later became a CIA employee. This man was a witness against HEMMING: "On January 10, 1977, I traveled to Miami where I met and conferred with Assistant United States Attorney Karen Atkinson and DEA S.A. Robert Fredricks. They informed me that GERALD PATRICK HEMMING'S case had been severed, and his trial would not begin on January 11, 1977. AUSA Atkinson told me she wanted me as a rebuttal witness of GERALD PATRICK HEMMING after he presented the defense that he was working at the direction of the DEA. She said they would not call me until, and unless, that defense was presented. She also said that she felt that any attempt to question me concerning my current place of employment was irrelevant, and she would object to any such line of questioning. She said she would only ask me where I was employed at the time I interviewed HEMMING. I returned to Washington the same day. (Deleted)." The agent had been instructed by Edmund Cohn "that being in an overt cover status I should state, if asked under oath, that I am currently a CIA employee." [Memo Chief SE DIV From Deleted SE/X/LA 1.11.77] HEMMING'S codefendants were all convicted of importing marijuana, and on November 22, 1977, HEMMING was convicted by a Miami jury of conspiracy to import marijuana. In the Spring of 1978 HEMMING was sentenced to six months in prison by U.S. District Judge William M. Hoeveler. HEMMING was released on appeal bond and the conviction was later overturned. In May 1978, HEMMING was questioned by the HSCA in Miami. HEMMING told this researcher: "They were avoiding issues. They had no information on me at all. Less than Garrison. Didn't know shit from Shinola."

HEMMING told this researcher: "The Agency has helped me out continuously. I had a stand off with a SWAT team in February 1980. They came to evict me in Opa Locka. I was in a goddamned state of depression. I had my house surrounded by cops and the whole goddamn thing. T.V. cameras. It was quashed. No publicity. Two days later I'm working a counter-terrorism investigation. I get expenses, salary, an office. I stuck a shotgun in these people's face [HEMMING'S family] and held hostages. They tried to bring that up in my state trial and the judge didn't permit it. There's a reference to it, but that's where it ended. Somebody called a company lawyer."

In April 1980 a mechanic working on HEMMING'S plane noticed a cargo of marijuana and Quaaludes aboard. On April 14, 1980, HEMMING was arrested and charged with drug trafficking. He was held on $200,000 bond in Palm Beach County. He claimed that he had not smuggled Quaaludes, but was establishing his bona fides with drug traffickers so he could penetrate their networks. HEMMING told this researcher: "The cops would have let me go if I gave them the load, but I couldn't let the ludes hit the streets. I was working for the fucking Drug Enforcement Administration/FBI South Florida Task Force through Werbell who worked for Lucian Conein. The Task Force wanted to come forward, but I didn't want them to. I wanted it dropped real quietly. Czukas got involved. He puts two and two together after talking to my two guys. He figures one of them was my co-pilot. He drives them to Palm Beach and presents them to the State's Attorney. Now they can prove the case because they have the guy who was in the plane with me who they didn't have before." It was suggested to HEMMING that the purpose of his smuggling activity was to become rich by using his infiltration and exfiltration skills. HEMMING told this researcher: "You do it better than they do. They can't even keep a straight face when they're doing it." HEMMING expected the case to be transferred to Federal Court because the crime involved smuggling. HEMMING was convicted on drug charges. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison with a minimum mandatory sentence of three years.

HEMMING told this researcher: "I spent eight years on the chain gang with serial killers. They shipped me out of Avon Park Air Force Base to 'the rock,' the main housing unit modeled after the same plans as Alcatraz, built in 1917. Shipped there to die, it's a death camp. Lot of killings, lot of blood. This is the South, man. I lived with multiple killers. Two months after I was there, guards were being killed. You go to sleep and close your fucking eyes and you're wondering if you're gonna wake. You always have that in the back of your mind. I was assigned to the Fire Department in 1988 and lived outside prison walls." When the CIA released OSWALD'S pre-assassination file in 1993, it included an article about HEMMING. In 1982 HEMMING was transferred to the Avon Park Correctional Institution. In 1987 HEMMING was at Raiford: "As you may note from my return address, I am assigned to the UCI Fire Department which means I live outside the prison walls, right next door." HEMMING was involved in the production of the movie, JFK. Then he was a consultant to Conner Air, a small cargo airline in Fort Lauderdale that was at odds with the DEA. [Miami New Times 6.30.93] After the owner of the airline, Gus Conner, died of a heart attack, HEMMING lost his position there. HEMMING had a mild heart attack in February 1996. I sent him $300 for heart medicine. Currently HEMMING'S address is POB 630386, Miami, Florida, 33163-0386

Mitch Werbell was born March 8, 1918, in Philadelphia, the son of John M. Werbell (born August 22, 1889 in N.Y.C.). Mitch Werbell falsely claimed his father was an exiled White Russian Colonel. In 1942 he married. Mitch Werbell served with the OSS in the China-Burma-India theater from July 1945 to December 1945. Lucien Conein and Paul Helliwell reportedly were in the OSS unit of Mitch Werbell. Following his OSS service Mitch Werbell entered into a variety of unorthodox short-term business activities. By the mid-1950's Mitch Werbell became a publicity agent for Fulgencio Batista, and in 1957 his public relations firm began to handle international publicity for the Dominican Republic. On July 6, 1959, Mitch Werbell called General Charles Cabell and reported that he had just returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic where he had been approached by General Pedraza for aid. The CIA: "In July 1959 Werbell apparently volunteered his services to the Western Hemisphere Division (WH/3) and was seriously considered for use as an informant for revolutionary activities in Cuba and the Dominican Republic. During the period Subject's Operation Approval was being processed, he volunteered several pieces of information, all of which were judged to have little value." In September 1959 Mitch Werbell reported to the CIA that "Joe Merola and a number of others have been discussing counterfeiting Cuban Pesos."

On August 5, 1959, the CIA reported: "Although he has been evasive and not completely frank with us, it appears that Werbell does have access to information on Cuban and Dominican activities, and that he is well connected with underworld elements operating in the Miami area." The CIA's summary of Mitch Werbell's activities continued: "(Deleted) Memorandum for the Record dated August 5, 1959: Report from (deleted) that William Morgan is involved in a plot to assassinate Castro. (Subject in telephone conversations with 'Reichhardt'). Reichhardt said that he was out of touch with Emilio Nunez Portuondo. He said he tried to phone Emilio Nunez Portuondo on a number of occasions. Reichhart said he is still holding the letter from Colonel King to Emilio Nunez Portuondo."

Emilio Nunez Portuondo, a civil servant during the Machado regime in Cuba, was indicted for stealing public funds, then elected to the Cuban Senate. When Carlos Prio Soccarras defeated the brother of Emilio Nunez Portuondo for the Cuban Presidency in 1948, Emilio Nunez Portuondo retired and practiced law. His clients included "Lucky" Luciano. In the early 1950's Fulgencio Batista appointed Emilio Nunez Portuondo Ambassador to the United Nations. When Fidel Castro took power, Emilio Nunez Portuondo came to the U.S. and worked with Carlos Prio Soccarras. In 1959 the FBI described him as the "most active and best known of the anti-Castro leaders in the U.S." Emilio Nunez Portuondo was offered the post-Castro Presidency of Cuba by General Jose Pedraza, if the invasion of Cuba from the Dominican Republic that Pedraza planned was successful. The FBI reported in May 1959: "Masferrer [told the FBI] he has a liaison with Emilio Nunez Portuondo but is not associated with him or his movement or under his direction. Masferrer has never received any money from him." In January 1960 Alexander Rorke told the FBI that he was a close associate of Emilio Nunez Portuondo. In a July 24, 1961, edition of a newspaper published by the brother of Carlos Prio Soccarras, Emilio Nunez Portuondo was named as the future Secretary of State of post-Castro Cuba. Emilio Nunez Portuondo grew embittered with the Kennedy Administration and sent a telegram to President Kennedy in January 1962, a copy of which was obtained by the CIA. [CIA 201-45667] Emilio Nunez Portuondo came to the attention United States Secret Service Agent Arnesto Aragon on November 17, 1963, when he called America cowardly during a speech to 8,000 Cubans gathered at Bayfront Park. Pedro Diaz Lanz spoke at this rally. On November 24, 1963, Emilio Nunez Portuondo gave Jose Antonio Cabarga, a Batista supporter and the former President of the Cuban Maritime Retirement Fund, a press release that linked Fidel Castro to OSWALD. Jose Antonio Cabarga gave the press release to a Mexico City newspaper.

On November 24, 1963, narcotics agent William Durkin was told by an INTERPOL member that a Mexico City international telephone operator monitored a call to Emilio Nunez Portuondo in Miami placed by Jose Antonio Cabarga. Emilio Nunez Portuondo told Jose Antonio Cabarga: "The Castro plan is being carried out. Bobby is next. Soon the atomic bombs will begin to rain and they won't know from where." A 1993 version of the conversation read: "Cabarga told Emilio Nunez Portuondo that with assassination President Kennedy, Castro's plan had been realized (Ya se venia realizando el plan Castro) and that the next one to go would be 'Bob'..." [CIA 93-571] On November 28, 1963, Jose Antonio Cabarga was arrested in Mexico City, at the request of Legal Attache Clark Anderson. When Jose Antonio Cabarga was released, Anderson interviewed him. The FBI deleted 90% of this document. BRINGUIER told the Warren Commission that, as a friend of Emilio Nunez Portuondo, he wished to protest the arrest of Jose Antonio Cabarga. In late November 1963 Portuondo told the FBI he received the phone call. He said although he was bitter at the U.S., the conversation referred to Fidel Castro's plan to kill President Kennedy. Emilio Nunez Portuondo "specifically denied the exact text as set forth in Rebutel and reiterated that Jose Antonio Cabarga was only expressing his opinion and that of many other anti-Castro Cubans...As nearly as Portuondo can recall, Cabarga did state 'This is the plan of Castro and China.' Portuondo was questioned specifically as to whether Cabarga mentioned Robert Kennedy. Nunez Portuondo denied that mention was made." [FBI 62-109060-309] Emilio Nunez Portuondo added that Jose Antonio Cabarga had close contacts at the United States Embassy, Mexico City, and was "a good investigator who could develop information in the event plans to assassinate the President were formulated in Mexico City."

HEMMING expressed familiarity with Emilio Nunez Portuondo: "HUNT knew him. He was at the Freedom Tower meeting in June 1963. Any loyal gusano with a brain would be coming up with shit like that. You think he's being directed to do it? They are not totally stupid people. They don't have to be told what to do. They know how to come up with their little schemes. They know how to throw the thing into Castro's lap. How many times you think they had to do it before they got an operator that would report it and do her duty? They were doing it on purpose. Any loyal anti-Communist Cuban would be doing it. He didn't know shit. We used to say 'Don't telegraph. Tell a Cuban. It goes faster.' Get off of the bullshit. It was disinformation. I'm not interested in how they fooled fucking ajweberman. Damn amateur snookered your ass." The CIA reported: "This call was heard by lots of people. Files? Perhaps worth mentioning at staff meeting - to show how insecure international phone calls are. Action Copy to PHILLIPS November 25, 1963."

Mitch Werbell was supplied information on Emilio Nunez Portuondo associates Jose Pedraza and Rolando Masferrer to the CIA. In October 1959 the Western Hemisphere Division dropped all operational interest in Mitch Werbell: "Cable to (deleted) from Director (12828) dated August 16, 1962, says: 'Relationship with Werbell terminated on a friendly basis October 1959.' Cable released by J.C. King, Authenticated by William K. Harvey." [NARA 1993.07.21. 15:39:42400280] A memo from (deleted) stated: "I told the Subject...it has been decided not to give him any operational tasks at this time." On August 21, 1962, Tony Varona visited President Rivera of El Salvador. Tony Varona discussed Mario Garcia Kohly and attempted to determine if Kohly was in contact with the opposition in El Salvador: "While anti-Castro in orientation, Kohly probably trying to sabotage Varona efforts or gain ascendancy over Varona group. (Deleted) End of message. C/S Comments: *Action unit determined as though indicator (deleted) used. **Concerned arrival of Werbell in Guatemala and commented on phone calls. [CIA IN 10726 8.24.62] In August and September 1962, Werbell was working with the United Organization for the Liberation of Cuba. The CIA reported: "[Werbell] tried to secure the recognition by several Central American countries of a Cuban Government in exile. In this undertaking he offered a Nicaraguan Government spokesman $100,000 to secure that country's recognition. In October 1962 he reportedly tried, through an intermediary, to purchase used military aircraft in the U.S. ostensibly for use in the Dominican Republic to train Latin American pilots for a thrust against Cuba." Mitch Werbell also traveled to Guatemala where he put pressure on Miguel Ydigoras Fuentes, through his son, Miguelito Ydigoras Laparra, to recognize this organization, which was nominally led by Mario Kohly. [CIA Cards For Action Rep. 10.10.60; NIXON ltr. to Weinfield 3.9.65] On August 17, 1962, William K. Harvey and J.C. King received this classified message: "Kohly, Werbell and Smith are well known to Kubark Hqs. and are considered to be wheeler and dealers, peddlers of grandiose schemes and unscrupulous." No first name was given for Smith. A CIA cable dated August 22, 1962, "reports Werbell's arrival and that he is accompanied by one Lucy Luchien."

In 1964 Mitch Werbell traveled to the Dominican Republic to aid the CIA in its efforts to prevent President Juan Bosch from reassuming office after the military junta that overthrew him in 1963 was itself overthrown. When these and similar efforts failed, the 81st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, commanded by Mitch Werbell's associate, Colonel Robert Bayard, invaded the Dominican Republic in 1965. Robert Bayard had worked with the United Nations Peace Keeping Force and had pioneered the use of night-vision goggles in Vietnam. Soon, efforts to reinstall Juan Bosch were crushed, and a CIA puppet government installed.

According to HEMMING, in 1966 Mitch Werbell used the Dominican Republic as a base of operations for an assassination attempt against Fidel Castro. HEMMING stated that Jose Ricardo Rabel Nunez (born April 7, 1922), the brother of Luis Rabel, was part of this operation. CIA Index Card *284008 read: "FIORINI, Frank *Rabel, Joseph Luis - FBI Report, August 3, 1962, p.4. Copy in file October 1977." [CIA FOIA 353459] As stated, the FBI generated a report dated August 3, 1962, NO 105-1698, subject, Cuban Revolutionary Council, New Orleans, Louisiana." Jose Rabel was given a highly sophisticated assassination weapon and sent into Cuba via a CIA-supplied submarine. Bay of Pigs Brigade member Eulalio Francisco Castro (Frank Castro), who was linked with Orlando Bosch, was also involved in this operation.

HEMMING contention that this was an assassination operation was supported by a CIA report: "Undated memo for Western Hemisphere/C/OPS on call from Mr. Dick Phillips (State) regarding arrest of (deleted): 'The three Cubans that Werbell reported were arrested are Jose Richardo Rabel Nunez (deleted), Gilberto Fondora and Migual Ramos. These men were crew members of the JURE mother vessel Venus. From JMWAVE reports it appears that (deleted) was attempting to exfiltrate his family, using Venus, when he was caught by Cuban Security Forces on September 3, 1965." [FBI 109-584-4608]

Jose Richardo Rabel Nunez was reported captured by the Cuban Government on September 3, 1965, and received a 30-year prison sentence.

Rabel was questioned by Cuban authorities:

Q. Upon your arrival in the United States you say you established contact with officials of the CIA and Navy officers who proceeded to interview you.

A. Well, that was in Key West.

Q. Do you remember any names?

A. James McBurn, a CIA man. But he called himself Joaquin. As far as names go that is the only one that...Well Diosdado, a man whom I believe to be Mexican but who is a CIA official and immigration official in Key West.

Q. You were interviewed again, in Washington?

A. The main questioner was another CIA official who called himself Don H. Then there was Joaquin, who had stayed with me, and other officials of the CIA and State Department.

Q. When did you join JURE?

A. When the CIA tried by every possible means to keep me from coming here to get my family, I broke off with them and joined Manolo Ray.

Q. What were your activities in JURE?

A. In the JURE, I took over a mother ship they had, the Venus.

Q. Where was the ship?

A. When I took charge of it the ship was in Santo Domingo.

Q. Did the Dominican authorities know the ship was involved in these activities you spoke about?

A. They knew very well the ship was there.

The CIA reported: "During the interrogation of Jose Ricardo Nunez, Cuban prisoner and alleged CIA agent, by members of LASO and the newsmen present early in August 1967 in Havana, Cuba, he advised that upon his arrival in the United States from Cuba he was met by a group of U.S. officials and that he knew the names of but two of these individuals James McGarran (phonetic) aka 'Joaquin' and one Diosdado. The latter was believed by Nunez to be a Mexican and Immigration official in Key West also. When asked by the Cuban Security Officer if the meant Cesar Diosdado Nunez replied in the affirmative and added that Diosdado is supposedly the Immigration official who really does the recruiting for the CIA."

Jose Rabel was released from prison in 1967. When the CIA discovered Jose Rabel had been released, it studied the possibility that Jose Rabel was a Castro double-agent:

MEMORANDUM

SUBJECT: Jose Ricardo Rabel Nunez (deleted) (201-249386)

1. Born April 7, 1922, in Havana, Cuba, the son of a native-born American citizen, Rabel was brought up in comfortable circumstances. He attended high school in Cuba, completed the last year in New Orleans, Louisiana and entered Tulane University in September 1938. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in December 1940 and eventually saw combat in France, Belgium, Germany and Austria. After discharge in December 1945, Rabel returned to Cuba to attend the University of Havana and this began a life of job changes, moving back between the U.S. and Cuba, and, in general, rootless living.

2. Rabel's background reads like a man with no allegiances or loyalties and no particular goals. Viewed in retrospect, his career presents a picture of unreliability. It is probable that Rabel's rootlessness and apparent unreliability applied both to his relations with Castro and to those with the Agency. It is quite possible, therefore, that he not only served the Agency in a superficial way, but that he did the same for Castro at various times when it suited his purposes. Without postulating this sort of dual role (one which fits very well with his previous life) it is almost impossible to explain some of the reasonably good things he did for the Agency and the quite certain allegations that he was a Castro agent. This explanation is not fully satisfactory; but it does explain his career better than the charge that he was a Castro agent from the beginning. The question that must remain unanswered is whether he betrayed the AMTRUNK Operation. He was not arrested until September 1965 (when AMTRUNK had already run its course) but it appears quite certain that he cooperated with the DSE after his arrest and while he was in prison.

3. Rabel joined in the clandestine activities against Batista in March 1952, first amongst the exiles in the U.S. and then, after late 1952, from inside Cuba. He joined the Cuban Armed Forces to further his plotting and was assigned to the Cuban General Staff. He was the Cuban liaison officer with the U.S. Army mission in Cuba from November 1954, until April 1956. During his entire period in the Cuban Army Rabel was involved with dissident Army elements; when they attempted a coup in April 1956, Rabel was arrested. He was released shortly thereafter, worked in the chicken business for a year and then returned to the U.S. and worked with one of his brothers (Luis Rabel Nunez). In October 1957 he returned to Cuba and became involved with the 26th of July Movement but had to leave a year later when he was brought to the attention of the Batista forces because of a bomb explosion. He smuggled weapons to Camilo Cienfuegos for about a year and then in October 1958 he joined the Cienfuegos group. Shortly after the Castro victory, Castro called upon Rabel to set up a Cuban Marine Corps, a job he held until February 1960, at which time he was appointed Chief of Vividendas Campesinas. He held this job until he defected to the U.S. in December 1962. It is worth noting that he rarely pursued one activity in one place from more than a year at a time from 1945 to 1962.

4. Rabel gave Alfonso Rodriguez the following reason for his defection:

A. Communist pressure, hounding, and the basis enmity of the Communist Party toward him. (This appears very reasonable in view of his service in the U.S. Army and training in some aspects of intelligence, such as prisoner interrogation. In addition, his schooling in the U.S. and the reasonable economic circumstances would not have been recommendations from the Communist point of view.)

B. Strong backing by Fidel which protected him from more serious attacks from the Party. (This, too, seems entirely reasonable. His family farm was near the farm Fidel's father managed and Rabel and Fidel had known each other as children. In addition, Rabel's long involvement in the anti-Batista movement and with Camilo Cienfuegos were probably in his favor in Castro's view.)

C. An obligation to protect the non-Communists in his department, which prevented his earlier defection, and uncertainty of his reception in the U.S. (In view of the number of defections from Rabel's department, there were, in fact, people to protect. Since Rabel had served in the U.S. Army, and probably felt the U.S. was his second country, he could well have questions about his reception after serving in the Castro Government.

D. His resentment against the confining nature of a Communist State. (Since he never stayed in one place more than a short time in his entire life, to have been restricted to Cuba must have seemed a punishment.

5. Rabel was used (Deleted) in (Deleted) to check out leads for the AMTRUNK Operation. One of his leads led to the recruitment of AMTRUCK-10. Later, in early 1964, Rabel was leader of the Rebel Army Group supported by the American Legion in Miami and was involved in the Rebel Army Radio program.

6. There is no specific evidence, except the accusations below, that Rabel was involved in a suspicious way with the Castro regime during this period, but his desire to exfiltrate his wife and children was a constant source of difficulty between him and the Station. This problem led to his eventual termination in July 1964 and to a great deal of resentment on his part. He conspired constantly, from mid-1963 until his capture in Cuba in September 1965, to get into Cuba to exfiltrate his wife and children.

7. Rabel was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment but was set free in July or August 1967, which is a strong indication that the charges that he worked for the DSE while in prison were true. Moreover, there is some indication that he may have attempted a provocation at Cuban behest immediately after his capture. There are two firm accusations that Rabel was a Cuban agent as early as July 1963 (which would have been when he was screening names for the AMTRUCK Operation) (Deleted) As mentioned above, these charges could well be true; yet Rabel could have fulfilled his duties for Castro superficially, for his own purposes, and not necessarily compromised his work with the Agency until he was captured. The difficulties he had in exfiltrating his wife could have been, partially, punishment by Castro for not fulfilling his duties as an agent; otherwise, had his work in the U.S. been valuable, Castro could have facilitated the exfiltration of Rabel's wife so that Rabel could continue his work as an agent undisturbed. LAD/JFK Task Force 1977 (Deleted) rp Attachment February 10, 1964, Memo for the Record, March 6, 1963, dispatch (Deleted) with Attachment, February 20, 1963, cable WAVE 4730 (IN 71127), September 30, 1963 dispatch (Deleted). [CIA FOIA #12923 1.14.77 re: 201-249,386] A first draft of this document contained this additional paragraph: "In view of the later roll-up of the AMTRUNK Operation the tentative opinion has been offered that the operation could have been an ingenious plan by Cubans from the beginning..." [NARA CIA 1993.07.13.15:39:45:210270]

Luis Rabel: "He was quite a guy, my brother. A U.S. Army Captain who enlisted in 1940, he was wounded twice. After his discharge in 1945, he went to the University of Havana. He lived in the United States, then went to Cuba. Before Castro declared himself a Communist he thought Castro was going to do something good for Cuba. He worked for him. When he found out different, he left Cuba in a plane. He went to try and get his family out of Cuba and, as far as his activities are concerned, I know very little. I saw him once in Miami when he came from Cuba. He had a big trial. They accused him of being a CIA Agent. My brother died in a Cuban jail."

In August 2006 this researcher was contacted by Laura M. Alphonso Rabel, the granddaughter of Jose Richardo Rabel who stated that the CIA's information was incorrect and Jose Richardo Rabel was never released, but died in a prison cell in Havana. After twelve years of incarceration under very bad circumstances, Jose Richardo Rabel got a heart infection. He was allowed furloughs and his family stayed in Cuba until he passed on. His family came to US on the Marial boatlife. They had been held hostage by Castro, and could not leave Cuba. This indicates that the CIA analyst who prepared this report was pre-disposed against JURE one of the more "liberal-democratic" of the anti-Castro groups.

"I grew up knowing that my grandfather Jose Ricardo Rabel Nunez died in a Cuban prison because he was captured when he attempted to exfiltrate my grandmother and her three daughters...after he died, my family escaped through the Mariel boat lift. I knew my grandfather had made contact with the Agency and that there was a part of his life that he never shared with his family." Laura M. Alfonso Rabel - lalauri27@gmail.com

On November 28, 1965, Mitch Werbell informed the CIA that Rolando Masferrer planned an invasion of Haiti, but had called it off on November 22, 1966. [CIA TD-OOB-321/19112-66] In December 1965 Mitch Werbell requested CIA permission for a January 1966, attempt on Fidel. Mitch Werbell reported he was taking a group of six Cubans to hit Fidel and Raoul Castro at a big rally in Havana.

On June 13, 1966, the Chief of JMWAVE sent this message to the Western Hemisphere Division Chief: "According to his file, Werbell appears to be a low level would-be con man who has a history of being involved in Castro assassination schemes and of professing to be connected, or at least in contact with Kubark. According to (deleted) 'Livingston' was involved with Antonio Veciana's alleged assassination ploy and he was masquerading as a Kubark officer." The CIA: "In February 1967 the Domestic Contacts Division advised that Werbell frequently volunteered information at its Miami Office and was going to be asked to respond to certain OSI requirements pertaining to the Dominican Republic...However, it is not known that Subject was approached in this regard, and the Domestic Contacts Division was provided with information relating to this dubious character. In August 1967 Subject came to Agency attention when he attempted to interest a group of military officers in a weapon silencer...One of these officers was actually a Technical Services Division representative serving under cover..."

According to HEMMING, STURGIS visited Costa Rica in late 1967, on behalf of Mitch Werbell. STURGIS denied knowing Mitch Werbell - "I read a lot about him ; personally, no" - nor did he claim to know Mitch Werbell associates - Paul Helliwell and Colonel Robert Bayard - although he admitted knowing Mitch Werbell associates Dominick Bartone, Rolando Masferrer, Kiki Masferrer and Rolandito Masferrer. The CIA's Jerrold G. Brown wrote: "Information had been developed by DDO by June 1974 that St. George had become active in the affairs of Mitchell Livingstone Werbell, III, the current employer of at least one former Agency staff employee. Werbell, an international arms dealer who is of considerable interest to this Agency and the FBI, has conducted certain of his activities under the guise of CIA sponsorship; and some of his activities and some of Werbell's activities and associates have paralleled those of FRANK STURGIS." [St. George MFR 7.25.75]

In 1967 Mitch Werbell and Rolando Masferrer were involved a plan to assassinate Duvalier, who had refused to allow Cuban exiles to use Haiti as a base against Cuba. Mitch Werbell supplied Rolando Masferrer with weapons and a staging area, and then informed the CIA of the plans of Rolando Masferrer. The CIA informed the FBI, and in early 1967, Mitch Werbell, Rolando Masferrer, Jean Baptiste George, Antonio Leon Rojas, Rene Juares Leon, Julio Anton Constanzo Palau and Martin Frances Casey, were indicted for conspiracy to violate the Neutrality Act. Several months later, the Justice Department, which was headed by Ramsey Clark, dropped the charges against Mitch Werbell. Rolando Masferrer received a three-year sentence. [USDC SDF 67-105-Cr-TC] Robert K. Brown served as an advisor to Project Nassau. The CIA wrote that this connected Robert K. Brown with Mitch Werbell. Robert K. Brown: "I first met Werbell down there for a very short period of time. I just happened to bump into him. He was with Andrew St. George. Then I crossed paths with Werbell more frequently once I got back on active duty. I was the officer in charge of the 18th Airborne Marksmanship. Werbell was trying to peddle all his goodies." The CIA stated that it detected several calls to Mitch Werbell from a telephone used by Robert K. Brown. [CIA From Raymond M. Reardon 8.27.76] On March 16, 1967, HEMMING made an unannounced call at the home of the Chief of the Domestic Contacts Division in Miami to report that the defense strategy of Rolando Masferrer was based on charges of CIA complicity in the invasion.

In January 1968 the Munitions Control Board asked the CIA if it had any interest in Mitch Werbell: "The case was summarized for the Deputy Director for Support on January 11, 1968, and the reply to the MCB was provided by the Office of Logistics." On February 24, 1968, the CIA received a report on the activities of Mitch Werbell and Robert K. Brown from an informant, stating that they were running Sionics, a firm that manufactured silencers under license for the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, and the CIA. Robert K. Brown: "That's all bullshit. I never had a piece of Sionics." Edwin Marger [OS SF 760 184], a former practicing attorney, was involved. [CIA File No. 75 149-1820 3.1.68] Edwin Marger was the partner of Charles Bush. According to HEMMING told this researcher: "Bush had flown the plane for the Alexander Rorke search party. Marger was a Haitian Consul." On February 26, 1968, the CIA generated a document titled: "Operational Support TWX" and on March 1, 1968, it generated an "Operation Support Report." [CIA OS SAG Brown 9.2.76]

In 1969 Howard K. Davis, Edmund Kolby, William Dempsey - all former INTERPEN members - along with Martin Francis Casey, Rene J. Leon, former Haitian Army Colonel, Charles Smith, William Eugene Dunbach, Marvin Simpson and Ralph Grant Edens were arrested after bombing the Haitian Presidential Palace of "Papa Doc" Duvalier with several gasoline-filled oil drums. Haitian antiaircraft fire caused enough damage to their aircraft to force the raiders to land in Nassau, where they were turned over to American authorities. A few months later, they were indicted by the Department Of Justice for violations of the Neutrality Act. [USDC SDF 69-328-CrCF] When their trial ended in a guilty verdict, Martin Casey wrote a letter to Federal Judge Charles Fulton from his prison cell. Martin Casey stated that he had been under the impression his activities had CIA approval: "On March 5, 1969, I received a call from Jay Mallin, a research scientist at the University of Miami's Center for International Studies. Mr. Mallin told me that if we needed weapons he had talked to someone in the Intelligence Community in Washington who had told him that we should contact Fred Brown (Sionics, Inc.) in Atlanta. Jay Mallin also told me Brown was an associate of Mitchell Werbell. I know Mr. Werbell as a CIA agent from his own words - heard on a number of occasions...I first met Werbell in Cuba in 1965 when he stated he was a CIA agent. I later met him in the home of GERALD PATRICK HEMMING...In March 1967 he stated that the reason the government dropped the indictment was that they could not prosecute one of their own. Brown stated he worked for the same Agency as Mitch and that he could get all State Department and CIA clearances. I made up a list of weapons that were needed. I did stay in contact with Mr. Mallin, who was to contact the State Department when we made any action raid, so that the U.S. State Department would be advised it was not some Communist group...Mr. Werbell has long been associated with Mr. Thomas B. DeWolf and Colonel Paul L. E. Helliwell, Miami attorneys who are connected with 'Red Sunset,' a CIA front." [69-335-Cr-Cf-USDC SD Fla.-Miami; 67-105-CR-TC-USDC SD Fla. Miami] In June 1959 Casey was arrested was conspiracy to commit larceny at the U.S. Naval Base at Portsmith, New Hampshire. In February 1961 he was arrested in Philadelphia for Assault and Battery on a police officer. Two months later he was arrested for Vagrancy in El Paso, Texas. In October 1961 Casey applied to the Coast Guard.

Jay Mallin was born in 1927 in New York City into an American family with two generations of Cuban roots. He covered Cuba for Time magazine from 1952 until 1962, when he was expelled by the Castro Government. In 1971 he founded the Institute for the Study of Change, to compile data on left-wing terrorists. Other members of the Institute included Richard H. Singer, a longtime CIA Middle East Station Chief, and the late Edward H. Landsdale, Saigon Chief of Station during the early stages of the Vietnam War. George Volsky was Secretary-Treasurer of the Institute. In 1986 Jay Mallin became the news director of Radio Marti (the 1980's version of Radio Free Cuba). In March 1990 he was made co-director of the station. [Miami Herald 4.21.74 p2B; HUNT Undercover p151]

Fred Brown could have been Robert K. Brown. Robert K. Brown claimed that during this time he was in Vietnam where he worked on OPERATION PHOENIX.

In May 1969 the CIA received information from a Air Force OSI representative in Miami that Mitch Werbell was undergoing a security check, as a result of his being employed by a company with a government contract. Mitch Werbell was under investigation by the OSI Internal Security Division and the Contract Fraud Division. At about the same time the Saigon CIA Station requested a headquarters bona fides check on Mitch Werbell. On May 26, 1969, (deleted) generated a cable with extensive distribution in the Far East "outlining Werbell's activities in his alleged capacity as CIA Chief in Thailand. It was mentioned that the station had been plagued some weeks by Werbell." Mitch Werbell claimed that he went to Vietnam in 1969, and was sent back to the U.S. several months later for excesses against the Vietnamese, such as having dropped live rats infected with bubonic plague into North Vietnam.

In the early 1970's Lucian Conein shared a Washington, D.C., Drug Enforcement Administration/Special Operations Group safehouse with Mitch Werbell's "Central Investigative Agency." Mitch Werbell "CIA" members included John Patrick Muldoon (OS SF 190 639). John Patrick Muldoon was "a former GS-12 Operations Officer, DDP/FE, who retired (deleted) in March 1972." He had been part of OPERATION PHOENIX with John L. Hart. Muldoon was a "former DDO Operations Officer who was 'riffed' by the Agency; he had been found to have approximately 75 Agency documents in his safe at the Drug Enforcement Administration where he was detailed shortly before his termination; a Civil Service Commission investigation in 1973 had disclosed that he was sleeping with the wife of a Washington Post reporter and he was connected with Mitch Werbell's 'Friends of Abaco' operation which was designed to bring about the independence of that small Caribbean Island for use as a haven for gambling and other nefarious purposes." [CIA OS SAG Raymond M. Reardon 5.21.77; Trans. of tel. con. 6.18.74 Van Cleave] Walter Josef Mackem (OS SF 190 639) was part of Mitch Werbell's crew.

While he was in Washington, Lucian Conein contacted the B.R. Fox Company, a firm which had close CIA connections because it specialized in the manufacture of sophisticated assassination devices. B.R. Fox also had offices in the same safehouse as Mitch Werbell and Lucian Conein. Its officers included Michael Morrissey, an attorney licensed to sell the CIA bugging equipment, who became of CIA-interest in July 1965 when his employer, the Halliburton Company, requested a contractor security clearance for his use: "Reportedly, the duties of Michael Morrissey involved NPIC contact." Barbara R. Fox Spindel, the widow of convicted wire tapper Bernard Bates Spindel, who had worked for Jimmy Hoffa, was President of B.R. Fox. (Bernard Spindel died in February 1971.) During Congressional Hearings, a B.R. Fox officer produced a catalogue that described the assassination weapons. A cover letter stated: "Enclosed is a catalogue put together only after we started working with Lou Conein...because of the nature of the devices it is not being given to anyone else..." Lucian Conein claimed that the catalogue had been put together for Mitch Werbell. When Lucian Conein first saw it he claimed he remarked, "Yes sir...boy this is something...this guy Mitch [Werbell] is one of the craziest son-of-a-bitches I've ever met."

The CIA reported: "In the latter part of 1975 and early 1976, the FBI conducted an extensive investigation regarding extortion letters received by 196 U.S. firms in which one 'B.A. Fox' of the B.R. Fox Company demanded huge amounts of money under the threat of sabotaging their products and operations. Recently, these same victims received 'letter bombs' and 'tick letters.' As of November 1975 the FBI believed Mitch Werbell may have been the 'brains' behind the extortion operation. However, Mackem continues to engender strong suspicion by the FBI. Mackem, a Reed College graduate...apparently procured a brochure listing the names and addresses of Reed College graduates. It appears that many of the extortion letters have been addressed to Reed graduates who now occupy important positions in private industry." [CIA Memo Michael E. Schneeberger to Chief, Security Analysis Group; CIA Memo for Record 8.17.76 Jerrold G. Brown D/C SAG; CIA Memo 4.10.76 Brown] HEMMING told this researcher: "CHRIST was a friend of Bernie Spindel. CHRIST was an amateur. Bernie did all that shit for the Technical Services Division. I knew him as Bernie Fox of B.R. Fox Incorporated. I met him through Werbell in the 1960's."

In 1975 Lucian Conein and Mitch Werbell were involved with fugitive financier Robert L. Vesco in planning a Drug Enforcement Administration/Special Operations Group Operations Center in Costa Rica. Lucian Conein and Mitch Werbell continued a close association with one another until Mitch Werbell was indicted for conspiracy to import marijuana in late 1975.

Mitch Werbell was an associate of Robert Vesco, and in 1974 Mitch Werbell was called before the Senate Permanent Investigating Subcommittee which was looking into the financial dealings of Robert Vesco. Mitch Werbell took the Fifth Amendment. Mitch Werbell and associates were represented by the law firm of Fensterwald and Ohlhausen. William George Ohlhausen [born 12.2.39; OS SF 197 427] "was an applicant for CIA GS-5 Staff employment (Intelligence Analyst/DDP/RID) in January 1962. His case was canceled in May 1962 for the reason he accepted another position." [Memo Sarah K. Hall SRS/OS 4.8.71] In 1976 Mitch Werbell associate Dominick Bartone was asked: "Now, among other things, didn't Mr. Senore tell you that Morton Franklin had told him Gerry Cunningham was to receive 1,000 guns, probably destined for Robert Vesco?" Dominick Bartone responded: "He mentioned they were probably destined for Vesco..." [76-6066-Cr-Wh-USDC SD FLA. Miami p161]

In 1968 NIXON appeared with Robert Vesco, and associated himself with him throughout his Presidential term. In early 1971 Robert Vesco was released from a Swiss jail at the request of United States Attorney General John Mitchell. When Robert Vesco returned to the U.S., he hired NIXON'S brother, Donald Nixon, in an unspecified capacity. In July 1973 Drug Enforcement Administration informant Frank Peroff reported that Robert Vesco was involved in heroin smuggling. According to Frank Peroff, after he told this to the Drug Enforcement Administration, he was set up to be murdered; when that failed, he was arrested. It appeared to Frank Peroff that the Drug Enforcement Administration was protecting Robert Vesco at NIXON'S request. In March 1974 the son of Costa Rican President Jose Figueres, Marti Figueres, contacted Robert Vesco's representative, Philip Graydon, and asked him to contact Mitch Werbell. Marti Figueres was interested in purchasing 1,000 Ingram submachine guns from Mitch Werbell. Other evidence suggested that when Philip Graydon, Mitch Werbell, Mitch Werbell Jr. and Marti Figueres met, they discussed setting up a Costa Rican Drug Enforcement Administration/Special Operations Group base. A mob figure connected with Dino Cellini had purchased a boat and several assassination weapons in furtherance of this plan. When Mitch Werbell was called before the SSCIA, he was questioned about this meeting, and his other dealings with Vesco and his representatives. He repeatedly took the Fifth Amendment, which resulted in the nickname, "Mitch the Fifth." In 1995 Fidel Castro arrested Robert Vesco in Cuba for illegal currency trading.

After his appearance on Capitol Hill in 1974, a series of misfortunes befell Mitch Werbell and associates. In 1972 Rolando Masferrer was released on parole. He returned to Miami, where he waged war on Cuban exiles who advocated coexistence. In 1974 the State Department learned Rolando Masferrer was planning another Cuban invasion. In March 1975 Rolando Masferrer told the FBI that "several months ago he discovered Ignacio Novo in a parking lot next to his office. Encounter was made at approximately midnight, Ignacio Novo was armed and climbing fence and Rolando Masferrer believes Ignacio Novo may have been attempting to kill him." [FBI 2-2079-111] In June 1975 the FBI questioned Rolando Masferrer about an assassination threat against Senator Edward Kennedy. [FBI 89-3119-3] On October 31, 1975, a bomb exploded in Rolando Masferrer's car, killing him instantly.

During a press conference in Havana, Manual De Armas, a Castro double-agent who penetrated the leadership of the Miami Cuban exile community while working as a collector for the Security and Collection Agency of Estaban Ventura, said that he had received explosives from his CIA Case Officer, Bud Mills, (CIA had no Office of Security traces on Mills) and had given them to a member of Abdula, a CIA-controlled exile group to be used against Rolando Masferrer. The CIA reported:

MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, Security Analysis Group

SUBJECT: Manuel L. De Armas SF #591 865

1. Reference is made to the attached cable traffic which sets forth the "defection" of the Subject to Cuba circa April 1976. In substance, De Armas apparently gave a press conference in Havana on April 21, 1976 in which he claimed to be an ex-CIA agent who had been recruited by a FNU Blackenhouse (no Office of Security traces) in 1969. De Armas also claimed to have been stationed in New York City in 1971 where he maintained contact with Blackenhouse and Richard Tomley (probably identifiable with (Deleted) Washington Area Recruiting Office).

2. In the cited press conference, De Armas made many allegations concerning purported CIA operations, such as assassination plots and a plan to rupture relations between Venezuela and Cuba. Details of these allegations are set forth in the attached cable traffic and are not treated in instant memorandum. However, interest in De Armas' allegations concerning alleged CIA operations concerns the identities of individuals that he claimed to have been Agency operatives and assets; details regarding these individuals are covered in the latter portions of instant memorandum.

3. Agency interest in Manual De Armas was originally predicated on the receipt of a letter written by Manual De Armas on September 12, 1972, in which he related details concerning his anti-Castro activities through his membership in a group called Abdala. The letter also contained a request for employment with the Agency. As a result of De Armas' letter, the Western Hemisphere Division requested a Special Inquiry by the Office of Security for the purpose of establishing the identity of Manual De Armas, which was completed in October 1972. In May 1973 the Office of Personnel opened a file on Manual De Armas and apparently went through the normal routine of shopping his file. Interest in Manual De Armas terminated when Tomley [a CIA recruiting officer mentioned by De Armas] sent him a letter advising him that the Agency had nothing currently available. Then on January 22, 1973, De Armas wrote Tomley thanking the latter for interest following a telephone call De Armas made to Tomley in which De Armas wanted to know once and forever if there were any openings for him. De Armas security file reflected no subsequent except for the attached cable traffic following his 'defection.'" [CIA OS 591 865]

4. Regarding personalities mentioned by De Armas in his Havana press conference, it appears that several individuals my be identical to former WH Division assets, as shown below. It should be noted that De Armas did not identify any bona fide Agency staff employees or agents nor does it appear that he identified any past or current operations. It seems likely that De Armas was provided a list of known or suspected Agency assets by the DGI as part of Cuba's ongoing anti-CIA, anti-U.S. Government campaign designed to offset adverse criticism to Cuba's military assistance to Angola. Set forth below are those individuals alleged to have been connected with Agency operations by De Armas; results of Office of Security indices searches and file reviews follow each name where a possible identification could be made.

Bob Dynes (aka Dinus, Daynes) No Office of Security traces regarding all variations.

Robert Bud Miles (alleged to have been the supplier of explosives used in the murder of Rolando Masferrer).

Lazaro Alvarez: Possibly identifiable with Lazaro Gustayo Areces Alvarez SF # 753 905 (Deleted).

Fred Duncan: No Office of Security traces; believed to be a DEA officer stationed in Caracas.

Doug Phillips: No Office of Security traces; believed to be a DEA officer stationed in Caracas.

John Valdavian (aka Bladabian): No Office of Security traces regarding all variations.

A. Nass: Probably identifiable with Donald L. Ness, State Department RSO in Santo Domingo.

Anselmo Alliegro (HIJO): No Office of Security traces.

Ricardo Morales Navarrete: No Office of Security traces. [The CIA: "On March 2, 1964, a Office of Security CIA investigation on Richardo Morales yielded numerous derogatory traces, nonetheless, he was granted a Provisional Operation Approval."]

Armando Ruiz: Possibly identifiable with Armando Valenzuela Ruiz, SF #752 358. (Deleted) not used due to significant derogatory information developed.

Antonio De Leon: Possibly identifiable with Sergio Antonio Lopez De Leon, S.F. #740 227 (Deleted).

Mario Mejia Ricard (aka Ricart): Probably identifiable with Marcio Mejia Ricart, CR to SF #244 148 (Manuel Moises Lamarche Salas). In June 1960 latter advised FBI that Ricart was a Venezuelan active in anti-Trujillo activities and had visited Miami in April to buy B-26's and weapons for an attack on the Dominican Republic; also advised that Ricart was an instructor at Caracas University, was associated with Director of Economics Development in Venezuela and believed Ricart might be a Communist.

Luis Desa Soto: No Office of Security traces.

Felix Martinez Suarez: Possibly identifiable with Felix Antonio Martinez Suarez, SF #242 302, who was Director of El Mundo (deleted).

Salavador Romani: Possibly identifiable with Salvador Garcia Romani-Orue, SF # 223 776; (Deleted) files canceled in January 1967. On PRQ listed on Manuel Artime, not further identified, as a relative/friend/correspondent in U.S.

5. The possible identification (by either De Armas or the DGI) of the Western Hemisphere Division assets reflected above suggests that their names were either known or suspected as CIA assets and were thrown in with those individuals, not identified above in an effort to legitimatize De Armas' claims to have worked for the CIA. It should be noted that of those individuals listed above on whom a security file exists, none appear to have any current association with this Agency and, as far as can be determined, no actual Agency operations were either exposed or threatened.

6. The above is provided for your information; no further action in this case appears necessary.

Michael E. Schneeberger, Security Analysis Group.

In September 1976 De Armas was arrested in Ithaca, New York on a grand larceny warrant issued in by the Dade County state's attorney's office. De Armas was accused of fraudulently cashing two checks for than $500 while working for the Ventura Collection Agency in Miami. He was released on his own recognizance. On January 15, 1977, Manuel De Armas was arrested for grand larceny charges in Chicago and held in lieu of $10,000 bond.

After Rolando Masferrer was assassinated, Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre wrote the FBI, and asked the FBI to contact the CIA and obtain a list of Cuban Nationals trained by that Agency in demolition. [FBI 174-6515-5] Maurice Ferre contacted Don Donahue of Senator Jackson's office. FBI official J. B. Adams handled the Rolando Masferrer investigation. [FBI 174-6515-3] The CIA file of Rolando Masferrer contained a document stating that after his death, no other documents should appear in his file.

On July 6, 1975, Colonel Robert Bayard, who retired from the Army in 1970 and worked for Mitch Werbell, was shot to death with a silenced automatic pistol in an Atlanta parking lot. An African-American, George Lee Mathis, was indicted for the shooting, but was acquitted when the jury decided the testimony of the principal witness was unbelievable. Mitch Werbell stated that the killing was politically motivated. [FBI 62-108665-A NR 8.27.75] HEMMING told this researcher: "He knew too much." In 1975, a former CIA agent who worked for Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in Atlanta arrested the son of Mitch Werbell, Mitch Werbell, Jr., for selling him 2,000 machine guns. On April 25, 1975, Mitch Werbell Jr. was acquitted of attempting to sell a foreign government guns without State Department approval.

Paul Helliwell was an associate of Mitch Werbell. In the early 1970's, Paul Helliwell's Bahamas-chartered Castle National Bank financed numerous CIA-sponsored forays against Cuba. When the Internal Revenue Service investigated the bank for money laundering, the CIA had the probe scuttled. Paul Helliwell died in the Bahamas on December 24, 1976, from complications from emphysema. He died before he was to be called before a Grand Jury. Two years later, he was the Subject of a FBI Tax Division investigation. HEMMING told this researcher: "He was a rogue."

In late 1975 Mitch Werbell, John Nardi (a Cleveland Teamster official) William Bell, Morton Franklin, and Gerry Cunningham were indicted for conspiracy to smuggle marijuana in Miami. These indictments came about through the efforts of informant Kenneth Burnstine. Kenneth Burnstine was an ex-Marine fighter pilot who worked with the CIA during the Bay of Pigs. In 1965 the FBI maintained offices in a building owned by Ken Burnstine. J. Edgar Hoover made Ken Burnstine an FBI contact. Less than six months later, Ken Burnstine's business partners charged him with larceny, but the Assistant United States Attorney declined prosecution. In 1970 Ken Burnstine's fingerprints appeared on stolen securities, and he was charged with selling stolen stock. These charges were dropped after he furnished the FBI with information on Mitch Werbell, who was his partner in the Military Armaments Corporation. At this time, Ken Burnstine said he was a weapons dealer, and was in possession of a Federal Firearms license. [DEA arrest rec. BT 7936]

In March 1972 the FBI suspected Ken Burnstine had Congressman Bertram L. Podell (Dem.-NY) on his payroll. Bertram Podell pleaded guilty in 1974 to Federal conspiracy charges for having accepted $41,000 to help a Florida airline obtain a new route. [NYT 7.25.80] In 1973 the FBI investigated Ken Burnstine's Florida Airways. Numerous small aircraft bearing marijuana had crashed in Southern Florida, and all of them bore the name of Florida Airways as lessor. The CIA became interested in Ken Burnstine's operations at this time. [CIA Cable 1.17.73 GI-73-0007] By early Spring 1974, the Drug Enforcement Administration was preparing a case against Mitch Werbell. In October 1974, before it had completed its investigation, Ken Burnstine was arrested in Texas for possession of cocaine. In 1974 STURGIS was incarcerated as a result of Watergate. While in prison, he was visited by Jerry Buchanan, who asked him to contact the CIA for him because he had "a National Security thing." STURGIS: "I says, hey, I'm in jail, I can't do it. When I got out shortly I did contact the CIA for him. This is how Jerry got tied up with certain agents involved in intelligence, and what he did or went about, that's how the thing came about." The "National Security" matter Jerry Buchanan referred to was Ken Burnstine. Jerry Buchanan introduced HEMMING to Ken Burnstine. HEMMING: "During early 1975 I ascertained that Ken Burnstine completed operation to Eastern Bahamas but had near fatal incident that caused death of one of his associates in area of Bahamas. I continued attempts to establish contact with Burnstine's group with little success but did accomplish the following: a. Met and identified most of Burnstine's associates, buyers, and Florida distributors over a two month period. Those identified are United States and Colombian nationals." [DEA G 8-74-0012; DEA G1-73-0273-p7] The evidence that Jerry Buchanan amassed was only enough to indict and convict Ken Burnstine of one count of marijuana sale, however, DEA Agent Arthur Sedillo was able to convince Burnstine that he (Sedillo) was a cocaine supplier, during a trip Burnstine made to Mexico City. In 1990 Sedillo was operating out of Monterrey, Mexico. [Messick, Operation Snowbird, page 80] Ken Burnstine was charged with conspiracy and sentenced to seven years. Released on appeal bond, he was anxious to inform in exchange for avoiding this prison term. In July 1975 he told the Drug Enforcement Administration that he had a Florida State Senator on his payroll who was helping to negotiate a proposed agreement regarding immunity for Ken Burnstine from the Office of the United States Attorney. The Drug Enforcement Administration wanted Ken Burnstine to set Mitch Werbell up for an arrest. By November 1975 Ken Burnstine supplied the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami with enough evidence to indict Mitch Werbell and his associates for Conspiracy. Ken Burnstine was the star witness for the prosecution. Then, on June 16, 1976, two months before Mitch Werbell et. al. were scheduled to stand trial in Miami, Ken Burnstine was killed in an airplane accident during an air show in Mojave Desert in California. Ken Burnstine's plane went into a high-speed stall, and exploded upon impact with the ground. The Mojave County Deputy Coroner reported no toxicological tests were conducted, as no usable body fluids could be extracted. The National Transportation Safety Board commented: "It was not a survivable crash." Seconds before his aircraft fell, Burnstine called the pilot flying near him and said: "No (pause). Oh no!" He had apparently applied power in an attempt to pull out of a downward spin, and found that he could not. Had someone tampered with the control surface of his aircraft? The National Transportation Safety Board found no evidence of control surface separation prior to impact since "damage to the control surfaces precluded determination of whether or not the rudder or elevator controls" had been tampered with.

Ken Burnstine's plane arrived at Chino Airport three days before the crash. It was parked outside the hangar on the night it arrived, then berthed in the hangar for the two remaining days. Burnstine carried two automatic pistols with him in the cockpit that day. The FBI investigated his death because he had been a Federal witness. Its chief suspect was Mitch Werbell's codefendant John Nardi, since John Nardi was described as "the reputed head of a Cleveland, Ohio, organized crime family." In October 1976 the FBI closed its investigation of the crash. Several pending narcotics cases had collapsed with the death of Ken Burnstine, and three counts against Mitch Werbell and his codefendant were dropped.

I received this email in October 2005: "I enjoy reading your material on JFK and G. P. Hemming; although I can’t agree with all of the material. You are the only one who wrote about Ken Bernstine. He is listed in old news papers as a Marine Fighter pilot and smuggler. The truth is he was a Marine Corps Counterintelligence Officer in Atsugi before Oswald got there. He was not a pilot; never went to Navy flight school, but did go to a small private school in the South when he got out of service. I should know in that I served with him in Atsugi and took over his duties shortly after he left. He had everyone convinced he was a fighter pilot. That never happened. So I would like to know anything additional about Ken, a Northwestern graduate. It appears that Hemming took over some of Bernstine’s old smuggling accounts, but I believe that Ken was an informant for a few agencies before he died. His lawyer got disbarred and the hoods that he snitched on all died soon after his death. It was a strange story about a strange guy. When his checking account was checked in Ft. Lauderdale, he had over one million dollars in it....[I am a former intelligence/counterintelligence officer USMC. I served with Bernstine in Atsugi. He got orders to flight school when he left Atsugi in 1956, but never went to Pensacola. Instead he went to a private flight school in some small place in Alabama. You can read about his exploits in old Miami newspapers. I believe his lawyer's name was Levy. I am listed in the credits in several books. Russel's book and the one I knew best Henry Hurt of Readers Digest. I am in the credits of the Frontline story about Lee Harvey Oswald. Bernstine entered the Air Races and won one year while flying a P-51. He had one sentence hanging over him and he was a material witness in another when his plane crashed upon landing. His plane was found in 8 pieces and in his plane he had Two guns. Well Mr. Weberman I am trying to obtain some info for I am writing a book about Oswald in the Far East. My name is Jack R. Swike and I served in the Corps during 1953 and from 54 through 58. Later I was assigned counterintelligence duty in the Fourth Marine Division in Reserve. In Japan Bernstine walked around and wore a shoulder holster. We all had .45's. I never knew what he was up to until he left. He was working on counterfeit military currency. The Office of Naval intelligence told him and us to keep them informed on what we were doing. He told them to go to hell. When he went home it was my belief that he would become a private detective. At one time he owned an airline company in Miami which he used for his smuggling.

Now I have written you before and you blew me off. So I am trying one more time to see if Bernstine had any connection to the Bay of Pigs , Oswald Etc..I don't believe he had any dealings with Hemming. I also don't believe that Hemming ever met Oswald while Oswald was in the Corps. Well I am trying to get info, but I see I have provided you with more info which has never been public. So if you have something you wish to share, please let me hear from you.

In August 1976 Mitch Werbell stood trial in Federal Court in Miami. He was charged with marijuana smuggling. He told the jury that he was a deep cover agent who worked for the Drug Enforcement Administration/Special Operations Group, who was offered a lucrative government contract in return for setting up Burnstine. Mitch Werbell subpoenaed NIXON. HEMMING told this researcher: "NIXON knew of the fucking arrangement with Mitch Werbell and all those people." Judge Peter Fay ruled that there was insufficient evidence in the case to require NIXON to appear. NIXON aide Egil Krogh appeared instead. Egil Krogh denied the White House had any control over international drug trafficking, but he admitted he knew Drug Enforcement Administration/Special Operations Group head Lucien Conein. Mitch Werbell testified that he had sent codefendant Gerry Cunningham to meet with Lucian Conein regarding the Burnstine matter. Lucian Conein testified no such meeting occurred, and the records of the Drug Enforcement Administration supported this. Mitch Werbell produced a toll slip that contained a notation of a call to Lucian Conein during the period in question, and a Drug Enforcement Administration receipt for the use of the Washington, D.C., Parabellum / "CIA" safehouse. Mitch Werbell wasn't the only person to insist he had been working undercover for Lucian Conein when he was arrested. HEMMING claimed the same thing. In Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Krueger's analysis of a HEMMING self-generated document, Krueger stated: "This report, read in its total, and winding up with paragraph 8, leads me to believe that HEMMING will attempt a sensational trial defense claiming to be a DEA/CIA employee, that he has successfully thwarted drug smuggling adventures at great personal risk, that Conein and Briggs attempted to interfere with a Senate investigation and that they planned with him and others to assassinate narcotics smugglers. It is my understanding that HEMMING was once a CIA contract paramilitary employee. As such he would have received training in report writing and the correct format for code words and code names. The report bears a very superficial resemblance to a CIA report, but is clearly a construction of fiction designed as a defense for HEMMING. I am at a loss to explain why Lucien Conein is so often the victim of coincidental associations and meetings with DEA defendants with bizarre tales of Terry and the Pirates adventures." [Joseph Krueger, Deputy Chief Inspector/ William J. Kafaris, Inspector-in-Charge DEA S.E. FO David S. Wiser 9.27.76] The CIA refused to allow one of its questioned document experts to testify about this evidence. [CIA MFR 7.9.77 Edmund Cohen] Krueger described HEMMING as a "CIA paramilitary." What was his source?

Other witnesses for Mitch Werbell included a CIA agent, and Wallace Shanley, who testified that Mitch Werbell had called him in September 1973 regarding Ken Burnstine's smuggling operation. Wallace Shanley: "Werbell talked narcotics to some guys who turned out to be Drug Enforcement Administration agents. After that, they pretty much constructed the whole thing, and fit Mitch into it. He was entrapped. I used to be in the Drug Enforcement Administration. I testified I was once in the Drug Enforcement Administration but came to despise it because it lacked morality. I just testified to the attitudes, ambitions and techniques of narcotics agents." Wallace Shanley went to Vietnam after things settled down in Miami in 1967: "I worked with Ted Shackley, who was in charge of OPERATION PHOENIX, but I had nothing to do with it. With a few threads, HEMMING can create a goddamn tapestry of bullshit."

In early September 1976 Mitch Werbell and his codefendants were acquitted on all counts. Mitch Werbell's attorney, Edwin Marger, told the press: "He would never get involved in a conspiracy to import marijuana. Guns, revolution, assassination, yes."

In April 1977 Gerry Cunningham, Morton Franklin, Dominick Bartone and Henry Grecco were indicted in Atlanta for conspiring to violate arms export laws. An FBI informant reported that the wife and children of Henry Grecco " were murdered many years ago because of a gangland beef. This turned him into a cold blooded killer." Henry Grecco had numerous weapons convictions and was involved in the attempted "torching" of a heavily insured hotel along with John Nardi, Morton Franklin and Gerry Cunningham. In late 1975 the FBI questioned Henry Grecco about a fatal bombing and the murder of an organized crime figure. Dominick Bartone was a Cleveland gangster dating from the days of Al Capone who had worked with RUBY in smuggling arms to Fidel Castro between 1957 and 1959. In May 1959 Dominick Bartone was arrested by U.S. Customs in Miami in connection with an attempted bribery scheme regarding the departure of a munitions-laden C-74 aircraft. [FBI 105-80291] Nardi worked for Dominick Bartone. HEMMING told this researcher: "Dominick Bartone died in prison." The 1977 crew were charged with having bought weapons from Mitch Werbell, having staged a fictitious burglary, then having illegally exported the arms to South America. A month after these indictments were handed down, Nardi was killed by a bomb. Later that month, Henry Grecco was shot in the head and died instantly. A witness at the murder scene identified Joe Bonarrigo as the hitman. On June 28, 1978, Joe Bonarrigo was sentenced to 15 years to life for murder.

In 1976 Gordon Novel, a prominent figure in New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison's investigation, lived with Mitch Werbell. On January 17, 1977, when Gordon Novel was arrested for arson, Mitch Werbell bailed him out. During the Summer of 1977, someone tried to stab Mitch Werbell in an Atlanta bar. In the early 1980's Mitch Werbell became the personal bodyguard of the crypto-Nazi leader, Lyndon LaRouche. In November 1983, Mitch Werbell was arrested for bringing a sharp, pointed, walking cane into a Federal courtroom. Mitch Werbell died on December 18, 1983, in the Cardiac Unit of the UCLA Medical Center, after a brief illness. He was 65.

Wilma Christ stated: "I talked to him at his office the day Kennedy was assassinated. He called me - and ah - or I called him I guess. I called him. But he knew. I remember my younger son was just coming home from school. So that would have been about 3:00 p.m. I don't really remember but I think I called him. Because I heard it on the T.V. I don't remember what time he came home from work. He came back that night. Oh, yeah." A HSCA CIA document revealed:

Memorandum For: Legislative Counsel

Attention: Roger Gabrielson

Subject: HSCA Request

Reference: HSCA Memo 77-0058/12 December 22, 1977 (OLC 77-5685)

1. Per your request concerning Item 1 of Reference the following information is submitted:

Question: DAVID L. CHRIST. Reported to have been in Dallas on November 22, 1963."

A. We have searched for time and attendance records on DAVID L. CHRIST to determine his duty status on November 22, 1963. We have been informed that T & A records for all employees have been destroyed, and therefore we do not know his duty status on November 22, 1963.

B. We have searched the financial records of DAVID L. CHRIST to determine if he was in travel status on November 22, 1963. We did find that CHRIST performed travel to Boston, Mass. on November 26, 1963, and returned to Washington, D.C., on November 27, 1963. Transmitted to you separately are copies of his travel voucher and Request for Advance of Funds concerning his travel to and from Boston. It may be worth noting that CHRIST signed the request for advance of funds on November 20, 1963, and his secretary signed a receipt for the advance of funds on November 21, 1963.

C. We have not conducted a search for any records, memos, letters, buckslips etc. that might be in our files and contain initials or a signature of CHRIST signifying action by him on November 22, 1963. Such a search would require an extensive effort, and may not prove fruitful, but we are willing to make the effort if requested.

D. In addition, we have not attempted to question or obtain statements from CHRIST'S colleagues who may recall seeing or talking with CHRIST on November 22, 1963. Once again we are not sure such an action would be fruitful, but we are willing to make an effort if requested."

[Roger Gabrielson, Harold P. Clark, Special Assistant DDS&T -1455-78 CIA FOIA 17477]

On January 12, 1966, the CIA reported: "Recently, a source of the Security Research Staff advised that he had recently been in contact with Juan A. Rodriguez Jomolca, who is active in the DRE in charge of Latin American activities. Rodriguez told source he was acquainted with a Dan Caswell, while both were imprisoned in Cuba."

CHRIST voluntarily retired from the CIA in October 1970. In November 1971 the CIA stated: "Mr. Christ's imaginative leadership and inspiration to those working with him, his broad scope of interest, his resourcefulness and philosophical devotion to the cause of the Agency and the United States have provided this Agency with an individual whose unique efforts and accomplishments over his 20 years service are worthy of recognition." He received the Intelligence Medal of Merit. Former CIA Director Richard Helms was asked:

Q. And do you have any knowledge of an individual whose name is Daniel Carswell?

A. Daniel Carswell, no.

(Whereupon Mr. ajweberman conferred with Mr. Miller out of the hearing of the others and off the record, after which the following occurred:)

THE WITNESS: I've heard the name of Carswell someplace, but I don't know whether it was the Judge who didn't become Supreme Court Justice or just where I've heard the name, but I can't elucidate in this context.

By Mr. Miller (Resuming):

Q. All right, do you know whether or not Charles Siragusa operating on behalf of the Agency, made an effort to get Mr. Carswell out of Cuba on behalf of the Agency?

A. No, I don't know anything about the operations he was conducting in Cuba.

Q. I asked you earlier about a Mr. CARSWELL, who you did not recall. I'm going to show you a photograph.

A. I don't know anything about this man. He doesn't he doesn't send any thing to, any message to me.

[Helms Depo. HUNT V. ajweberman 5.17.79]

In December 1970 CHRIST was employed by the Devenco of New York City. In January 1971 CHRIST worked for the Disco/Itek Corporation and received a Top Secret, Industrial Security, CIA clearance. This researcher has been unable to find any record of the Disco/Itek Corporation, however the Itek Corporation was heavily involved in CIA contract work. The CEO of Itek in 1975, Franklin T. Lindsay, was a former official of the CIA. Itek developed the cameras used in the Corona Spy Satellites. [http://www.nro.odci.gov/corpr.htm] He was approved for Domestic Contacts Division use in August 1971 valid through August 1976. In November 1972 CHRIST began working for Applied Technology of Arlington, Virginia, and in July 1972 he worked for Household Data Services of Reston, Virginia. In 1975 the CIA noted CHRIST'S file contained the "following flags of interest."

1. Cross reference sheet - January 4, 1971 with 0=607446/Cuban Imprisonment of Agency Audio Technicians

2. A sealed envelope to be opened only by designated officials.

3. Watergate file review. [CIA File 0-602744]

Edwin P. Wilson was born May 3, 1923, at Napa, Idaho. He was six feet four inches tall. He came from a poor family and was 14 when his father died and he became the provider. He joined the Marines in 1952 and served nearly three years before his discharge as first lieutenant. On November 1, 1955, the day of his discharge from the Marines, he joined the CIA in Korea. He was a Staff employee of the Office of Security of the CIA from 1955 to 1960, after which he became a staff agent. During this time Edwin P. Wilson said he worked on security for the U-2. He was used by the International Organizations Division in international labor union affairs and later was used by Special Operations Division to run a Washington, D.C., maritime proprietary.

Ex-CIA contract employee Ernest R. Keiser said he saw Edwin P. Wilson in Miami in April 1961. Jack Anderson reported that Wilson was involved in the Bay of Pigs invasion and in a scheme to have dolphins attach explosive charges to Cuban ships.

Edwin P. Wilson told private detective Richard Bast that in 1964 he served as an advance man for Senator Hubert Humphrey, while still working for the CIA.

Edwin P. Wilson resigned from the CIA in February 1971 and became a contract agent for Naval Intelligence. The Navy set him up in a proprietary very similar to the one he had used while with the Agency for the purpose of providing non-official cover to the Office of Naval Intelligence agents serving overseas under a Project known as Task Force 157. Task Force 157 was a group of about 75 agents who gathered intelligence around the world under the cover of export-import operations. Wilson's assignment was to set up a front called Consultants International, through which agents would be run and supplied. It was a joint CIA/Navy operation. Wilson, as paymaster, was able to embezzle a fortune from the operation. Naval Task Force 157 was shut down by then-Navy Intelligence Director Bobby Inman because of the behavior of Edwin P. Wilson. [Jack Anderson Wash. Post 6.30.77] Wilson had lunch with Inman in early 1976 and told Inman that he would employ his contacts in the Congress to lobby on behalf of Inman's Naval budget requests if Inman in return would help funnel government contract's to Wilson's businesses. [Wash. Post 9.12.81]

Mr. Wilson was terminated by the Navy in early 1976. In June 1976 Edwin P. Wilson and former CIA Agent Frank Terpil obtained a military contract from Libya worth tens of millions of dollars. Frank Terpil's wife was the secretary of William F. Buckley. Terpil knew DAVID PHILLIPS. Author Jim Hougan reported that Terpil told him he had been introduced to PHILLIPS by Hal Hendrix, who had a daughter Terpil knew. Terpil told Hougan that PHILLIPS used the name BISHOP when he knew him at the CIA. Terpil checked the name BISHOP in CIA indices and found that BISHOP was DAVID PHILLIPS. [The Last Investigation, Fonzi, page 364]

"The Libyan Case first came to the Agency's attention on September 7, 1976, when Kevin Mulcahy, a former Agency employee, contacted Theodore Shackley, Associate Deputy Director for Operations, and advised Mr. Shackley that he wished to meet with Agency officials to discuss the activities of a firm he was associated with known as the 'International Technologies Incorporated.' Mr. Mulcahy indicated that the firm was ostensibly involved in a project in Libya to clear World War II mine fields. But Mr. Mulcahy had become suspicious that more than mine clearing was involved. Early on September 8, 1976, Mr. Mulcahy was in touch with Mr. Thomas A. Cox of the Inspector General's Office who met with Mr. Mulcahy later in the day. During this meeting Mr. Mulcahy indicated that he had come across some documents in the office of Edwin P. Wilson which led Kevin Mulcahy to conclude that Inter-Tech Incorporated was involved in a program to teach covert sabotage techniques to individuals in Libya and that the mine clearing project was merely a cover. Mr. Wilson is a former Agency employee and according to Mr. Mulcahy, he is the owner of Inter-Technology. Mr. Mulcahy gave Mr. Cox copies of the documents-- one of which was a proposal to conduct a program to teach covert sabotage techniques and other clandestine trade craft using the cover of mine sweeping operation. The second was a copy of a contract between Inter-Technology and John H. Harper, a former Agency employee, under which Mr. Harper agreed to go to Libya to teach mine disposal techniques for one year at a salary of $98,000. It was during this meeting with Mr. Cox that Mr. Mulcahy alleged that a current Agency employee was receiving payments from Inter-Technology in return for arranging to have an Agency contractor, American Electronics Laboratory, manufacture sophisticated timing devices. Mr. Mulcahy alleged that he personally had delivered the money to our employee on several occasions at the Ramada Inn at Tyson's Corner, Virginia, and that our employee had taken a cut of $3,700 from the $15,000 cash payment which was made to the contractor for the timing device.

"In both his phone conversation with Mr. Shackley and his meeting with Mr. Cox, Mr. Mulcahy behaved in an excited an emotional fashion and appeared to Mr. Cox to be under the influence of alcohol. In addition, Mr. Mulcahy had been interviewed by a representative of the FBI on September 6, 1976, and on September 7, 1976, behaved in a similar fashion and did not impress the FBI agent as a reliable informant. Mr. Mulcahy limited his conversation with the FBI agent to the allegations regarding the activities of Inter-Technology in Libya and did not mention any information concerning our current employee. The FBI prepared a report for his Headquarters but apparently did not place much credence or significance in Mr. Mulcahy' story.

"Following receipt by the Agency of the information from Mr. Mulcahy, internal checks were conducted which tended to confirm certain aspects of his story. The Agency employee did have official dealings with American Electronic Laboratory and the American Electronic Laboratory employees mentioned by Mr. Mulcahy did have security clearance for work on Agency contracts. Our employee, however, is not an authorized contracting officer. In addition, the Agency received and independent report from a retired Agency employee that Mr. Wilson had approached him on September 3, 1976, with a proposal to undertake a mission to Libya which would involve teaching explosive manufacturing techniques to individuals nominated by the Libyan Government. The offer included a salary of $100,000 per year and other fringe benefits. When the retired employee declined the offer, Mr. Wilson pressed him for the name of someone else who might be qualified to handle the job. A name was provided but this person also refused Mr. Wilson's offer.

"Based on the foregoing a decision was made by the Deputy Director of the CIA to formally refer this case to the FBI. Mr. Vernon Weimar, FBI Liaison Officer, was briefed on the case on September 13, 1976, by the Director of Security and also met with the Deputy Inspector General on the same day...On September 21, 1976, a second memorandum was forwarded to the FBI containing additional information which had come to the Agency's attention -- the most significant of which was the fact that a former operational asset of the Agency had reported on September 19, 1976, that he also had been approached by Mr. Wilson. The asset and two fellow members of the Florida Cuban community had been requested to meet Mr. Wilson in Europe. They met in Geneva, Switzerland on September 15, 1976, where Mr. Wilson and a second individual, identified only as 'Frank' but believed to be a former Agency employee by the name of Francis E. Terpil, proposed that the three Cubans undertake the mission to teach covert sabotage techniques in Libya and to undertake an assassination mission of a Libyan who had 'defected' to Egypt. The three Cubans declined and returned immediately to the United States where one of them contacted his former Directorate of Plans Case Officer to report the approach by Mr. Wilson. [The FBI was given biographic material on the individuals involved by the CIA]

"During his contacts with members of the Agency, Kevin Mulcahy mentioned two other firms as being involved in supplying material to Inter-Technology for the Libyan project. These firms were Scientific Communications Inc. and 'Household Electronics,' subsequently identified as Household Data Service, a firm owned by a former Agency employee, David L. Christ. Both of these firms have contracts with the Agency. The role of Household Data Services has not as yet been made clear, but Scientific Communications Inc. was providing timing devices to Inter-Technology for use in Libya. A representative of Scientific Communications Inc. has stated that his companies participation was legal and he was not operating under the impression that there was a CIA connection with the project.

"The Office of Security is aware that since his departure for the Agency in 1971. Mr. Wilson has been engaged in sales efforts in the international arms and electronic equipment field. His activities have come to the attention of the FBI on several occasions in the past few years and investigations have been conducted in terms of failure to register as an agent of a foreign power and similar matters. However, Mr. Wilson has also been of concern to this office and to the FBI due to associations in 1967, 1968 with Kenneth B. Tolliver, a former Staff Aide to Senator James Eastland. Mr. Wilson reported at the time on Mr. Tolliver's suspicious activities, believing him to be an agent of Rhodesian or South African Intelligence. However, it was subsequently determined that Mr. Tolliver had been recruited by the KGB, and was later run as a double agent by the FBI...Tolliver has admitted that he passed Mr. Wilson's name to the KGB as having been employed by the CIA.

"During the period of his association with the Agency as well as during his subsequent association with the Navy, Mr. Wilson has been active in many business ventures, presumably on his own time. As a result he has managed to become a man of some apparent wealth, as evidenced by this residence in Upperville, Virginia, which is described as a 1,600 acre farm.

"A final point in regard to Mr. Wilson concerns a phone conversation he had with Kevin Mulcahy's mother on September 22, 1976. Mr. Wilson had returned to the United States, had heard that Kevin Mulcahy was spreading stories about him (Wilson) and had called Mrs. Mulcahy seeking information about Kevin. During this conversation Mr. Wilson made the statement to the effect that Kevin 'might get killed along with the others' as a result of this problem. When Mrs. Mulcahy challenged him on this apparent threat, Mr. Wilson immediately backed down and stated that he meant that he (Mr. Wilson) might get killed, not Kevin. However, in a later interview with the FBI, Donald Mulcahy, Kevin's father and also a former Agency employee, spoke well of Mr. Wilson and stated that Kevin has a long history of fabricating stories. He pointed out that Kevin was of that moment hospitalized for detoxification. [Edwin P. Wilson also threatened to kill the wife of prosecution witness Peter R. Goulding and the federal prosecutor.]

"Another key figure in this case is former Agency employee Francis E. Terpil. He was employed by the Agency from 1965 until 1972, at which time he was asked to resign under prejudice as a result of an unauthorized trip from New Delhi to Kabul. Since his resignation he has been active in the sale of arms and electronic equipment in the Middle East and has frequently come to the attention of the Agency as a result of his efforts to leave the impression that he is still employed by the Agency. He has been of interest to the FBI on several occasions since 1972 in regard to charges such as failure to register as an agent of a foreign power and the illegal exporting of positive audio devices. Mr. Terpils role in the Libyan case is not entirely clear although his name does appear on the proposal found in Mr. Wilson's office regarding the teaching of covert sabotage techniques, and he is believed to be the 'Frank' who participated in the pitch made to the three Cubans in Geneva. Recent cable traffic indicates that Mr. Terpil is connected with a company known as Stanford Technology Corporation which is engaged in electronic equipment sales in the Middle East and may be bidding for some of the business connected with the IBEX project in Iran.

"A remaining former Agency employee whose name has been mentioned by Kevin Mulcahy but whose role in this matter has not been determined is David L. Christ. Mr. Christ owns an electronics firm known as Household Data Services, in Reston, Virginia. This firm currently has some contracts with the Agency. Kevin Mulcahy has never specified what part Mr. Christ and his firm play in this case, and no other information concerning them has come to our attention as yet." Raymond M. Reardon of the Special Analysis Group commented: "Aside from the allegation originally made by Kevin Mulcahy, there is no indication that the Subject [CHRIST] was ever involved in the Libyan case. The full file on the Libyan Case is held in Special Analysis Group."

CHRIST was also connected to the Libyan flap thought the Atlas Powder Company. Raymond Reardon noted: "Christ at one time (1940's) worked for the Atlas Powder Company in Reynolds, Pa. FBI report indicates Ed Wilson may have had a contact in Atlas in connection with obtaining export licence." [CIA Reardon SAG 2.25.77]

There was no indication in CHRIST'S CIA file that he was ever questioned about his connection with Wilson. According to Jack Anderson, the supplies provided to Libya included explosives concealed in common household items like ashtrays, lamps, coat hangers etc. [Anderson Wash. Post 12.20.82] CHRIST was an explosives expert. Were these products designed by Household Data Services and assembled in Libya?

The Washington Post reported "Prosecutors charged that Wilson arranged with a California explosives dealer to buy and ship 42,300 pounds of C-4 explosive, from Houston to Libya on October 3, 1977, aboard a chartered cargo jet. Government testimony indicated that part of the C-4 was used to make exploding lamps, toasters and other booby traps for Libyan terrorists." Edwin P. Wilson also hired John Henry Harper, a former CIA explosives expert, to construct these explosive devices. The Washington Post reported "John Henry Harper was one of the first explosives experts recruited by Wilson from the ranks of his former CIA colleagues to help the Libyans build exploding lamps, ashtrays, coat hangers, teapots and other terrorist instruments. The purpose of these exploding devices, which were assembled in a hideaway desert laboratory at the Winter palace of Libya's deposed monarch, King Idris, according to the investigative summary, was described by Wilson: 'You know, the colonel (Qaddafi) may sometimes have some young colonels or some officers or something that are getting out of line that he wants to send a present to." [9.12.81]

Wilson amassed $14 million dollars. He had real estate holding that included a 2,400 acre farm in Upperville, Virginia. Much of this came from his dealings with the Libyans. Wilson bribed government officials. He contracted former Green Berets to go to Libya and teach Libyans the techniques of terrorism. The guns and explosives (C-4) that he sold the Libyans would be used against Libyan dissidents and American civilians. He arranged for the assassination of Omran El-Mehdawi, a former finance attache and second secretary in the Libyan Embassy, in Fort Collins, Colorado. In May 1979, Robert A. Manina, an associate of Edwin Wilson, had his Jaguar blown up in his driveway of his home in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Eugene Tafoya, the same man charged in the shooting of Omran El-Mehdawi, was charged in this bombing. [Wash Post 8.3.82] Wilson planned to sell the Libyans nuclear technology which could have resulted in the loss of millions of American lives. He was a truly amoral individual and his association with DAVID CHRIST was indicative of where CHRIST stood within the CIA.

Edwin P. Wilson first surfaced in the press during the investigation in April 1977 of the assassination of Orlando Letelier. Bob Woodward wrote: "A former CIA explosives expert and three Cuban exiles will soon be sought by Federal authorities for questioning in the interrogation of last year's Embassy Row murder of former Chilean Ambassador Orlando Letelier, according to informed sources. Edwin P. Wilson, the former CIA operative, and the three Miami-based Cuban exiles came to the attention of Federal officials when they learned that Wilson was under FBI investigation in an unrelated assassination plot abroad. Wilson allegedly sought to recruit the three Cubans to kill a political opponent of Libyan leader Col. Omar Quadaffi last year, according to the sources. Wilson heads a small consultants here called Consultant's International. It is involved in the arms export business. Wilson was out of the country yesterday and could not be reached for comment. In reviewing the information developed in the Libyan investigation of Wilson investigators have established three possible connections with the Letelier case. Wilson had a secret contract with the Libyan government to provide detonation devices called 'timing pencils' a tube filled with chemicals that can be remotely controlled to trigger explosions. Such a timing pencil is believed to have been used to detonate the bomb that exploded beneath Letelier's car. The three Cuban exiles arrived in the Washington, D.C. area just three days before the September 21, 1976, bombing of Letelier's car. One of the Cuban exiles, an explosives expert believed to have been trained by the CIA in the late 1960's, met in Miami recently with a close associate with other Cuban exiles who have been suspects in the Letelier case." [Wash. Post 4.12.77] Wilson's attorney, Seymour Glanzer, represented one of the main figures in the Letelier case, Michael Townley, who pleaded guilty and testified against Cubans for a reduced sentence. In 1995 DINA chiefs Manuel Contreras and Pedro Espinoza were sentenced to six and seven years respectively for ordering the Letelier assassination. In 1996, Michael Townley, who was under the witness protection program, was summoned to testify before an Argentinean magistrate who was investing the murder of Chilean General Carlo Pratt and his wife in Buenos Aires. In 1996 Townley's associate in DINA, Eugenio Berrios, who was involved in sarin attacks on Chilean dissidents and who helped Townley construct the bomb that killed Letelier was found shot to death on beach in Uruguay. His hands were cut off and his fact was stripped off in an effort to prevent identification. Edwin P. Wilson was indicted in absentia on April 23, 1980.

From 1979 to 1980 Edwin P. Wilson lived in Tripoli. During this period Wilson met with United States Attorney E. Lawrence Barcella, Jr. in Rome. Wilson offered to kidnap two suspects in the assassination of Orlando Letelier -- Jose Dionisio Suarez and Virgilio Pablo Paz -- if the charges against him were dropped. [Wash. Post 7.26.81]

Jack Anderson alleged that Wilson was connected with Samuel Cummings of INTERARMCO. [Wash. Post 10.9.81]

The Washington Post reported: "Both prosecution witnesses [against Wilson], Raphael Quintero of Vero Beach, and Raoul Villaverde of Miami, said they were veterans of the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion and had met Wilson during the preparations for that abortive CIA operation. A third Cuban American, Villaverde's brother Raphael, who also was allegedly recruited for the death plot by Wilson, died in a boating accident [in the Bahamas] in March 1980." Villaverde's speedboat exploded and he disappeared at sea.

Hinkle and Turner named Raul Villaverde, Rafael 'Chi Chi' Quintero, Lois Posada Carriles, Felix Rodriguez (aka Max Gomez), FRANK FIORINI, and Ricardo Chavez as members of Operation Forty. Hinkle and Turner stated that Joaquin Sanjenis directed Operation Forty for almost ten years, until his death and that Sanjenis was initially under the overall control of HOWARD HUNT. The Christic Institute alleged that Thomas Clines, an associate of Edwin Wilson, and Ted Shackley were involved with Operation Forty. The explosion aboard Villaverde's craft was later ruled an accident. In the 1980's the Villaverde's played a key role in the La Penca conspiracy by traveling to Chile and recruiting Amac Galil, as the assassin to plant a bomb at a press conference held by Castro's secretary, Eden Pastora. [Cockburn, Out of Control p99] The Villaverdes were also involved with the Nugan Hand Bank, which was connected to Werbell through Rear Admiral (retired) Earl P. Yates. [Tribune, Australia, 4.13.83]

Wilson and his associates were experts at constructing and planting explosive devices. Raphael Villaverde was going to testify against Wilson. He died in an explosion.

Kevin Mulcahy, the son of a career CIA official, resigned from his job as a communications specialist with the CIA in 1968 and in 1976 joined Wilson, Terpil and others in the Libya project, claiming he thought the activities had the agencies blessings. Mulcahy said he later split from Wilson after Wilson ordered him to procure a heat-seeking Redeye missile for the Libyans from the General Dynamics Corporation. Mulcahy was concerned the missile might be used in a terrorist attack on a commercial jetliner. On October 26, 1982, Kevin Mulcahy, 39, died in at a run down motel in Edinburg, Virginia. Mulcahy had been asked to leave the hotel after shooting birds shot out of his window. Mulcahy was found wedged between the screen and front door of the Mountain View Hotel where rooms rented for $50 a week. Clad only in street cloths, and grey sports coat and slacks that were dropped to his knees. Mulcahy was discovered by Linda Messick at 8:00 a.m.: "He was in a hunched up position with his arms crossed." Della Morris, 71, a year long resident of a cottage next to the one rented by Mulcahy said Mulcahy stayed in his cottage most of the week, except for two trips to obtain what she believed to be alcohol. After motel owner David Stalker told Mulcahy he would have to leave, he piled Mulcahy's belongings in Mulcahy's pick up truck then left. Though Stalker said Mulcahy told him that he was going to the University of Virginia Hospital in Charolottesville, to get a second opinion on a recently diagnosed cancer, Mulcahy did not leave. Police later found the keys to his truck inside the locked cottage. Della Morris observed Mulcahy at this time: "He was staggering. He kept slumping over the steering wheel and would lean on the horn every so often. Then he started hollering for David Stalker for about 20 minutes. He kept fading off. I didn't hear no more of him the whole night." In Mulcahy's truck police said they found five suitcases, a quilt, a carton of cigarettes, the 12-gauge shotgun and a canvas windbreaker containing an unopened bottle of wine. Three of the suitcases were filled with documents from the CIA, notes and tape recordings. The suitcases were given to the FBI. [Wash. Post 10.28.82] The cause of death was "exposure and complications of existing health problems...bronchial pneumonia and emphysema." It was suggested that Mulcahy had been locked out of his room and died of exposure after the temperature fell to 40 degrees A case of 12 empty wine bottles were found in Mulcahy's room, but his blood alcohol level was low.

Mulcahy turned down a chance to be in the Federal Witness Protection program. His death was definitely suspicious. Why had he discharged his weapon? Why didn't he get in his car and turn the heater on? The weather was not below freezing, why should he have frozen to death?

On April 29, 1983, Waldo H. Dubberstein, a former associate of Edwin P. Wilson, was killed with a shotgun that he had recently purchased. He left a suicide note declaring his innocence. Dubberstein, 75, lived with a German woman aged 32. His death was ruled a suicide. Waldo H. Dubberstein, 75, had worked for the CIA from 1947 to 1971, when he left for the Defense Intelligence Agency. Waldo H. Dubberstein was indicted for unauthorized disclosure of classified information, and he had access to design plans for nuclear weapons.[Wash. Post 5.3.83] He was accused of meeting with the Libyans with the knowledge of the Defense Intelligence Agency. He faced 57 years in prison.

Secord first met Wilson through Thomas G. Clines, a CIA official in 1972 and Wilson's case officer at the CIA. Secord testified at Wilson's trial that at meetings with Wilson in Iran and Belgium in the late 1970's and in 1980 Wilson offered data about Libyan military activities. [Wash. Post 2.4.83]

Edwin P. Wilson was in touch with Theodore Shackley. He said he had provided the CIA with information on Libya plans to build a nuclear bomb. John Heath, a former employee of Edwin P. Wilson, said Edwin P. Wilson had bragged that he was going to sell nuclear technology to Libya. Edwin P. Wilson threatened to kill John Heath during a conversation he had with him from Edwin P. Wilson's jail cell in New York. Theodore Shackley admitted being in contact with Edwin P. Wilson, but said he cut off contact with him after allegations of his misdeeds arose. The House Intelligence Committee could not find any evidence of official contact between Wilson and Shackley and Cline. [Wash. Post 2.3.83] An associate of Wilson, Douglas M. Schlacter, testified that he met with Thomas G. Clines and Theodore Shackley, during which time they discussed obtaining information on the Soviets, Koreans etc. Shackley and Clines were partners in a consulting firm in Rosslyn, Virginia.

When Edwin P. Wilson sent a letter to the U.S. Customs Service which stated that the Tencom Corporation of Northbrook, Illinois, was a supplier of aircraft parts to Libya, Myles Ambrose represented Tencom.

On February 13, 1982, Schlacter pleaded guilty to one count of transportation of explosives in return for his testimony about Wilson. Edwin P. Wilson was lured back to the United States on June 16, 1982, through the efforts of Ernest R. Keiser and Seymour Hersh. They convinced him he could meet with U.S. Government representatives in the Dominican Republic without fear of arrest, by showing him a letter on National Security Council stationary which authorized a meeting, but when he arrived in the Dominican Republic with a false passport, he was flown to the United States. Edwin Wilson's defense was that he worked for the CIA at the time of his dealings with Libya and he had done so at the request of the CIA. His mission was to set up a proprietary in Libya to mask espionage operations on Soviet tanks, MIG fighters and mines. Richard V. Secord, deputy assistant secretary of Defense in charge of Mideast arms sales and Bobby Inman of the CIA, testified that Wilson was not working for the CIA at the time he made the arms sales. [Wash. Post 11.10. 82] On December 21, 1982, Edwin P. Wilson was sentenced to 15-years for smuggling arms to Libya in 1979.

In January 1983 Edwin P. Wilson and his son conspired to have five witnesses and two prosecutors murdered. Wilson associate Alexander Raffio accused Wilson of attempting to ship explosives to the PLO while he was in prison, via telephone calls to Wilson's office in London, England.

HSCA investigator Dan Hardway was sent the newly released CHRIST documents then contacted in June 1994. Dan Hardway: "I don't remember any of that. We did not look at the stuff about his involvement with Wilson. I don't recall having interviewed him. I remember the name. Some critics suggested he was QJ/WIN. Mankel was QJ/WIN."

Scott Malone reported that Edwin P. Wilson claimed to have special knowledge of the Kennedy assassination. HEMMING told this researcher: "I ran across Wilson in the 1960's. Ed Wilson was working for the Mossad penetrating terrorist networks. He did a dangerous, dirty job. His grandfather was a Jew. He's a patriot. He got hung out to dry like I did. I had people visit him a while back and talk to him. We can knock his conviction down if he talks about certain things." Frank Terpil was arrested in Cuba in September 1995. [Wilson, Edwin #08237-054 USP Atlanta POB PMB Atlanta, Ga. 30315]

The second investigation of CHRIST by the CIA's Office of Security and the Office of the Inspector General began as a result of a August 2, 1977, Freedom of Information Act request for records and photographs of DANIEL L. CARSWELL filed by this researcher. [NARA 1993.07.12.17:17:49:590280] The CIA already knew CHRIST was connected with Edwin P. Wilson, of its most notorious renegades. My request was not answered immediately: "As long as Office of Security is still investigating, we'll not respond." David S. Brandwein, Office of Technical Services, determined the CARSWELL file was exempt from release. Copies of his letter to this researcher were sent to "DDO, OTS, Mr. Hetu. OGC, OGC\Ziebell, ips/chrono, ips/F-77-730; 731;769 and F-76-173. F-77-367; F-77-326."

After I spoke with Gaeton Fonzi the HSCA made inquiries about "CARSWELL." The CIA responded:

Date: February 16, 1978.

Memorandum For: Special Assistant to the DDO (Mr. Shepanek) and Director of Security (Mr. Reardon)

From: Scott Breckinridge, Deputy Inspector General:

Subject: HSCA Interests in a Mr. Carswell

1. Pat Carpentier of the Office of the Legal Counsel phoned me today to say that Mr. Blakey had stated that he had "public information" to the effect that an Agency employee named CARSWELL had in some way been identified with a man of a similar name who was in Dallas on the day of President Kennedy's assassination. In a later conversation with Lyle Miller it seemed that one of the vagrants picked up by the Dallas Police, and publicized later, may have been the one. We did a quick check of Watergate and Investigation File indexes and found the name CARSWELL which was the alias of one of the three Technical Services Division employees arrested in Havana in September 1960. They were released in April 1963.

2. The reason that the Inspector General's Office has files on this matter was because of allegations in connection with Watergate that JAMES McCORD had been involved in Cuban operations. The inquiry into that allegation led to this particular event.

3. The true name of the name with the alias of DAVID L. CARSWELL is DAVID L. CHRIST. The files of the Office of the Inspector General reflect nothing about him in connection with Dallas. However, another of the three Technical Services Division men arrested in Havana (deleted), had some recollections in 1975 about CIA equipment that may have had a relationship to assassination attempts on Fidel Castro.

4. While our files suggest no tie between the CARSWELL alias and someone by that name in Dallas, the fact that there is some reference to a possibility of Castro assassination attempts may be pertinent to this present inquiry, although (deleted) recollections appear to be in error. Copies of the papers in the IG files are being forwarded to SA/DDO and Office of Security, because of their respective equities in some of the information. My personal impression is that this has nothing to do with anything, but it is forwarded for their review and such future research as may be appropriate. S.D. Breckinridge. [NARA ID 1993:08:11.17:48:17:650028 - Breckinridge 2.16.78]

The FBI's Letter Head Memorandum of March 29, 1978, at Washington, D.C.: "At 4:13 p.m., March 17, 1978, Alan Jules ajweberman, approached an FBI employee in the Interview Room at FBI Headquarters and said he had been reviewing the Freedom of Information Act release of the FBI investigation into the assassination of Kennedy. He stated that he had a series of four photographs he wanted to submit to the FBI concerning three unidentified individuals who were held as suspects by the DPD for a short period immediately after the assassination. ajweberman is sure he can identify two of the three individuals, one being DANIEL L. CARSWELL...Mr. ajweberman was advised that this information would be provided to the appropriate personnel at FBI Headquarters, and he would be contacted at 6 Bleecker Street if it became necessary to obtain his four photographs."

The FBI investigated my background and in a Memorandum from F.X. O'Brien to Mr. Moore "a review of Bureau files discloses that ajweberman was the Subject of Bureau file 100-472405, captioned, 'Alan Jules ajweberman - Subversive Matter - Youth International Party and Bureau file 190-1636, which is an Freedom of Information Act file. File 100-472405 shows that ajweberman in 1974 was employed as a writer by the Alternative Press Syndicate and he attended the YIP Smoke-In which was held in Washington, D.C. on July 4, 1973. In August 1973 he was reportedly handling YIP business for his apartment in New York City. He was one of the organizers of a demonstration in Washington, D.C. on November 23, 1973, which was held to promote interest in the reopening of the investigation of the Kennedy assassination. The file was closed in 1974. A preliminary investigation regarding him was instituted on April 28, 1976, for the purpose of determining his activities with YIP and their plans for disrupting the Democratic National Convention held in New York City. It was determined that he did not engage in any violent acts nor did he exhibit a propensity for violence and the case was closed."

It was up to William Webster, who had succeeded FBI Director Clarence Kelley on February 9, 1978, as FBI Director, to decide if the FBI should re-examine the tramp shots. Former FBI Director Clarence Kelley became a Wackenhut Security Company Director. Wackenhut Directors included Admiral William Raborn, the Director of the CIA from April 28, 1965, to June 30, 1966. On April 6, 1978, FBI Director William Webster or someone acting on his behalf, again sent the March 29, 1978, Letter Head Memorandum regarding my offer to the FBI to Robert L. Keuch. Attached to the Letter Head Memorandum was a form that recommended refusing my offer: "This is submitted for your information, and no further investigation will be conducted, unless specifically requested by the Justice Department. Note: A review of Bureau file 64-47305 discloses that DANIEL L. CARSWELL was referred to in file captioned, 'Repatriation of American Citizens, Havana, Cuba, January 3, 1963, Internal Security, Cuba and Bureau file 105-38509 captioned 'Joaquin Angel Ossoric, aka Joaquin Jack Ossorio - Internal Security - Cuba. Bureau file 105-38509 discloses that on July 29, 1963, New York was requested to interview Daniel L. Carswell, 14 Faton Place, Eastchester, New York regarding his knowledge of Joaquin Jack Ossorio." The next page of this document has also been withheld [Document 33 p2 & enc. Pg. 1] (Deleted by FBI) As the Department may recall, the FBI has conducted previous investigation to identify the three Subjects in custody of the Dallas Police Department on November 22, 1963. As late as April 21, 1975, the FBI reported to the Commission on CIA Activities Within the United States that extensive photographic examination caused the FBI to conclude "...that neither E. HOWARD HUNT nor FRANK STURGIS appear as any of the three derelicts arrested in Dallas, Texas..." The memo contained a review of FBI files on me that omitted the FBI's conclusion that I was non-violent. [FBI Bufile 64-47305; Document 32; Document 33 p2 & encl. p1; Document 31 p82; FBI 62-109060-1ST NR 7890X4] On April 13, 1978, a memo from the "Director, (62-109060)" to Assistant Attorney General Keuch, of the Criminal Division. Attached to this memo was a copy of an article from the YIPster Times which concerned the HUNT v. ajweberman lawsuit. "NOTE: The attached media article is furnished for your information as it may bear on the motivation of ajweberman when he approached this Bureau on March 17, 1978." [FBI 62-109060-1st NR 7894] I never heard from the FBI.

In June 1978 I tried to subpoena DANIEL L. CARSWELL to testify in the matter of HUNT V. ajweberman by sending the subpoena to the CIA. John D. Morrison, Acting General Counsel, stated: "Upon receipt of attached subpoena I caused to be conducted search of all appropriate personnel records of this Agency, and based upon that inquiry have now determined that no individual by the name DANIEL L. CARSWELL is employed by the CIA." [ltr. to Marvin Miller 6.13.78]

In the Spring of 1978, the HSCA asked the CIA if it could interview CHRIST. CHRIST met with the HSCA at CIA Headquarters. The HSCA exhibited the tramp photographs to CHRIST, who conceded the tramp resembled him. He said: "It's not me. I was at CIA Headquarters on November 22, 1963." Wilma Christ was asked if she was aware that her husband had been questioned by the HSCA. She said she was unaware of this. Many documents about CHRIST were withheld, including several generated by HSCA investigator Dan Hardway. [NARA 1993.07.14.18:23:02:280620 and NARA 1993.07.14.18:40:24: 680620] Some are illegible. [CIA Job #80Fo1357A Box 35 Folder 8; NARA 1993.08.11.17.57:51:150028] Withheld documents included one dated September 20, 1960. [NARA 1993.08.11.18:10:13:370028]

END OF NODULE.