14-00000
104-10193-10016
2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992
TO
INFO
CLASSIFICATION
PROCESSING
Acrom
SECRET
ran
mare
ACTION
MISUND
xxx
MARKED FOR DEVING
DISPATCH
Chief, Special Affairs Staff
FROM
Chief of Station, JMWAVE
SUBLECT TYPIC/Operational
W
Debriefing Report - Santiago SANCHEZ de la Torre
ACTION REQUIRED REFERENCEB
ACTION REQUIRED:
None
REFERENCES: (A)
WAVE 2733, dated 15 August 1963
MEXI 5507, dated 26 July 1963
HEADQUARTERS DESA
CAR JUDGE MO
ABSTRACT
B-CA47
OFILME.D
(B)
Transmitted herewith, FYI, is a debriefing reporte
on Santiago SANCHEZ de la Torre, Subject arrived in the U.
via Mexico in late August, 1963, The debriefing contains
information re the MRR roll up in May, 1963. Attachment
"A" contains a list of subject's friends that are currently
employed in power plants in Cuba. Attachment "B" is a
debriefing report on Angel BENCOMO who Sanchez believes
was responsible for the MRR roll up.
END OF DISPATCH
ATTACHMENTS:
Debriefing Reports, 1 cy ea. herewith
RECLASSIFIRD
RI/AN
INDEX-X
Distribution:
3-C/SAS, w/atts/h/w/
RI/HIS
NIP/IS
RI/Files
1
媒
AN
Encis
CROSS REFE
US COPY
CLASSIFICATION
SECRET
689
19 
300-11
defind
14360 H
DATE TYPED
DATE DISPATCHED
4 Oct. 63 11 1963
DISPATCH SYMBOL AND NUMBER
UFGA-11653
HEADQUARTERS FILE NUMBER
19-132-5-96/3
4-00000
1239
51
3 September 1963
DEBRIEFING REPORT : Santiago SANCHEZ de la Torre
DATE & PLACE
CASE OFFICER
-
aka "Jose Antonio"
:
Safehouse #182, 29-30 August (0900
-
1300 hrs)
: Claronce E. SMERYAGE
1. Subject began to work against the CASTRO regime with the MRP in
1960. At that time he was employed in the Santa Clara power plant as a
technician. His job was controlling the amount. of electric current that
was distributed. (Attachmont "A" contains a list of Subject's friends
currently employed in power plants in Cuba). On 17 April 1961 Subject
made contact with a KJBARK infiltration team and began to assist the team.
Team consisted of Segundo BORGES, "Pepe GONZALES and AMARGO/1. Case
Officer Comment: AMARGO/1 has confirmed the fact that Subject worked
with his team In Cuba. Subject permitted the team to install their RS-1
set in his house located at #219 Carretera de Camajuani in the City of
Santa Clara.. He also safohoused the team on occasion and permitted them
to hold meetings at his house. After the failure of Playa Giron the
team reorganized the MRR in Las Villas Province, selecting Subject to
be the Civil Coordinator of the movement in that province. Enrique 04
* ORTEGA was selected as the Military Coordinator. On 21 July 1961, while
04 ORTEGA and Subject were in Havana for discussions with MRR leaders
*AMIIOOK/1 and Juan FALCON the KUBARK infiltration team and many other
members of the MRR in Las Villas, including Subject's wife, were arrested.
(Discussions were about actions to take place 26 July 1961).
.04
called
2. Maria RODRIGUEZ Posa; from Santa Clara, age 50/55 yrs,
04 ORTEGA] In Havana and told him not to return to Santa Clara as many
people had been arrested.0 ORTEGA passed the e information to Subject but
as subject thought it applied only to ORTEGA he returned to Santa Clara
late at night on 22 July. He went to his home and on 23 July proceeded
to work at the power plant. Maria RODRIGUEZ Posao intercepted him on
his way home for lunch and told him that the G-2 was at his home and that
they also were going to the power plant to arrest him. Subject also
learned that there was surveillance on his home on the night of 22 July
1961, but the person watching the house had gotten drunk and did not see
subject when he returned from Ilavana. From that moment until entering
an Embassy on 6 September 1962, subject lived "black".
3. Subject proceeded to the outskirts of Santa Clara where a friend,
Efrain WAREN, resided.. His friend told him to go to Havana. While
driving to Havana Subject met another person who informed him that the
G-2 had a roadblock on the highway at Colon, Matanzas, and that all cars
were being searched. On 24 July 1961, Subject went to a beach called
"GANUZA" located on the north coast of Las Villas near Corralillo.
Subject's sister has a home at "Ganuza" so he left his car there and
proceeded to Havana with some friends of his sister. Later the G-2
confiscated his auto. (It is interesting to note that the G-2, after
confiscating subject's auto at the beach, believed that Subject had
departed from Cuba. Subject thereafter communicated with his wife by
sending her letters in jail via Miami where they were postmarked).
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4. On 25 July 1961 Subject went to the house of an MRR leador, FNU
0fIMENEZ in Havana. When Subject approached 
JIMENEZ house he noticed a
He walked
"blind move as if 
someone was watching" so he did not go in.
two blocks to a bus stop. From the bus stop he could observe the house
Later 
that
and he noticed that a car departed at a "high rate 
of speed".
day Subject made contact with ORTEGA] at the house 
of Mario 
IRIVE in O
Fontanar, Havana (IRIVE still lives 
in Havana) DORTEGA told Subject 
of
the MRR plans for the following day (26 
July). ORTEGA said that the
movement was "going ahead with their plans" 
even though they were 
aware
6 of JIMENEZ arrest. Subject resided for 
approximately one week at the
home of Jose MELGAREJO In Veradero. 
MELGAREJO continues to work for 
the
GOC at this time. He Is the Deputy Chief of 
"Asphalt Consolidated for 
08
the entire country. (In April 
1962 Subject's wife escaped from the
Womens' Prison at Guanajay, Pinar del Rio. She 
also was safehoused 
at
NALGAREJOS: house). Subject claims that 
MALGAREJO is a "good man" who
also has a home located at Avenida de los 
OCUJES #221] in Santa Catalina
(outskirts of Havana). NAGAREJO's wife 
and sons reside with him.
Subject spent approximatoly one month in the 
above house (Aug.-Sept
. 61).
-046
5. From October 1961 Subject resided with Ester CRUZ a person he
had known for 10 years. While living with CRUZ The 
changed his 
appearance -04
lost much weight, dyed and curled his hair, obtained 
contact lenses.
(C/O Comment:0 Ester CRUZ) was arrested approximately 
9 May 1962 
during
She is in jail 
at this time).
(Jose Luis ("ARANGO) from Camaguey of ARANGO was at that
the roll by MRR.
1961, Subject
time military coordinator for the MR and used the name "Angelito".
FNU FREYES Aka LUCAS who was the MRR Coordinator 
of Las Villas
introduced Subject to ARANGO 
REYESH's from Yaguajay, Las Villas
.
Subject met REYES through Oscar 
MADRUGA Aka "Anibel" whom he had 
known
since 1959.ARANGO encouraged Subject to 
begin working for the MRR again
.
An ID card in alias from a medical 
laboratory was obtained for Subject. 04
He then obtained a briefcase and began selling medical supplies
. MADRUGA] 
s
cousin Josef FERNANDEZ owned the 
laboratory ROMBERG LABORATORY08
After 
AMBRONC75 was captured two 
actual
OFERNANDEZ worked for AMBRONC/5.
MRR members met FERNANDEZ and requested that he continue to work.
FERNANDEZ did not know the men and denied that 
he worked for the 
movement).
6. In late November, 1961. Subject moved into a "guest house"_where
House is called House of Maria de 
la
several other MRR members resided.
*GALLEGA and is located on "J" Street between 21st and 23rd Streets, 10
Vedado Subject met "Fernando", 
the Security Chief of the MRR at the 
guest
Fernando continues to work in, 
the underground.
Oscar MADRUGA there,
In the underground
OYE
house.
He also met
08
He met Roberto SANCHEZ who also continues to work of
MADRUGA 
had gone to the hills of Las Villas but
Another MRR man residing there was Roberto 
*
FERNANDEZ.
returned to Havana.
Subject
Arturo MUGARRA and AMSALON/1 visited the house on occasion
.
During this 
period FNU
was once picked up at the house by 
AMSALON/1.
OREYES, Ake Lucas, was arrested 
and Subject 
began to work with MUGARRA 04
There was much conflict in the MRR
(Subject has many
AMBIDDY/1
In December 1961 ARANGO took asylum.
during this period between AMHOOK/1 and AMBRONC/5..
letters pertaining to this conflict 
but they were 
left in Mexico.
Case Officer will attempt 
to
is having someone pick up the 
letters.
Subject claims he did not hand
obtain these letters and review 
them.
carry them to the U.S., as he thought our officials would seize them).
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7.
04
04
In January 1962, Arturo MUGARRA and Roberto SANCHEZ we
were preparing
they
to depart from Cuba.. When AMJAVA/4 and AMBRONC/5 arrived In
changed their minds. (C/O Comment: A woman named Emilia delas 04
living with MUGARRA This girl later came to the USA via the Brazilian
Embassy) UGARRA group consisted of Roberto SANCHEZ, Ange *CANETE. U
O Eddy GALENO who is bad, likes money, 
women, etc"., and subject.
GALENO called Subject here in Miami on 28 August and wants to talk with
"h¥m).
-04
The
AMENTE
8. MUGARRA informed AMBRONC/5 that he had doubts about Juan *BUSTAMENTE,
Aka "Roly", as he had asked too many questions re what AMBRONC/5 
had
brought to Cuba. AMBRONC/5 decided to call a "false meeting" of 
the
chiefs of the movement to test BUSTAMENTE but "someone objected to this".
In February 1962, a meeting of the leaders of the MRR took place and
AMBRONC/5 reorganized the movement. Subject met ANBRONC/5 only twice
once in February 1962 at the house of Angel CANETE and another 
time 
in
March, 1962 when the assassination of Juany *MARINELLO 
failed.
Operation failed as the automobile to be used in the assassination attempt
The driver of 
the car
was stolen on the day of the proposed Operation.
The MRR suspected
was to be Orlando (*CRUZ, brother of Ester CRUZ.
Orlando CRUZ after this incident as he is a person who "likes money" and
the theft was"quite a coincidence". (Orlando CRUZ is presently in 
Miami.
AMBRONC
/5 
informed
He called Subject on 28 August and wants to see him).
the group in March to suspend all operations until he returned from a
trip he was taking
AMBRONC/5 placed Angel +C USA with MUGARRA] and Jose RODRIGUEZ Pechęca,
*CANATE in charge of the radio sets. CANATE was 
04
selected to be the only person in direct 
contact with the RADOP in place
of Juan BUSTAMENTE, Aka "Roly" 0 MUCARRA gave subject two radio 
sets;
one was placed in the apartment of a sister-in-law of subject located 08
at 23rd and I Sts., Vedado, Apt. #11) The other 
set was located at *A
08 Street between 3rd_and_5th Sts., Vedado, the home of Carlos *CADENAS 304
The only persons who knew the locations of the sets were 
the Radop, Juan 
04
FALCON the MRR Chief and Angel CANATE / During AMBRONC/
5's trip to the
USA in April, 1962, Juan BUSTAMENTE, Aka "Roly" 
discovered where the
radios were hidden. Subject had contact with FALCON] and [CANATE during April.
04
ой 04
'
9. On 2 May 1962 AMBRONC/5 and MUGARRA returned from the USA.
Enrique F*CEPERO) and (MUGARRA" common-law
-w11g waited for them in 
the
Blue Studebaker Lark. AMBRONC/5 and MUGARRA were late in arriving, however,
and the group had departed from the area.
Later
10. Subject later discovered that the G-2 had captured a "large radio"
TROVADIUS
, 
when
in the apartment of a radio technician named TROVADIUS.
captured, fired at the G-2 and was himself wounded in the shoulder.
TROVADIUS reported that he had seen Juan FALCON in prison and 
that 
FALCON
had said "people in the G-2 had told me that no one would be 
wounded or
killed".
01
J
11. The Radop (AMBUMP/1) informed subject on Wednesday (9 May 1962)
Rumors were already 
circulating
to take the radio set out of the house.
Owners of the house where the
that the Radop and FALCON were captured.
As Subject
radio was cached had moved to Santa Clara for Mothers' Day.
was in contact with Congo PECHECO during this time 
he did 
not attempt to
pick-up the radio until Thursday (10 May) at 0700 hrs. 
Subject entered
Upon arrival he
the apartment building (12 stories high) by 
the rear.
discovered that the glass doors on the terrace were opened (apartment
was located on the eleventh floor). These windows are seldom 
opened.
51138
Pago
He
Subject entered the building with his briefcase containing a pistol.
noticed two
men "loitering in the lobby' lle took the elevator to the
9th floor, departed, and walked to the eleventh floor. Subject was
wearing soft shoes. He walked quietly to the apartment and heard a voice
say don't talk so loud as no one will come in: Subject then proceeded
to the next apartment occupied by a friend of the movement. The friend
said she had heard noises since the preceding night in the apartment.
Subject then took the stairs to the 9th floor and entered the elevator.
He got off on the ground floor and proceded to the house on Carlos 08
Tercero Ave where the other radio was cached (Owner's name is CABANES)
Upon arrival at the house he discovered that the woman who owned the
house was outside in her housecoat talking to a stranger: Subject then
departed from the area, called a friend of CABANES who went to the house
The friend was arrested, held a week and released. Subject then tried
to pass this information to Arturo MUGARRA but MUGARRAhad disappeared.
He later discovered that MUGARRA knew that the radios were discovered
and that TROVADIUS had been shot
PR
-04.
04
12. On 9 May Juan FALCON the radio operator (ABUMP/1) Pepe
GUTIERREZ A Peluza Estar CRUZ and Jose SEOANE were arrested.
subject heard of these developments he hid in the Guanabo area During
this period 9th to 28th of May, he saw MUGARRA approximately eight times.
He later heard that the G-2 had taken over a house in Guanabo; located 3
blocks from where he was hiding Subject heard that the G-2 had taken a
"blond thin man there" (Possibly AMBRONC/5). G-2 remained at the house
for four days.
?...
"
13. Subject then departed from Guanabo for a few days. When he returned
in June 1962 he met Sylvia LNU; the person who resided at the house where
the blond thin man named CARLOS was taken. Sylvia and subject met in the
water in front of their houses. Sylvia is the wife of a BATISTA Naval
Captain who 
lives in Miami.
"CARLOS
She has two.
and after being captured he was returned
there with the G-2. The G-2 was searching for a
envelopes'
"plastic case, and
(pads and crystals). Sylvia told subject that she had seen the
envelope and 
that 
when Enrique CEPERO's family informed her that he was
captured she hid everything 
in the house that could incriminate "Carlos®"
under the dog 
house in the back yard" "Carlos" talked as if he had
been drugged when 
he returned to the house with the G-2.They searched
the entire house
, bringing "Carlos" back and forth several times for four
days. Sylvia 
was forced to open the door whenever anyone arrived and the
caller was arrested. 
Sylvia was interrogated and the house was under
surveillance 
for approximately a month. A friend of Sylvia's from outside
Cuba visited her during this period 
and was arrested and held for a week
Sylvia said the items 
she buried looked like "pads and maps wrapped in
plastic". Although 
she claimed the material was turned over to the MRR
subject has doubts 
that this was done
used to live at her houslittle girls" Sylvia said that
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14. During September 1962 Subject and his wife entered the Uruguayan
Embassy to remain in asylum until 19 June 1963 when they arrived 
in
Mexico City via Safe Conduct.
15. Attachment "B" is a report on Angel BENCOMO who subject believes
was responsible for the MRR "roll-up".
Clarence E. SMERYAGE
SIGRET
14-00000-
ATTACHMENT "A"
-
*TALLAPIEDRA – (Power Plant)
1. Ing.
2.
Ing.
3.
Manolito FERNANDEZ
Luis F. de LEON
(Bomb Thrower)
Superintendente
Superintendente Auxiliar
REGLA
-
1.
(Power Plant)
FRODRIGUEZ
Delfin ROD
2. Ing. *ROSS
********
DESPACHO NARANJITO
1. Jaime GUIU
Operator Control Room
Superintendent
**********
(Sub-Station)
****** ****** * ** * * *
OFICINA PRINCIPAL DE DESPACHO
1. Carlos *MANUEL Pena
****
-
** **** ***
Auxiliar of Superintendent
(May be throw a bomb)- He can give good information.
**********************
1
DESPACHO SANTA CLARA (Santa Clara Dispatching Office)
Pedro LUCAS Galvez (Jefe Despacho) Dispatch Chief
Despachador
Agustin (* GARCIA Cabalet
(Dispatcher)
1.
2.
*** *
Vladimir S. *KLITTING.
-
-
MD
201004
DOC. MET
:.
*
**
A HARUFGA-11653
10-306-11-
ATTACHMENT
Debriefing of Santiago SANCHEZ, de la Torre
SUBJECT: Angel BENCOMO (BENCOMO reportedly B
responsible for the MRR roll-up per
SANCHEZ See MEXI-5507);
40
ALP
1. Angel BENCOMO is approximately 19 years old. has brown skin
short, stocky, approximately 150lbs. BENCONO was formerly a
BENCOMO
miliciaman in Camaguey and a friend of Arturo MUGARRA
entered the MRR via Eddy *GALENO during March 1962 when he was
employed by the Abras Publicas In Camaguey. BENCONO had trouble
with his superiors; quit the militia, etc GELENO brought BENCOMO
o Havana where BENCOMO began working in resistance with Jose Of
to
RODRIGUEZ Pecheco) and Santiagǝ SANCHEZ (BENCONO, did not meet (Arturo 04
MUGARRA in Havana) SANCHEZ "tested BENCOMO" and he appeared to be
OK 1.0 disp
sciplined, quiet, etc SANCHEZ then began using BENCOMO
to pick-up radios minox cameras, etc. This activity took place
between March and May 1962.
Arturo MUGARRA was arrested in May 1962 in a cafeteria in
Havana where he went to dispose of an automobile. GALENO was to
meet MUGARRA at the cafeteria MUGARRA and his brother arrived at
the cafeteria, turned the car (Cadillac) over to the prospective buyer
and sat down. A mechanie drovo the car to test it and returned with:
two G-2 cars. Although GALENO was present and was questioned he was
not arrested.
04
often.
Ficm May to September 1962 SANCHEZ saw BENCOMO
September SANCHEZ went into an Embassy but "heard that BENCOMO was
arrested and held until November". In January 1963 SANCHEZ heard
from BENCOMO via SANCHEZ sister
"
BENCOMO letter (which
SANCHEZ still has) saying that he was working for the WRR in the
streets.
BENCOMO said he did not want to seek asylum but was
considering going to the house of Luis *PERALES in Oriente (PERALES
operating in the hills of Yayua jay but went to Havana
to hide out in Jan.-Feb. 1962). In February 1963 SANCHEZ received
another letter from his sister saying that BENCOMO was a G-2 man.
BENCOMO identified himself as a G-2 man to PERALES in December 1962,
and asked PERALES to cooperate with himPERALES told SANCHEZ
sister of BENCOMOS proposition in January 1963 Since that time
PERALES has disappeared.
04
AH B
KUFCA-11153
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