JFK Assassination System Identification Form Date: 6/5/2015 AGENCY : RECORD NUMBER : RECORD SERIES : AGENCY FILE NUMBER : Agency Information FBI .124-10285-10253 HQ CR 105-180256-106 ORIGINATOR : FROM: TO: TITLE : DATE: PAGES: SUBJECTS : DOCUMENT TYPE : CLASSIFICATION : RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : Document Information FBI SAC, NY DIRECTOR, FBI 02/14/1969 27 MR, INTV, PEDROSO, EMILIO ECHARTE, ASSOC, INCARCERATION, CUBA, TRAINING, INTEL ACT, ASSA PLOT, TRA, US, MX - PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT Secret 1B; 1C; 4 Redact 06/11/1998 INDEFINITE, APPROVAL OF NSA INC LHM v9.1 HW 45937 DocId:32304241 Page 1
Date: 2/14/69 orp EEE 7 ’ aft stan . By DEP! a priPR ee f- he a ner 8 "isiss¥ Pal pee Aceied B Thay: By maPE NO 48 | : APriority) apts: is REROU’ ING, gr : D8 ON , GA OR —-~---~~- LIPiE: OP. aay) IRECTOR, FBI (105 - aso256 PS ET IG TIN FROM: SAC, NEW roriyfios-s5605K 0S By 7) ) ‘Title has been changed Re include ""POGHO! Uthe ¢o ame assigned to the subject by an Entelligence | Bre oe Ae ekéves the case file "RAMON RODRIGUEZ aka Pocho; (eu rete 4oe24 3 Ry 05-7247; NY 65- 3342) may’. be ast Seu! | ® — Ce ghd ned Le " ) <C ‘Be aide . co 108. 132914) (RAMON RODRIGUEZ, “aka PochoW Miami (105-15880) (Encls.5) (RM) om 105-17437) (JOSE LUIS ZAYAS) ¥ HSkit hs }105- -118%4) (CARLOS FERRET)’ Ri f* : EDDIE SUAREZ) ipa p80 1+ Haven Encl.1)(Info { 3 S.Sancduan RSSts 3} bem) )( 10s ! GS-0 (pons ge ty as 4105-7247) (RAMON RODRIC 2, aka POC? | ; 15 = “Washington Field 1205" 0709 enc. 5) (RM) p | = tt 13h bios fee ee : 38) hb Ft FEB 35 1969 Eales Ry e i SH Raz) io a | 2 W/yiues Bal ‘ -39- bY (EMILIO ECHARTE) / RA ee “1 -. New. York : 1 —New York: ——, (65-233 2) (RAMON RODRIGUEZ, joka Focho)W } ), } ‘2 {New York — _ yee # Te es uM id Mes EAN ee 7 q le aes 9GNe e chee 2ccof Bou HW 45937 DocId:32304241 Page 2
SEN 3 j | ReNYairtel to Bureau, 1/27/69. . j A . fi | ° ; ; Cy f° ¢ NY ae Enclosed for the Bureau are eight copies of an LHM | dated and captioned as above, setting forth results of interview » “| of subject on 2/5 and 7/69. K if A The attached LHM has been classified "Secret" (fimasmcn as it contains admissions of a Cuban Intelljsence agent, ; |,discloses a Cuban Intelligence operatim in the j || of theyffuture double agent potentiallor subject ee t is suggested that the Bureau consider very limited distribution of attached LHM at th time until it is more clearly reso how subject's a ygcionsfgenc his (Botential as a double f acon y best be utilized For is nis Got no. dissemination is ng made by NYO to either INS or Secret Service, locally (Wye y Subject was interviewed on 2/5 and 7/69, after signing rights waiver form on both dates at. the Federal Correctional Institution, Danbury, Conn., by SAS JOSEPH T. CORRIGAN and FRANCIS I. LUNDQUIST. Conditions were very unsatisfactory for interview. The interviewing agents were afforded the use of three rooms for the interviews, all of which were utilized. However, all rooms had glass panes on the doors and, therefore, the subject and interviewing agents were visible to passerséby. The interviews were disrupted on 30 to 40 occasions- by different inmates who were curious as to what was happening’ and who peered through the glass panes, apparently in an effort. to identify the subject whom they probably regarded as a stool” pigeon. Moreover, fragments of the interviews unquestionably could be heard by inmates standing and loitering outside the doors of the interview rooms. This made the n be oat highly nervous and interferred with his concentration. On 2/5/69, the subject was openly hostile and maintained that.:he’ had already repeated the whole true story ar several times to INS, CREC and the FBI. In the interview . ro ! conducted 2/5/69, the interviewing agents stressed the small ‘discrepancies in subject's previously related accounts in an (Seu) 4 HW 45937 DocId:32304241 Page 3
7 . : . yor \ ‘, LN . pt 3 . fs / " a | ~ ~ NYO is of the opinion that information the subject furnished on 2/7/69, is essentially true regarding his affiliation with Cuban G-2 beginning in 1959, his code name, his training and ' his assignments to assassinate MANOLO RAY and FELIPE RIVERO; Unquestionably further details surrounding subject's story hav yet to be obtained and it may be that he has not yet told the complete story concerning his intelligence activities in the ; > ) ak ifthe original source is telling theOTHER 1b, 1c, 4 truth, then of course the subjec s lying when he says he has not been involved in Cuban G-2 activities since he ‘returned from Mexico inthe Spring of 1967. | NYO is inclined to believe this is the case ‘but found this position extremely difficult to ring the interview and at the same time protect the sources, nd ‘the RCMP a’ SAdc:\ | S. : ~ f <o * . j ) of course there is a possibility, although very remote, that the subject told the whole truth and now Cuban G-2 is trying to retaliate against the subject for his failure to carry either of the two assg ion assignments given to hi * OTHER 1b, ic, 4 would then mean that Ss now (working for Cuban o-2A ashK) i Le d4 expose the subject as a Cuban agenf to the S oo: 3 REQUESTS OF THE BUREAU 7 jf Pe ‘ . i fai though the subject was unable to recall the J precise dates he visited the Cuban Embassy in Mexico City in the Spring of 1967, [it is noted that the subject terminated his employment at the Washington Gaslight Co., WDC, on 5/8/67, when my he failed to report to work. Further it is noted that he was | arrested at NY, NY, on 6/3/67, on a narcotics charge. [In all | probabil subject visited: Mexico City between 5/8/67 and : /3/67. am Bureau is therefore requested to have Legat Mexico \ City asc ain whether or not’CIA has photographs of any unidentified Negroes entering the Cuban Embassy at Mexico City my between 5/8/67 and 6/3/67. If any are avail¢ have Legat Mexico '! City forward same to NYO for examinati | Ww rt i HW 45937 DocId:32304241 Page 4
GoD a w,? S| ern poapPrax (437 —-/47F —' Legat Mexico “City determine whether or not. gel yon 5 subject described as a white { ii? lbs., dark co seg on, and who ‘subject believes eA ir e hee the (Cuban Emi ss thee City) answers the description of IQUE. oye Vorckr LABRADA 3rd Secretary - Consul at the Cuban Embassy POM ico 80;{CICARD ‘LAB hould be includéd in the (Cuban Intelligence fF, ;, - Album J) If a photogr of {CICARD TABRADA) is Gialiable. it should. _ be forwarded to NY 3. NYO is gwell aware of the Bureau's position with regard to polygraph testing and appreciates the Burea reluctance to rely upon its use in the average case. tiowever, the subject of this case became affiliated with Cuban G-2 soon after it was formed in 1959, he was afforded extensive training and he entered the US under the guise of an escaped refugee carrying $4,000 given to him by Cuban G-2 to carry out the assassination of MANOLO RAY,=an anti-Castro leader in Puerto Rico. Subject has. also.admitted travelling to Mexico City in 1967 and then receiving from Cuban G-2 the assignment to assassinate . FELIPE RIVERO, another anti-Castro leader. obviousty this isa - / .,,very unusual cage with numerous ramifications, and NYO feels _ polfevery ayailable tool should be employed to resolve thefSecurity ~~. spectsPer this case Intel ence agents mnose identities are still unknown. If 1 | | ' concerning his own affilialtion with Cuban G-2 e professes not to know other Cuban agents currently involved in activities in us i the US for the Cuban Government. However, there is a strong if indication that the subject, if Mot ringleader, may well be a member of a Cuban Intellige apparatus that finances itself | vi through the sale of narcotics sp j aan | Althdagh subject has disclosed n G-2afhe pr information ~ / h HW 45937 DocId:32304241 Page 5
/ we? 1 oe € aa . ed c ". NY{105-9568 apy oF eRET _— we Therefore, NYO requests the Bureau to authorize a polygraph test for subject and asks that the most serious consideration be given this request. If approved, NYO would attempt to obtain more favorable circumstances for the polygraph test. This might result in subject's ningipurre of additional vital and valuable information concerning rrent Cuban Intelligence activities in the US and the insi ‘distribution ef na cotics in the US by agents of the Cuban Governmen ee ygraph test supports subject's denierinat he has been involved in erage in the US since is return f Mexico City in 1967,4then it will indicate as furnished fals efan agent of Cuban G-2 2i(s ation and may in fact OTHER 1B,1C,4 4, The Bureau is also requested to weigh the - propaganda value that would result in public disclosure of subject's’ , being specially trained by Cuban G-2 -and being dispatched to this country as ian assassin.._; Even the Mexican Government. might’ — | regard the Castro Government “in a different light if it were | disclosed in the press that ‘the Cuban Embassyin. Mexico, Ci s involved in illegal Cuban Intelligence activities. ze: ME 5. A check of Bureau indices on the following is \ requested: Kine " su Ject's:! ‘code name in Cuban Intelligence Jy PVALLE, Campanario #22 t. 17, Havana, / . Cuba, who wad Kalo onl tressfar nd {mail drop. ) (SVK * te — c. ap ex coRoN/\ Varese subject's friend in oe Ne D., Pe pose the Barber" who subject in ted may @ Cuban G-e2 agent in either™ ‘US or Puerto Rico. e Bureau's | attention is invited to "Tito" mentioned on pages_5 and_8 of ~ NYairtel to the Bureau. dated is captioned OXTRO SP- [ IN HW 45937 DocId:32304241 Page 6
cURET LEADS: ~ MIAMI AT MIAMI, FLORIDA | ‘ 1 Determine whether or not identification/and photographaot other refu who: arrived. aboard the "Leda" at Miami, Fla., on 2/26/ ith the subject can tay through CREC records. If so, forward same t exhibited to he subject for future: incervien] (54 of Cuban G-2.agent "Tito the Barber" ttention is invited to "Tito" mentioned on. pages Sand 8 irtel to Bu nd Miami, 1/31/66, captioned ["roxTROTYQESP-CUBA" ~2945 V4) Notels ] subject's associate EDDIE SUAREZ @ barbex SOS 8. Check indices, articularly JOE SUB indices, subject's code name "POCHO" faite mistressxand fmail drops} cS) OLGA PEREZ VALLE, Campanariof#e2, Apt._17 at: aba, and subject's friend, DANILO CORON CANALEJ Ogg Y Vee) 2. Check indices and cry Le) Sayan 4, Attention 48 ginvited to: .ABNES*” m oned throughout MMairtel to Bureau, 2/17/66, captioned |"FOXTRO SP-CUBA. Consider pos ity "INES" may be identical with wife of JOSE LUIS ZAYAS. - 7 _ NEW NEW HAVEN ‘One information copy is designated for the NH offic inasmuch as subject is incarcerated at FCI, Danbury, Conn. Situ) SAN JUAN AT SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO . For e information of SJ, this case has been under investigaton4since April, 1968, when a CIA source disclosed h been approache by the subject to work for Cuban Intelligencé, 2 with falsely claiming citizenship. He is presently serving a te “Subject was arrested by Buagents at NY, NY, on 9/12/68, and cha om il’ AP fra HW 45937 DocId:32304241 Page 7 De ene: ee
ai . wios-9s6deHe OSU) South | of 18 months at the FCI, Danbury, Conn. He has aiso been convicted on a narcotics charge in connection with’ an arrest made by the NYCPD on. 6/3/67, and has been sentenced on this { charge to serve 2 - 4 years which will have to berserved after completion of his federal sentence. The subject was born 7/28/37, at Havana, Cuba, is a mulatto male, 5']0" -160,1bs., black hair, brown eyes, and a Cuban citizen. Hopes) . | . a 1. Determine whether or not it is feasible to check registration cards of Holiday Inn Motel and the San-Geronimo Hotel, both located at San Juan, for confirmation of subject's statement that he and his wife stayed at both places guri the Summer of 1967, although specific dates are unknown. (3) Ca) 2. Advise the NYO whether or not a inf orm tion was received from sources during the period 2 Jol - 7/64, regarding an assassination plot against MANOLO RAY and which information / might pertain to subject. Advise NYO where RAY was residing i and employed in that period so that NYO will be able to questm |. Pa subject's statement that he had RAY under. surveillan & SASH (uy) 3. Check indices and~sources' for possible identification, Hot Cuban G-2 agent "Tito the Barber." Also check indices on all names utilized by subject in his activitie CRY WL) _ rr) WASHINGTON FIELD AT WASHINGTON, D.C. 7 OTHER te 1c,4 | <_=x{3) au 1. <Ascertain whether or not CIA tested * riginal O&> } allegation against subject on a polygraph. If not, adv whether or not confirmation by pol h is feasible at this time. ' Also, fre-evaluate plans to have ke contact with Cuban G-2 outsi S, inasmuch as additiona] jnformation may be obtained from subject when again interviewed. a See ee Se, | “\ 2,.- It will be noted that sukject stated on 2/7/69, that (9 ee the [only Cuban G-2 agentrhne s to be residing —_ : ndoubtedly subject will expect o be interviewed concerning his knowledge of the subject% WF is requested to — ~ advise NYO specifically how y prefer this to be handled during next interview of subject. € Cox) ~ nn ec engl 8- HW 45937 DocId:32304241 Page 8
| nvffios-95685 WK Y4) SECRET 3. Check: Central INS for record on FILIPO (or FELIPE) GARCIA described by subject as a white Cuban male, about age 35, 5'6" -:5'7", 160 lbs., with curly hair, receding at the temples. According to subject GARCIA must have entered the US subsequent to 1962. Note that subject claims GARCIA is an old acquaintance from Cuba whom he encountered at NY, NY, on 6/3/67, the day subject was arrested by NYCPD on a narcotics charge. eo 4, Determine whether or not telephone toll charges are ak stilt available for thg,years 1966 and 1967. on. subject's phone at (1661 Parkj*Rd., WDC.fYIf so, check for confirmation of telephone calls subjéct made toff x UE 0 At ba") Bhan preparation for his trip to Mexico Ci 5. Subject states he was accompanied on his trip to Mexico city by one EDDIE YURI (ph} (subject states he never knew how to spell the surname)who in early 1967 resided at 1823 Lamont St., WDC. Attempt to identify YURI and trace present whereabouts so that he can be int Naval fe} e his knowledge of subject's _ trip to Mexico cit 4 aan) NSS, -_ 6. Check CIA. Gh ‘information ilable on subject's code name "POCHO," on subject's mistress¥and mail drop, JOLGA PEREZ VALLE, ‘Campanario #22, Apt. 17, Havana, Cuba, 50: (3 sct's close’ associatéon in Cuba, DANILO CORON CANALEJO 7. Check WFO indicesifon the name "POCHO" as well as checking indices and Cuban sourcés for identification of Cuban G-2 agent "Tito the Barber." Determine whether EDDIE SUAREZ has ever been known by the nickname "Pi to cs) la) NEW YORK AT NEW YORK, NEW YORK 1. Will reinterview subject after Bureau and WFO respond to: requests made herein. I ext interview of subject details will be veloped regardin he ode and radio instruction} subjects receivediWrurther details regarding’ under what name and where: subject lived in Puerto Rico when he had MANOLO RAY under surveillance; further details regarding subject's border crossing into Mexico and where he lived in Me EyN and further details regarding subject's trip to Canads BO) oS HW 45937 DocId:32304241 Page 9
— SL s 7 a if PED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 4 UN FEDERAL puneatee INVESTIGATION “In Reply, Please Refer to New York, Néw York C figs File No. February 1, 1969 DECLASSIBV'D; . pope \ lio Echarte pearos] (QU! ernal Security - cuoay Falsely Claiming Citizenship It is to be noted that on September 12, 1968, the E. subject was confronted by Special Agents (SAS) ofthe Federal 4 Bureau of Investigation (FBI) upon his arrival at Kennedy ere = ae 2) Classified by Declassify International Airport on a flight from Canada. The subject, under questioning by the SAS of the FBI, claimed he was a - &\ citizen of the United States (US). Subject was then arrested yo Thu. Ss for violation of Tite 18, Section 911, United States Code (USC) a . @ i in that he falsely,qlaimed US citizenship when, in fact, he Wasser s ~ a Cuban natimal. Gh r= |e | th On November 15, 1968, Assistant United States oN Attorney (AUSA) Frank Natoli, Eastern District of New York Q <j (EDNY), advised that the subject waived indictment and pteéaded BN ~ LA guilty to a one count information on October 24, 1968, before Judge George Rosling.( On January 16, 1969, AUSA Frank Natoli advised that the subject was sentenced that date by Judge Leo F. Rayfield, to 18 months under Section 4208 (a)(2), Titie 18, USC. Tey a, Records at Federal Detention Headquarters, New York, 3 5 d'discloss on January 27, 1969, that the subject had been removed ~~" to the Federal Correctional Institytion (F&I) at Danbury, Connecticut, on January 29, 1969. b OL . The subject was personally contacted at FOI, Danbury, Connecticut, by SAS Francis I. Lundquist and Joseph T. Corrigan on February 5 and 7, 1969, a occasions the following S information was developed. A) RET PTN TS UNCLASSIFIED EXCEBR | 7) ~Quloe JAC ALL INFORMATION CONTATNED | a ) avi QANR’. WHERE SHOWN OTHERWISE, . | | | ] | | ret rassandatLons nor conclesions ROUP 1 nt tho FRI. Le ia tho propexsy excLepys FROM ADING) sf the PBI anduig,leased to your AUTOM, TIC DOWNG ai sesioy: it and L©S contents efe AND PECLASSIFICATION / APPROPRYATE AGENCTES OY Oe ee ted on i ey by AND FIELD snot to be distributed 4) ADVISED BY ROPTINGO@? AH#B0H~ ass Aen : —7 os IF 15 of ; 7 aiNte'f ty  toeye. pau gerne : ran COU eECRET ; 20?” of qe DATE is ~ al HW 45937 DocId:32304241 Page 10
eed . ‘FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTICN now | . | | | . : > SECRET v J bo 2/12/69 j . on February 7, 1969, } EMILIO ECHARTE PEDROSO read and ; signed a rights iaiver form printed in Spinish. He was then . interviewed in English by SAS FRANCIS I. .UNDQUIST. and JOSEPT 7, CORRIGAN who identified themselves to him as Special Agents of — the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). On that occasion he furnished. the following information: Ain about July, 1955, ECHARTE joined the July 26th ; Movement in Cuba, For about two years he was active in printing i - and distributing pro-Castro. propaganda ang participating in street disturbances coniucted by the Movement Ss) ‘Mu . In about 1957, ‘ECHARTE was trained in the use of co incendiaries br tl ply 26th Movement and was involved in acts of ‘oot pO sabotage in Cuba ne of ECHARTE's assotiates in the Movement regfapounbo PERE} who hed lived ef been raise n the same ae neighborhood as “CHARTE. By 1956(8 SEGUNDO PEREZPHeld a position a of leadership in the upper wee | of ‘the July 26th winoteet pe, later on became_jprominen ben Intell igence (hereinafter ) e. “a referred to as [Gaban @-2)] ‘BELARDO COLOME IBARRAPbecame first assistant qy nad tyo assistants und2r him and they were Gut Doh pe (THU) (LOMBARDI Aan attorney. (EG pUNDO ode Belected i one of his personal a3 SSUNbO Ey nafs Go) ' . two months (BCHAR'TE erved as bodyguard tof{SEGUNDO a assisted in investigations of individuals ho had Deed ie Ai oe) | » “in the new government but w mpalete royalty to FIDEL CASTRO oe i was somewhat questionable. RE ad Po (Ss) . One of, the early steps taken b SEGUIN DO Pi sind ors tneBS) s formation of about 25 groups ofagbout 10 men each, whi groups | were to function dixectly undex| SEG SNDO PARE Le) habs | - Immediately efter DEL GASTRO seized power in Cuba in | Janyarys Roe a Cuban G- 5] was B aBARRpBocene the leadership { | } é; Jarecomnuended one of his asso Rates fs : : [ RODRIGUEZ YSHOANTI Where i tna 14 referred to as ree TGH Ez) A A i SEGUNDO PER Zé VALRODRT Cay ee cgme leader of one ri OF ps OS) - which | were then beinte forte RODRTGUEZ, .* still (th Cuban G= BS ae ! . | ; | | / on_2/T/69___o8 For, Danbury, ¢ Conn 30, Ft “ne es - | FX? SA FRANCIS 1. LUNDQUIST and Pp oo DT i . 2 : 5 6 i This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. I is the property of the FBI end is loaned to your agency; ; it ond its contents ore not to be distributed outside your agency. . . . . | a oT , ed | a +3. | — HW 45937 DocIdad: 32304241 Page 11