AGENCY : RECORD NUMBER : RECORD SERIES : AGENCY FILE NUMBER : ORIGINATOR : FROM: TO: TITLE : DATE: PAGES: SUBJECTS : DOCUMENT TYPE : CLASSIFICATION : RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : ete nenenenennenenennanencenennnnnnnn neste et RE EE SFE a ynrgrpmnnnnnnne v9.1 JFK Assassination System Identification Form Agency Information ROCKCOM 178-10002-10297 ASSASSINATION FILE A-I{K) MISC.--ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS Document Information CIA DIRECTOR OF SECURITY DDCI MAHEU, ROBERT A. 06/24/1966 6 ROSELLI, JOHNNY ANTI-CASTRO ACTIVITIES . ASSASSINATIONS, FOREIGN LEADERS BISSELL, RICHARD M. CIA ORGANIZED CRIME EDWARDS, SHEFFIELD HARVEY, WILLIAM LAS VEGAS MAHEU, ROBERT A. NEWS MEDIA, SMITH, SANDY | CUBAN EXILES PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT Secret 1A Redact 07/08/1993 115 HY 50955 Docld:is2275436 Page 1 Date: 8/27/20)
SECRET 178-10002-10297 | BS ey 24 June 1966 | MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director of Central Intelligence SUBJECT >: MAHEU, Robert A, 5 1, This memorandum is for information only. 2. In August 1960, Mr. Richard M. Bissell approached Colonel Sheffield Edwards to determine if the Office of Security had assets that may assist in a sensitive mission requiring gangster-type action. The mission target was the liquidation of - Fidel Castro. . 3, Because of its extreme sensitivity, only a small group was made privy to the project. The DCI was briefed and gave his approval. Colonel J. C. King, Chief, WH Division, was briefed, but all details were deliberately concealed from any of the JMWAVE officials. Certain TSD and Commo personnel partici- pated in the initial planning stages, but were not witting of the purpose of the mission. 4. Robert A. Maheu was contacted, briefed generally on the project, and requested to ascertain if he could develop an en- tree into the gangster elements as the first step toward accom- plishing the desired goal. 5. Mr. Maheu advised that he had met one Johnny Roselli on several occasions while visiting Las Vegas. He only knew him casually through clients, but was given to understand that he was a high-ranking member of the ''syndicate" and controlled all of the ice-making machines on the Strip. Maheu reasoned that, if Roselli was in fact a member of the clan, he undoubtedly had connections leading into the Cuban gambling interests. EVES Gil mi Exclursd from antematic és eer ine ong CEGHET oo WY 50955 Docld:32275436 Page 2 AUVdGIT GUOd “YU AIvWaID AHL Howd Kdo00 LOH s
SECRET 6. Maheu was asked to approach Roselli, who knew Maheu a$ a personal relations executive handling domestic and foreign accounts, and tell him that he had recently been. retained by a client who represented several international business firms which were suffering heavy financial losses in Cuba as a result of Castro's action. They were convinced that Castro's removal ‘was the answer to their problem and were willing to pay a price of $150, 000 for its successful accomplishment. It was to be made clear to Roselli that the U. S. Government was not, and should not, become aware of this operation. 7. The pitch was made to Roselli on 14 September 1960 at - the Hilton Plaza Hotel, New York City. His initial reaction was to avoid getting involved but, through Maheu's persuasion, he agreed to introduce him to a friend, Sam Gold, who knew the "Cuban crowd." Roselli made it clear he did not want any money for his part and believed Sar would feel the same way. Neither of these individuals was ever paid out of Agency funds. 8. During the week of 25 September, Maheu was introduced to Sam who was staying at the Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami Beach. His initial impression of Sam was that of a hard, uncouth indi- vidual who looked and acted like a common run-of-the-mill hood- lum. However, his living accommodations at the hotel belied this, as did the fact that Maheu learned Sam was under periodic surveillance by the FBI. It was several weeks after his meeting with Sam and Joe, who was identified to him as a courier operating between Havana and Miami, that he saw photographs of both of these individuals in the Sunday supplemental 'Parade.'' They were identified as Momo Salvatore Giancana and Santos Trafficant, respectively, Both were on the list of the Attorney General's ten most-wanted men. The former was described as the Chicago chieftain of the Cosa Nostra and successor to Al Capone, and the latter, the Cosa Nostra boss of Cuban Operations. Maheu called this office immediately upon as certaining this information, 9. In discussing the possible methods of accomplishing this mission, Sam suggested that they not resort to firearms but, if he could be furnished with some type of potent pill, that could CPAP HW 50955 Docld: 32275436 Page 3 AUVdGIT GUOd °Y GIWYGS AHL Nou AdODOLOHA
SECRET - EVES GALY be placed in Castro's food or drink, it would bea much more effective operation. Sam indicated that he had a prospective nominee in the person of Juan Orta, a Cuban official who had been receiving kickback payments from the gambling interests, who still had access to Castro and was ina financial bind. 10, Cornelius Roosevelt, Chief, TSD, was consulted and assigned Dr. Raymond Triechler to develop a pill that had the elements of rapid solubility, high lethal content, and little or no traceability. Six of these items were produced and, after keing checked out for their effectiveness by Dr,.Edward M. Gunn, three pills were ultimately turned over to Sam for the mission. Neither TSD nor Dr, Gunn was briefed on the ultimate use of the pills. ll. Joe delivered the pills to Orta. After several weeks of reported attempts, Orta apparently got cold feet and asked out of the assignment. He suggested another candidate who made several attempts without success, 12. Joe then indicated that Dr, Anthony Verona, one of the principal officers in the Cuban Exile Junta, had become dis- affected with the apparent ineffectual progress of the Junta and was willing to handle the mission through his own resources. 13. Dr, Verona was approached and jumped at the oppor- tunity of getting involved in an independent operation, He was ‘ told that the private interests backing the project did not want the U. S. Government and, particularly the CIA, to know of their involvement. (So far as this Office knows, he has never divulged his participation in the project to the Agency. ) 14. He asked, as a prerequisite to the deal, that he be given $10, 000 for organizational expenses'and requested $1,000 worth of communications equipment. 15. Dr. Verona's potential was never fully exploited, as the project was canceled shortly after the Bay of Pigs episode. Verona was advised that the offer was withdrawn, and the pills were retrieved. EVES ChLY SEGRET HY 50955 Docld: 32275436 Page 4 a) x ro) ry 4 ao) ae) Ld ty 8 Ke 3 lac | es} bs @) : Oo a | g tr eH ty 4 *<
SEE ERE EVES CHLY oe 16, Of significant interest was an incident which involved a request levied by Sam upon Maheu and now shapes up as a potential flap. At the height of the project negotiations, Sain expressed concern about his girlfriend, Phyllis - McGuire, who he learned was getting much atten- tion from Dan Rowan while both were booked at a Las Vegas night club. (Rowan, at that.time a rela- tively unknown comedian, is now a partner in Rowan and Martin, the summer replacement for the Dean Martin coast-to-coast TV show.} Sam asked Maheu to put a bug in Rowan's room to determine the ex- tent of his intimacy with Miss McGuire. Maheu told Sam he didn't have the facilities, whereupon Sam threatened to leave Miami to go to Vegas and take care of the matter himself. In order to pre- vent this, Maheu contacted Edward Dubois, a Florida investigator, and asked him to handle the job, Instead of installing a bug in the room, the technician placed a tap on the phone, which ob- viously did not serve Sam's purpose. The techni- cian involved in the assignment was discovered in the process, arrested, and taken to the Sheriff's office for questioning. After he failed to reach Dubois by telephone, he called Maheu at the Kenilworth Hotel, Miami, and informed him that he had been detained by the police. This call was made in the presence of the Sheriff's personnel. AMWdGIT duos “UY AIWYFS AHL NOT AdODOLOHA Subsequently, the Department of Justice an- ’ nounced its intention to prosecute Maheu along with the technician. On 7 February 1962, the Director of Security briefed the Attorney General, Robert Kennedy, on the circumstances leading up to Maheu's involvement in the wiretap. At our re- quest, prosecution was dropped. ee SECRET HY 50955 Docld: 32275436 Page 5
Two articles appeared in the Chicago press, one on 16 August 1963, and one on 20 August 1963, that suggested Sam was working with the Agency. The first article appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times written by staff writer, Sandy Smith, and had as its headline: CIA Sought Giancana Help for Cuba Spying. It relates that the Agency reportedly was in touch with Sam in 1959 and requested that he assist them in obtaining intelligence out of Cuba. It also men- tioned the Las Vegas wiretap, which the article claimed was handled by a "Florida investigative . . organization." It further went on to state that, upon inquiry of this organization, they stated the tap was placed at the request of the Central Intelli- gence Agency. The other article appeared in the Chicago Daily News, authored by Columnist Tony Weitzel, and commented that during March 1962, Sam confronted an FBI Agent who was shadowing him and said, "Why don't you fellows leave me alone? I'm one of you!'' Sam allegedly stated that, after Castro's rise in Cuba, a CIA Operative con-" tacted him and wanted to know if Sam could do any- thing for the Government on the turbulent little island. Sam said he had friends on both sides, but no clout. That was it. 17. Roselli was introduced to James P. O'Connell, of this Office, who was identified to him as an employee of Robert A. Maheu, Associates. Over the several months of close contact be- tween these two individuals, Roselli began to speculate as to O'Connell's true employer and, at one point, stated that he was convinced he was employed by the CIA, and that the project was sponsored by the Agency. He hastened to state that he was not forcing the issue, nor would he want confirmation of this and, further, he would not mention this to anyone else, including Sam, Sam was never introduced to any Agency personnel and, while CIA was never mentioned to him, it is Maheu's belief he eventually sus - pected the Agency was the power behind the operation. EVES pay SEGEET HY 50955 Docld: 32275436 Page 6 42 ea) co) tl © Q O ae) ne fe © = rl ea my o : o bs) 3) @ ti a iS ee
18. In May 1962, because of Mr. O'Connell's assignment to an overseas post, it was decided to turn Roselli over to Mr, William Harvey, who was at that-time Chief, Task Force W. Harvey was introduced as it is not known whether Roselli ever became aware of Harvey's true name. oward J, Director of Security KaWAGIT aaoa ~ EVES G5LY HY 50955 Docld: 32275436 Page 7 UY CTWYAD FHL WONT AdODOLOHE