424-90410-10101 , RECORD SERIES : ' AGENCY FILE NUMBER : ORIGINATOR : FROM: TO: TITLE: ' DATE: PAGES: SUBJECTS : “3 DOCUMENT TYPE: CLASSIFICATION : RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : v9.1 AGENCY : RECORD NUMBER : JFK Assassination System Identification Form Agency Information FBI 124-90110-10101 HQ CR 109-12-223-131 Document Information FBI . MM HQ 04/07/1959 20 JOSEPH RAYMOND MEROLA PANAMANIAN REVOUTIONARYI ACTIVITIES PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT Confidential | 1B Redact 08/06/1998 APPROVAL OF CIA RPT 21 HY 50953 Doctd: 32334106 Page 1 Date: 6/2/2015
a MM 109-43 a . 3} LMC CLAIN Was Semi, ~ anama, September 30, traveling on United States Passport ted States Embassy, Panama City, 1946. His date of birth was | September 27, 1922, Panama City, Panama, He is a white male, | . 6° 3", 170 pounds, red hair, grey eyes. {MC CLAIN*claimed — aaah ae: he was going-to visit his in-laws, Mr. and Mrs.fB. J. ADAMS, Star Route 3, Pine Isl return to Panama City. — On March 19, MIRO had been in conta Panama believed stayin brought MIRO word that MEROLA said that this concerning MEROLA, MI however, this intellig Investigatio 6£ the Columbus Hotel March 20, 1959. At 3:35 p.m. informed he had just r stating that he was « eid mot plan to return contact at the Columbu ' PBI and that both had and activities checked requested to contact C peas By airtel da that it had been advis and ,] Fort Myers, Florida, “and. then 1 ay ac owt aa .¥ 1959, JOSEPH MEROLA informed that _ ct with an intelligence man from ~ - g at the Columbus Hotel. ‘This person his revolutionary plans in Panama - were known and warned him that he would be- shot on sight. "intelligence man" questioned MIRO ~— RO offered to introduce MEROLA to him, ence man declined to accept, . f 4 nf SJ n disclosed that /Mc CLAIN checked out at 3:05 p.m., Eastern Standard Time , » Eastern Standard Time, JOSEPH MEROLA eceived a telephone call from MIRO the airport departing for Cuba and — ¢ MIRO disclosed to MEROLA that his 8 Hotel had been interviewed by the the feeling they were being followed ft appeared possible te the Miami Office that ght be a CIA representative, Bureau was 1c JA in attempt to confirm same, ted March 22, 1959, the Bureau informed . ed by CIA through Liaison, thtpfS) = [ - = COVER PAGE = | HW 50953 Docld:32334108 Page 2 i
i Ee ca ‘ e PT Is . eae : nae a MM 109-43 is a CIA representative and Bureau further instructed that, — no further investigation was desired relative t is - It should be noted that om March 26, 1959, JOSEPH MEROLA contacted the Miami Office and informed that he was leaving for Havana, Cuba, at 12:45 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on. that date. It should be noted that a true bill of indictment was returned against MEROLA by a Federal Grand Jury at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in conmection with’ the case entitled, "STUART SUTOR, ETAL, Theft: of Government Property ," tavolving theft of arms from National Guard Amory, Canton, Ohio, October 14, 1958. Indictment was: _ returned on March 20, 1959, and MEROLA is presently free under $5,000.00 bond * posted at Miami, Florida. MEROLA informed that since March 20, 1959, he-has had several telephonic conversations with RUBEN MIRO who was at that time in Havana, Cuba. MIRO had told him the plans of the invasion of Panama had been delayed until after the Easter holidays. © MEROLA stated his purpose in goimg to Havana is personal business reasons and not in any way connected with Panamanian revolutionary activities or for that matter revolutionary activities of any nature. - MEROLA stated he would contact the Miami Office of the FBI upon his return from Havana in order to furnish any pertinent information regarding the Panamanadan political | situation. He stated, however, he did not know specifically when he would return. . . It should be noted that information furnished by MEROLA has been on a voluntary and confidential basis. = COVER PAGE - HW 50953 BDocld: 32334108 Page 3