Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records CoLlection Act of 19927 (44 USC 2107 Hote). DATE: 11-14-2017 JFK Assassination System Identification Form Agency Information AGENCY: FBI RECORD NUMBER: — 124-10201-10456 RECORD SERIES: HQ AGENCY FILENUMBER: = 105-106633-24 Document Information ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: TO: TITLE: DATE: 07/09/1965 PAGES: 31 SUBJECTS : FCH, AKA, NCK, ASSOC, JHO, TEAMSTER UNION ACT DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION : — Unclassified RESTRICTIONS: 4 CURRENT STATUS: = Redact DATE OF LAST REVIEW: — 06/11/1998 f OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE COMMENTS : "yO DocTd: 32289680 Page 1
Docld:32289680 Page 2° CORRELATION SUMMARY Main File No: 105-106633 Date: 7-9-65 See also: 51-479 UNCLASSIFI 13452965: HEREIN |S UNCLASS 159-504 DAT y 159-757 Subject: Frank Chavez Date Searched: 9/28/64 One Chavez* vA 92-7508 . "ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED All logical variations of subject's name and aliases were searched and identical references were found as: Frankie Chavez ‘/, /Frank' Vv \ Prank Speyer :://Frank Chaves ‘ Zz \ All identical references marked "A" on the search slip. This is a summary of information obtained from a review of all "see" references to the subject in Bureau files under the names and aliases listed above. All references under the above names containing data identical with the subject have been included except any indicated at the end of this summary under the heading REFERENCES NOT INCLUDED IN THIS SUMMARY. ; Tais summary is designed to furnish a synopsis of the information set out in each reference. In many cases the original serial will contain the information in much more detail. THIS SUMMARY HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR USE AT THE SEAT OF TT mM Analyst Coordinator . Approved — { Peggy Ann Boss Theda W. Duncan _f P. Benedict . ra Evweg! Oy L , ; PAB/rmg AUT The pd JO5- /56 6F3 -75 * Not completely searched. See page 17 0 fA och slip. | MCT. 17 JUL 9 1965 SOMA? og , ee om
y Released under the } Hote). DATE: 11-14-2017 ah DoclId: 32289680 Page 3 . , (continued) On 8/18/60 Investigator Tito Belaval, ONI, 10th Naval District, San Juan, reported that according to an informant whose reliability had not been fully established, Gil traveled to Cuba in July, 1960, at which time he carried a letter, supposedly from James Hoffa, head of the TU, to Fidel Castro. The letter indicated that should a US boycott of shipments to Cuba occur, the Teamsters would back Cuba. Gil also gave a letter to Angelica Cruz De Henriquez (97-4274) from Frank Chavez addressed to the Cuban Government, which letter attacked the Puerto Rican Government's action against Cruz and Supported her activities with Puerto Rican independence groups. Add. info. 97~-4274-16 p.14-16 (84 SI par. 1 7-0-1814 (29 On 8/15/60 Mr. Miguel A. Jimenez, Manager, Palace Hotel, San Juan, advised that Celeste Matos Gonzalez (97-3825) was a frequent visitor at his hotel, was usually alone and often departed . for Mayaguez when leaving the hotel. He stated that his records disclosedthat she was a guest there at various periods during the month of July, 1960, and thereby furnished dates and telephone calls she made. On 7/17/60 she called 2-4729 which was listed to Teamsters, Warehousemen and Helpers Local Union 901, 800 Figueroa St., Santurce, PR, of which Frank Chavez was President. Add. info. 97-3825-19 p.4,6 (3 SJ 394-S reported on 6/28/60 that Frank Chavez met with Jose Gil De Lamadrid (105-11130) and Federico Virella Rodriguez, who was also on the Teamster payroll, PR. Plans were made at the time to burn the Venezuela Print Shop in San Juan as this shop was allegedly assisting "El Imparcial" in printing its paper. On 7/6/60, the same source advised that the plan was not carried out inasmuch as there was a police guard in the vicinity of the shop. . ‘REVIEWED BY eo ire TASK FORCE (continued) on (3/97, | RELEASE IN PULL (] RELEASE wy PART’ ~10- LI TOTAL DEN »”
Hote). DATE: 11-14-2017 — (continued) According to US Customs, San Juan, on 7/23/60 Chavez, while accompanied by two unknown individuals and Abreu, met one Enrique’A. Valls ¥ Verames, 312 44th St. Mariano, Cuba, at the ‘San Juan International Airport when Vails arrived from Aruba, Dutch West Indies. & REVIEWED BY EHVUFK TASK FORCE 10§-87123-7 (1 on 23-97 dad SI par. 1 ; ey) ASE INE 100-237194-921 p.34,3 De RELEASE IN FULL | (8 (Add. info. ii RELEASE IN PART L FOTAl BEML» 760 the Division of Intelligence (DI), POPR reported Rafael Abreu's (105-87123) ‘arrival in San Juan to menace the pickets and indicated that arrangements had been made in the DR with the local Teamsters leader, Frank Chavez, and the International Long- shoremen Association (ILA) for the Teamsters and the ILA to cross the picket lines. . Add. info. 105-87123-11 p.2,5 (109 , In connection with the Teamsters' activities in the "El Imparcial" (94-8-1106) strike in San Juan-on 5/26/60, SJ 394-S reported that Frank Chavez had been told by James R. Hoffa to "get tough." According to informant, most strikers were armed. ; SJ-420-S stated on 7/28/60 that Chavez allegedly had issued 65 unmarked revolvers to strike participants with the under- standing that the guns would be returned later unless they had been used, in which case they were to be disposed of. Informant advised that most of the weapons were not being returned and that Chavez was receiving various reasons as to why the guns had to be destroyed. : — . SJ 394-S related on 8/11/60 that according to Chavez, “El Imparcial" would run out of paper soon and that the TU in the US. had made certain that paper suppliers in the US would furnish no more paper to PR. As a result, it was anticipated, that the newspaper would either submit to the demands of the Teamsters or stop printing. Add. info. 94-8-1106-27 p.3,4 (7 . i lL : -12- DoclId: 32289680 Page 4
Hote). DATE: 11-14-2017 © . On 11/9/60 a source (unidentified) furnished the following information: ' After Local 208, Local Freight Drivers, TU, in Los Angeles, California, filed its Labor Organization Financial Report for the period September, 1958, to October, 1959, with the US Department of Labor, W. Blaine Patton and Charles Ira Brenner, members of the local, discovered that for years local funds had been diverted to pay personal contributions of the local's officials' pension fund. On 8/1/60 Patton and Brenner filed charges against Sidney Harry Cohen (159-512), Secretary-Treasurer, who ran the local. A series of events happened to get Brenner and Patton to drop the charges. One of these was a visit by Frankie Chavez from PR to see Brenner in early October, 1960. Chavez promised Brenner a job with the Teamsters in PR if he would drop the charges. Brenner agreed to this offer but decided later not to take any job in PR after he was told that if he went there he would be of no further use to the Teamsters and would probably end up in the bay. 159-512-1 encl. p.2,3 1 (164 Records of the Division of Intelligence, POPR, disclosed that information was received on 9/20/60 that Angelica Cruz De Henriquez, Cuban Government representative in San Juan, received instructions from Cuba to leave PR immediately. She asked Frank Chavez for money, but he had none. Jose Gil De Lamadrid (105-11130) drew a check without funds to pay for her flight ticket and she left with $10.00. , “PCI Brunilda Cumpiano (protect identity) stated on 11/21/60 - that Gil had contacted Chavez requesting funds. Chavez had not sent © him any in view of the fact that Chavez was then mad at Gil (No further details) Add. info. 105-11130-54 p.5-7, (93 13-1516 -13- i —s 5 DoclId: 32289680 Page 5
Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote). DATE: 11-14-2017 — , . O The weekly edition of "The New Crusader," Chicago, Illinois, dated 1/7/61, page 20, column 1, featured an article by Joe Jefferson captioned "Puerto Rican Teamster Exec. Faces Fake Murder Rap by P. R. Government." The article related to the arrest of Frank Chavez on a charge of murder. The article stated that this was a fake charge; that Chavez had been a victim of many faked charges from which he always emerged victoriously because of his innocence; and that the people of PR loved and respected Chavez because of his struggle in their behalf and had witnessed a rise in living standards since Chavez began his fight for the laborers. 100-341561-48-A "The New Crusader" (94 9 /o4 On March 15 and 20, 1961, NY 2305-C advised that Chavez, who was heading the organizing drive of the Teamsters in PR, came to NY and instituted a picket line in Brooklyn to embarrass the — Seafarers Union. He stated that the Seafarers were making a strong attempt to organize labor in PR. Chavez was opposing this drive both in PR and NY and he attempted to enlist the aid of John O'Rourke, IBT International Vice President. O'Rourke toid the informant that he would not support Chavez since the latter failed to consult him prior to the picketing violence in Brooklyn. It was informant's opinion that O'Rourke was not supporting Chavez because of his, O'Rourke's, close friendship and working alliance with Paul Hall, President of Seafarers Union. 63-6466-74 p.2 (1 SI 63-6466-86 (174 (PCI Nicholas Kisburg, NY State Legislative. Director of the IBT, and duplicate informant) In reference to the above, the "New York Times" dated 4/16/61 carried an article on page 48 captioned "Hoffa's Blection Believed Certain," by A. H. Raskin, which discussed certain opposition forces of the past and possibly of the future to the probable IBT victory of James Hoffa (63-5327) soon at the convention in Miami Beach. One factor mentioned was the establishment of the Brooklyn picket lines by Frank Chavez and the resulting protest by John J. O'Rourke. According to the article, O'Rourke denied that any personal (continued) DoclId: 32269680 Page 6
Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 19927 (44 USC 2107 Hote). DATE: 11-14-2017 ‘ ’ Q (continued) A San Juan source (not identified) advised that he Stayed at the Flamboyant Hotel in 1960 with Chavez who stated that it was a Teamster... hotel and added that the Teamsters had another hotel in Miami. It was noted that the Miami hotel was probably the Everglades Hotel. : 63-7103-15 (45 : This reference set out information concerning Frank Chavez in PR during the period April, 1960 to November, 1961. It mentioned a business trip to the Virgin Islands with PCI Freddie Castro; trips to the DR with Luis Pagan Colon, Teamster bookkeeper, and San Juan Teamster President Jaime Amador to open a Teamster office there; long distance calls to Jimmy Hoffa; his arrest for carrying arms; the postponement of his trial in Caguas on charge of conspiracy to commit murder; and his attempt to make friends with the heads of other unions in PR. Also set out was a list of numerous telephone calls made to and by Chavez to and from various individuals in the US, Canada and DR as well as a list of checks payable to and endorsed by Chavez, many of which contained no explanation as to the purpose of the funds. 92-5361-10 p.d-f, 1-3, (7 5°91, 13-1923 The following references in the file captioned Arturo R. Espaillat, file # 105-52901, former Domincan Consul General set out the close association between Espaillat and Frank Chavez during the period 1960 to 1962. Chavez was married in«Espaillat's home; Chavez visited Espaillat in the DR prior to Trujillo's death possibly to secure assistance in organizing a union in the DR; at Trujillo's death, Chavez rendered assistance to Espaillat in order to save his life; and after Espaillat settled in Nassau, he and Chavez still conversed frequently by telephone. SERIAL SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER 351 encl. p.1 (M 394 | (94 420 p.3 (95 (continued) C “4y- : DoclId: 32289680 Page 7
‘Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote). DATE: 11-14-2017 . (continued) The letter, indicated as being from the office of Allen M. Dorfman, was signed "Allen" and addressed to Frank Chavez, Local 901, Figueroa St., San Juan. This letter stated that the Central Casualty Company had been "on the risk" for the Teamster insurance program since 12/1/60 and that no premium payments had been received. A typed note attached to the above communication, also signed "Allen," disclosed that the International Office would be contacted in two weeks if he did not receive a response from Chavez. 63-7107-17 p.2,3 (44 On 7/24/62 the POPR, Hato Rey, PR, furnished. information regarding Frank Chavez' plot to take over and control the docks. His plan of attack included distributing handbills to discredit Juan Perez Roa of the Dock Workers Union; offering support to PR ILA representatives who were opposed to Roa; and extending Teamster support.to US docks where cargo was shipped to PR. Chavez proposed a united union front to be controlled by the TU. (Details set out) It was noted that the POPR's informant was "Ace" (protect identity) who was in a position to know the activities of Chavez and the TU in San Juan. 100-13124-351 (8 *International Longshoremen's Association. On 10/10/62 Lt. Rafael Alvarez Jiminez (NA), POPR, Hato Rey, reported that although Federico Virella Rodriguez (92-3924) was no longer with Local 901 of the TU as Organizer and Public Relations man, he was still a close associate of Frank Chavez. According to source,Virella was currently, employed as secretary to Senator Arturo Ortiz Toro, Commonwealth Government of PR. 92-3924-4 p.1,3 (4) -19- DoclId: 32289680 Page &
Hote). DATE: 11-14-2017 — ; O° O The following references in the file captioned James Riddle Hoffa, file # 122-1384, set out information concerning Frank Chavez. This information was requested in mid November, 1962, by Walter J. Sheridan of the Criminal Division, Justice Department, at Nashville, | Tennessee, in connection with the Hoffa trial being held there. According to Sheridan, Chavez was in Nashville and in close contact with Hoffa. Sheridan believed that Chavez was brought there by Hoffa for a purpose, the nature of which was unknown. Information included pending court actions against Chavez, arrest records, a log of ote telephone calls made by Chavez during his stay at the Andrew Jackson Hotel in Nashville, and his return to Puerto Rico on 11/23/62. SERTAL SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER 768 (1% 796 p.l-4 (13 804 p.1-4 (1/16 818 p.1-3 (1v 16 | 823 (1v1 | 857 (1144 959 encl. p.l (114) On 4/17/63 NY 3936-C advised that Jack Mc Carthy operated a labor consulting firm in the NY area and had extensive contacts with both the criminal element in NY and with highly placed union officials. It had been alleged that Mc Carthy had an intense dislike for Frank Chavez. Mc Carthy had indicated that Chavez had taken a "contract"and murdered two revolutionists in the DR. In doing this, Chavez incurred the wrath of the NY criminal element because he handled this "contract" at a mich cheaper rate than the NY people would have handled it. Mc Carthy described Chavez as an individual who would "murder anybody for a price." “ | Further, Mc Carthy had been informed that there were many people who would pay money to have President Duvalier of Haiti murdered. He stated that he would speak "to people" regarding a "contract" to kill Duvalier. 105-95677-157 (104 -20- vn ate we DoclId: 32289680 Page 9 eleased under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107) 77