ant MM 639-S advised on 10/29/62 that Mario Garcia Kohly (105-88521) was in Miami, Florida at that time and had conferred with Frank Fiorini who told Kohly he would arrange for an interview between Kohly and Jack Cumings of "Newsweek" and Jack Anderson, a Baltimore, Maryland newsman, and that these interviews would result in considerable publicity for Kohly. Fiorini, in return, expected Kohly to contribute funds to Fiorini for arms and ammunition. Fiorini claimed that Nat Bishop of Larchmont, NY, was expected to arrive in Miami on 11/3/62, at which time Fiorini would show Bishop a fast boat which he hoped Bishop would buy for Fiorini, to be used in no of Konty (Uf According to Fiorini, Bishop was a good friend of Kohly. - This reference indicated that Kohly, who maintained headquarters at 1600 South Joyce Street, Arlington, Virginia, claimed that he was heading a newly-formed Cuban Government in Exile. a) 105-88521~-75 encl.p.3 (1354 . A fairly reliable CIA source (not further identified) advised that on 1/2/63, source was called to the Miami Airport by Frank Fiorini to meet Alex Rorke and his five-year-old. son, Bill Johnson, and a girl reporter-photographer who was not identified but was described (description set out). Rorke, his son, and the girl were leaving for New York on a Northeast flight. They asked for information concerning ‘the activities of Eloy Gutierrez Menoyo, which information source was mable to supply except for some brief background data. Source learned that Rorke, his son, and thesgirl had left Miami about 12/28/62, on the boat "Violin III" for Anguila Key, returning on 1/2/63. During that period, Rorke, with camera and equipment, had proceeded from , Anguila Key to an unnamed point in Cuba to deliver arms and ammunition, aboard the "Sigma II" (105-116892) which was manned by Menoyo and about . (CTIA).  "105-116892-5 p.l °, 9 | Qa “The Charleston Daily Mail", Charleston, W. Va., 3/14/63, Final Edition, page 1, in an article entitled “Cuba..Guns Downed Lost Elkview Flier", stated that Robert Thompson (105-106893), a flier who ‘had disappeared on 12/14/61, was reported by the ‘Pompano Beach Sun- Sentinel," Pompano Beach, Florida, (date not indicated) to have been shot down over Matanzas, Cuba, while dropping anti-Castro leaflets. Missing with Thompson was another pilot, Robert Swanner. They Cid wh Gam aus CLASSIC | (continued) ~e5- | 40953 Daoctd:32300010 Page Ff
| (continued ) aimed at Cuba. Other associates of Fiorini in activities involving the "Violyn III" included Zacarias Costa Garcia, head of a group called Los Pinos Nuevos; Evelio Duque Miyares, head of the Cuban Anticommunist Army; Jerry Buchanan, an American adventurer; and Jose Maria Gonzalez Hernandez, a Cuban radio operator. Fiorini allegedly maintained contact at sea with the "Violyn III" although he disclaimed knowledge of its whereabouts. On 3/29-31/63, Fiorini, Johnson and Gonzalez reportedly traveled to Nassau and Norman Key, Bahamas, in connection with a plan of Evelio Duque to take radio equipment into Cuba; however, they were intercepted by British authorities and returned to Miami before the plan materialized. As of 4/13/63, Hernandez reportedly claimed he was working with Sturgis and Johnson. It had been reported also, that Fiorini admitted having a clandestine radio station in operation, however, he did not disclose further details concerning it. Administrative information set out, indicating that MM 639-S maintained direct contact with Fiorini and that both MM ~S and US Customs suspected Fiorini of being a CIA informant: ¥ SEARCH SLIP HY SUBJECT OF FILE REFERENCE PAGE NUMBER Anti-Fidel Castro 109-584-3604 p.21 (18 ex Activities Ejercito Cubano 105-102448-36 p.1,2 1 Anticomunista (Frente ~42 encl.p.3 144: Escambray) (Cuban Anti- “45 p.2-4 1 on communist Army -46 p.1-6 © yoy” (Escambray Front) ~U7 p.2 Not Indexed) -52 p.1,2;encl. Not Indexed) p.1-4 -72 p.2,3,8-11 (1497 Jose Maria Gonzalez 105-74764-20 p.3,6,7 101047 “ Hernandez =-26 p.1l Not Indexed) Los Pinos Nuevos 2-1855-3 encl.p.3 (397 * A | ; The following serials of the main file on Alexander I. Rorke, Jr., an American free-lance news photographer and writer, relate to the investigation to determine the authenticity of his claim of being involved in a raid over Cuba on 4/25/63. ~N 40953 Daoctd: 32300010 Page & Background to this alleged (continued) . | SFORET
LL HY raid indicated that Rorke was closely associated with Frank Fiorin and had distributed a leaflet which referred to participation in expeditions against Castro in the Spring of 1961 which were commanded by Fiorini, the Commanding Officer and organizer of the Anti-Communist International Brigade. It was reported that during April, 1963 Fiorini had claimed that plans were in progress for a new ‘strike; also, that Fiorini had been in contact with Edgardo Sopo Barreto of the MRR who, on 5/1/63, alleged that Fiorini made frequent visits to Manuel Artime Buesa's organization* where he made irresponsible claims that were not true. During an interview in Miami on 4/27/63, Fiorini advised that he first met Rorke in 1960 in Miami, at the home of a leading anti-Castro Cuban, Pedro Diaz Lanz. He stated that about one month previously in Miami, he met with Rorke, Hansruedi Tanner and Geoffrey Sullivan who wanted Fiorini's help in proposed aerial action over Cuba; however, Fiorini declined to assist them. He denied knowledge of the 4/25/63 mission beforehand and expressed doubt that it actually took place: i (continued) _ REFERENCE SEARCH SLIP PAGE NUMBER 97-4623-35 p.B (8 $9 _ ~36 p.1-3 . -68 encl.p.4 8539)" ~84 p.1,2. > | BC ~107 p.90-93,95,96 (Interview with 8 eaey tnt 4/27/63, Miami, set out). Correlator's Note: Subsequent information in this file indicates that facts of the investigation were submitted to the Justice Department and prosecution was not authorized. * Not further identified. Probably the MRR. On 3/22/63, [NY 3693-S* , furnished the New York Office a copy of a letter dated 2/20 E. St. Louis, Ill., to the Cuban Mission to the United Nations, NYC§>from Jerry Brooks (100-434935) who identified himself as a Captain in the "Minutemen". Brooks wrote that information he would send from time to time would concern "the Minutemen who are really Alpha 66 not so-called Cuban Exiles"; also, that one DePugh had given explosives to Frank Fiorini the past year feo the" the "Habana__..; to Hilton". Brooks wanted to send some information the Cuban Missiong (continued ). -28- 40953 BDaoctd: 32300010 Page 3
i (continued a S A, | lio the UN, an address-at which "the F.B.I. & Secret Service won't nnect “you with me." He furnished a’ list.of ."Minutemen" which included "Mr. Frank Fiorini, Alg in command of Minutemen." yf fo ~ ha~66, 22nd St., Miami, Florida, 2nd (Copy of letter and list enclosed) 100 -434935-1X encl. (Not Indexed) With reference to foregoing, Frank Anthony Sturgis, better known as Frank Fiorini, 2515 Northwest 12nd Street, Miami, was interviewed on 4/24/63. He denied any connection with Alpha~66, even though in the past he had admitted cooperation with Cuban anti-Castro groups. Fiorini said that several weeks previously, date unknown, - a Mr.. William DePugh in Missouri called him and inquired about Jerry Brooks (100-434935). Fiorini called an address where Brooks supposedly | resided but obtained no information. He notified DePugh of that fact and had heard nothing since then. He was unable to furnish information . concerning anyone else on foregoing list. Florini, who had always expressed cooperation with the FBI in Miami’ in the past, again contacted DePugh in Missouri by phone -on or about 5/2/63 and on 5/7/63, he furnished additional information on Brooks obtained from DePugh at that time. It was Fiorini's observa- tion that DePugh would not cooperate with the Bureau ih view of his connections in the "Minutemen". Fiorini also pointed out that Brooks Supposedly was in Miami for two or three days (date not given), reason unknown to Fiorini. . 100-434935-6 p.1,2 (evsoy Pe On 6/14/63, MM 639-S advised that Rich Albert Lauchli of Collinsville, Illinois recently arrived in Miami, Florida with a station wagon load of arms for sale. American adventurers and mercenaries, Gerald Patrick Hemming, Jr. and Frank Anthony Sturgis, took Lauchli around to meet the different Cuban exile leaders in Miami and he subsequently sold weapons to the Second National Front of the Escambray, American mercenary Bill Garman, Ramon Font of Comandos L, and miscellaneous equipment to other organizations. ‘109-584-3742 p.36 (4 HY 40953 BDaocld: 32300010 Page 106 pore