(104-10133-10091 SCHEDULE GEL L.. tiar ‘ PAEMPTION CATEGORY: Sowa Qvasbed, to Com Es deaTeal i 24 June 1966 a) MEMORANDUM FOR:.Deputy Director of Central Intelligence _ SUBJECT 7 -MARMIT, Robe et A i, This memorandum is for information only. 2. In August 1960, Mr. Richard M. Bissell approached Colonel Sheffield Edwards té determine if the Office of Security had assets that may assist in a sensitive mission requiring ' gangster-type action. The mission target was (the tignidetion ct) 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 purposes of the mission. 4. Robert A. Maheu was contacted, briefed generally on the project, and requested to ascertain if he could develop an ene- tree into the gangster elements ag the first step toward accome plishing the desired goal. | 5. Myx, 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. chassiriep sy C33 8X Sd oY DE EXEMPT FROV CENTRAL DECLASSIFICATION $ s301),@) So: T ee sale one of more) AUT ONAIICALLY. “PECLASSIELED ON CONFIDENTIAL . (unless impossible, inaert date or event)
14-00000 3 * oe CONFIDENTIAL 6. Maheu was asked to approach Roselli, who knew Maheu as a personal relations executive handling domestic and foreign accecunts, 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, COO for its successful accomplishment. It was to be made clear to Roselli that the U. S. Government was not, and shoul4 not, become aware of this operation. 7. Ths pitch was made to Roselli on 14 September 1950 at the Hilton Plaza Hotel, New York City. His initial reaction wag to . void getting involved but, through Maheu's persuasion, he agreed to introduce him to a friend, Sam Gold, who knew the “Guban crowd." Roselli made it clear he did not want any money for his part and believed Sam would feel the sarne way. Neither of these individuals witver paid out of Agency funds. 8. ring the week of 25 September, Muheu was introduced to Sam who was staying at the Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami Beach. “His inittal improssion of Sarcwas that of a hard; uncouth indi- viduabwho looked and-acted ik: . common run-of-the-mill hoods. lum. However, his living accornmodations at the-hotel- belies this,..8 did.the-fact that Maheu learned Sam was under periodic surveillance by the PBI! It waa 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, ‘kespectively. 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 cLassiniee BY ab3zee ff / 2 aed 36 latter, the Cosa Nostra boss of Cuban operations. Maheu called this office immediately upon ascertaining 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 30ma typs of potent pill, that could MPT ROY t DECLASSIFICATION ~ scuebute cf: 1, MEN GON CATEGORY: § SBC1), : ) tc: ste one er mare) AUTURAGiALLY DECLASSIFIED ON downgraded & corerta, cod (unless impousible, insert date or event)
14-00000 | cLassiricc BY QS SSEY IVEY DEL EXEMPT Fao" Cot AUIS: ives ALLY DECLASSIFIED ON (unless iapossible, insert date or event} “GONFIDENTIAL ~ be placed in Castro's food or drink, it would be a much more effactive 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 accegs to Castro and was dn a financial bind. 10, Cornelius Roosevelt, Chief, TSD,’ was consulted and . - assigned _ a develop: @ pill that had the- elements of rapid solubility, hig lethal content, and little or no traceability. Six of these items were produced and, after being checked out for their effectiveness by Dr. Edward M. _ Gunn, three pills were ultimately turned gver to Sam for the mission. Neither TSD nor Dr. Gunn w¥8' briefad 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 interesats-backing the project did not want the U. S. Government and, . particularly the CIA, to know of their involvement. (So far as thts Cffice 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 Tequested $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. L DECLASSIFICATION _.CMETION CATEGORY > te) (cirels one or more) - QONFIDENTIAL fa co 4.
14-00000 . expressed concern sits At the height of the » project negotiations Sam _Maheu note Sam he- tiene ave therfacllities Stes reupon Sam threatened ta leays-Miamt to g to go to Vegas and - take-care-of-the-matte? himself: | inorder to pre~ | vent this, Mahau-contacted- Edwax bois, a Florida investigator, and-asked him.to handle the font ~ Idistead of ingtalitng a bug: the-xoom, the tochaician placad atap onthe phone, which ob- . Viously did not Jetve Sam!s-purpose. vf The techni~ cian involved in the assignment was discovered in the process, arrested, and taken to the Sheriff's office for questioning. Aftemhe-iaietNoresch ' _Dubsiaby telephone,/he called Mahewat-tke 2-2 ‘Keniiworth Hoteh, .Miami, Vand informed him that. ~ he had been detained by the police. This call was : made in the presence of the Sheriff's personnel. Subsequently, the Department of Justice ane nounced its intention to prosecute Maheu along _with the technician. On 7 February 1942, the Director of Security briefed the Attorney General, Robert Kennedy, on the circumstantes leading up c = am asked Maheu room to determine the ex-. . ‘COWFIDENTIAL 16. OF significant interest was an incident which involved a request levied by Sam upon Mahe ul and now shapes up asa - potential flap."] — _ ' * eae Se cane ome to Maheu's involvement in the wiretap, At our re-— Guest, prosecution was dropped. CLassitea BY 1 eB "37 error scnepyze Goo. § SBeas, Bomtn : \- a (eivele one oF crore) wngrated to contibertenl (unless impossible, LPPTRS He oh LE TICATION 4 ea End re rs 4 ae oF res inser’ date or event) eaaaral CONFIDENTIAL
14-00000 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 ites 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. 3im said he had friends on both sides, but no clout. That was it. 1¢. Roselli was introduced to James P. O'Cennall, of this Office, who was identified to him ag 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 wag 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: cLassirico ey PS SSSEY 1 PAY TL EXEMPT FRO CoN 14l CECLASSIFICATION SCHEDULE OF Et i: °. LEEM#TION CATEGORT: § SBEL), - 2.) (circle one or mora) AUTURIA Is laccY DECLASSIFIED ON .- (unless impedsible, insert date or event) i: ae aF s pascerea : CONSHPENTIAL
74-90000 ’ at eae ~~ 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 ag William Walker. It is not known whether Roselli ever became aware of Harvey's true name. Howard J. Osborn ' Director of Security crassirien BY CR BSYE FP ILFAY 3G EXEMPT FROM CE area DECLASSIFICATION SCHEDULE OF £. Q. t1-&., EXEMPTION CATEGORY: § 58(1), (2) (3) a2 (s) (ciecle one of more) AUTOMATE - DECLASSIFIED ON (ualess impotsible, insert date or event) Oo DENTIAL r\es : aH . it | . ug oT