Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 WSC 2107 Hote). DATE: 11-14-2017 JFK Assassination System Date: 4/6/2015 Identification Form ee Agency Information . DATE: PAGES: SUBJECTS : DOCUMENT TYPE : CLASSIFICATION : RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : Docld: 32299945 Page 1 AGENCY : RECORD NUMBER : RECORD SERIES : AGENCY FILE NUMBER: eee Document Information ORIGINATOR : FROM: TO: TITLE: FBI 124-10226-10223 ~ HQ 105-172694-56 FBI GIBBONS, FRANCIS E. DIRECTOR, FBI 01/06/1969 147 [Restricted] PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT Confidential 1C; 4 Redact 07/15/1998 INDEFINITE
‘Released ander: the John F: Kennedy” Assassination” Records” Collection: a Acad 1992- “ Ws 2107" ‘Hotes. “DATE: 11- ‘14- 2017 = : . ; i Oe. “wat 2-192 OO ee ee . gonfidential » AT MIAMI, FLORIDA Will continue efforts to. uncover evidence of Neutrality Act violations during and prior to the IACB operation,  Informants acquainted with FRANK FIORINI have . been instructed to discreetly determine from him. detals regarding the complete IACB expedition and any plans on his part.-to mount _@ Similar expedition in the -near future. ADMINISTRATIVE: ITSMV aspects of this matter are being handled in the Miami case titled, "ROBERT PAUL CURTIS; _ITSMV" Miami file 26-34692; Bureau file 26~-407068. A . report is currently being prepared in this TISMV case. Investigation to “ddentity RAY BANNISTER, also known as RAY BRUCE, mentioned in interview of CHERYL SCHLECHER. as. having transported an automobile to Mexico from Florida, possibly in connection with . this matter, is being conducted. It has been determined that . RAY BANNISTER, or RAY BRUCE, which latter ' individual MM 1312-c feeis. to be identical with BANNISTER, has been employed by Lums, Inc. Leads have previously been set out for the Fort Pierce Resident Agent, Miami Division, to re-interview subjects JAMES WALTER WELLS, FRANKLIN DELANO HULBE BRT, and MICKEY — ROLAND SAPP concerning their contradictory earlier statements . as to how they traveled from Florida to Mexico, and to. determine from them any plans by FIORINI to organize a Similar expedi tion in the near future, The New York Office is covering a- lead in this. matter set out by Legat, -Mexico City, previously. iy “This report is classified confidential because . is contains information (from uI-5[so classified, © COVER PAGE oS VARLIE SE ste Docld: 32299945 Page 2?
“Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44/USC 2107 Nqtey. te DATE: 11-14-2017 Lo os eee ye woz . we “MM 2-192 Confidential ran NA INS temporary F-1 stops for FRANK ANGELO FIORINI and FRANK ANTHONY STURGIS in the Miami and San Antonio Divisions are not being removed at this time in view .. ° of the information Set out in this report that FIORINI may attempt to mount another expedition in the near future. Regarding information from Mrs. GERALDINE SHAMMA during the 12/13/68 interview for herself and FRANK FIORINI to meet that arrangements Venezuelan President LEONE were made by syndicated columnist DREW PEARSON, it is noted that JACK ANDERSON, DREW PEARSON associate, has. previously favorably mentioned alleged exploits of FIORINI in the PEARSON - ANDERSON daily column, and several years ago wrote a favorable article concerning FIORINI for the Sunday Supplement magazine, "Parade", INFORMANTS: SOURCE MM T-1 is attorney FERNANDO NAVAEZ ANGULO, Chief of Preliminary Investigation, Mexican Federal Attorney General's Office MM T-2 is attorney JORGE ‘VAZQUEZ ROBLES, Chief of INS,..Mexican ‘Immigration Department MM ™ isfix-s |). oe Confident Tal. ~ °°. COVER PAGE — Docld: 32299945 Page 3 LOCATION’ 2- 192 — 658 2+ 192- 658 r (2 - 192 ~ 653, 699 a
Released under the. John F. Kennedy Assassination Record=—€ollection Act of 1992 (44 Usc¢ 2107 Hote; — ‘DATE: 11-14-2017. Oo . : an oe — fe : Peet * ate sa we te wf So 8 nT an ; oo ; : : Oe oo, a xa : . oO ' ° MM 2-192 oS : oe Confidential SCURCE OO _ LOCATION _f MM T-4 is Mrs. PEGGY ANDERSON, :o%+= _ 720 SE 17th Court, Vero Beach, “<6 5 ' Fla., who is the mother-in-law of a close associate of several subjecs. (By request) Lins, 2-192 -~ 693 . . | os a oe | MM T-5 is MM 1312-C So 137-4071~61 _ : Po \ COVER PAGE ne - Confidential mS Docld: 32299945 Page 4
“Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hetey- DATE : , Lledo QO Perce ED | | ; mo 8. se On ae 7 MM 2-192... SOTSINS OE SB/IFK TASK FORCE , OC] RELEASE IN PART: | DETAILS: OO - Oo Of BPD pall = Confidential I. BACKGROUND ~— _ INTERNATIONAL ANTI-COMMUNTST “BRI GAHE ORY IAGR a The October 21, 1968, edition of the "Diario de Yucatan", a Merida, Yucatan daily newspaper, carried . a dispatch. datelined at Progreso, on October 20, 1968, which was devoted to the disappearance of the Americans aboard the ship "El Amigo". The article stated that: \ one of the passengers, MAX GORMAN, ‘JR., had bought: ~ “supplies for the trip ina grocery store called ne “Villa del Mar" for which he paid with a $50 travelers check. drawn on the American Express: Company, 65 Broadway, New York, New York. The check was reportedly. invalid ~ and bore the number N-A-63-070-069.:° | ee Se, On October 30, 1968, the American Consul, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, advised that a photograph of FRANK ANTHONY STURGIS, also: known as FRANK FIORINI, had been identified by Mr. EDUARDO ESCALANTE, who observed the group before they left Yucatan, as ‘the member of ‘the. group who called himself "MAX GORMAN" and wore a beret. 4 — : The Consul further advised that Mr. MAYNARD CLAYTON, Director of the Benjamin Franklin Institute in Merida, reported on October 29, 1968, that a tour - guide named GARCIA had been approached by. "GORMAN": who requested him to lead a group to the Guatemalan _ _ frontier overland, ostensibly to go hunting. . GARCIA refused, pointing out that the hunting season was ‘not yet open andthe authorities would certainly detain’ ; one in.the area bearing arms.. of - oT : .- On November 5, 1968, MM T-1, a confidential source abroad, advised that the Mexican Federal Attorney General's Office has not prepared formal charges against the 13 American citizens who were taken into custody at Belize, British Honduras on October 23, 1968,. after. _. forcing a Mexican ship: captain to take them there. from _ Progreso, Yucatan. Neither did the Mexican Government. - “request their extradition from British Honduras. “ ‘The Mexican Government expects the 13 men to be released ; to the United States Government and-is still ‘studying = =. ‘the matter of possible: prosecution.” However, it is” doubtful that any action will be taken against these men unless. - ~ ‘Gonfidential | oe 4 ct gp ICTY: Sb Docld: 32299945 Page 5
“ Released under the John F.. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of i dad oe ee ee '2 bayonets - ae CE DOME EN OHHH Ak .. a a a . . : LIST OF ARMS, AMMUNITION AND OTHER ITEMS — 803 Rifle #18780 Confident tat Point 22 Glenfield Rifle Model #10 Point. 22 Glenfield Rifle Model #70 22 Marlin Rifle Model #57 . 30. Carbine Service Rifle #2234870 30 Rifle. with Tel Sight #129812 30 Remington Rifle Model 03-A3 #3877528 Point 22 Universal Rialfar SLA Rifle #123913 30 U. S. Service Rifle Carbine #1087063 30 Carbino Service Rifle #101369. - a. 30 Machine Carbine Rialfar SLA #2581539 L- 30. Machine Carbine Rialfar SLA #118233 30 Machine Carbine Rialfar SLA #A138516 45 Swissvale U. Ss. Army Automatic Model (1911 with Magazine and Leather Holster #1054813 7 32 Browning Automatic Pistol. #619803 with magazine and leather holster - 6: rounds: 45 Colt U. S. Army Automatic Model 1911 with magazine and leather holster #90545 CO 1 38 Revolver #400539 and holster 1, 435 - 7.62 rounds 148 - 303 rounds in clips and loose — 196. - 38 rounds special 125 - 45 rounds 269 - 22 rounds. . 8 - 30 - 30 rounds - on SO 1 - 45 Colt Revolver E. E. 0. olster 2 magazine pouches 13 - 38 automatic rounds . me Bo 3 - 38 empty: shells 24. magazines ree « es ees % . 17 knives: (assorted) 1 leather ‘cartridge belt with malian Kukri and sheath with cating. ‘knife attached . Gemini 10 Walkie-Talkies — pair ‘handcuffs. Cuter rifle cleaning rod rifle pull ‘through ‘ revolver ‘Pouches Army bolts: camera with: film ammunition: belt : barrel only: Sears and Rovao Point 22 wooden rifle butt So wooden rifle butt and casing wooden hand: piece for rifle Breech Black :& Trigger machine revolver cleaning. rod screwdriver: , Player _ 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hoey _ Soafidentian | JOEL PLEIY- Sb. Docld: 32299945 Page fF
Héleaséd under the’ John FS Kennedy Assassination Record Tes | iF. y Aesassination Records Collecti ' “DATE? 14 ° > Ke , s ion Act of 199? (44 USC 2107 Hote}. s14-2013 ; abe . is carn . “ ut > t Confidential 7 ; ~ on “November 26, 1968, MM T-3, a third confidential source abroad, furnished. 2 copy of the following report made by the British Honduras police . concerning. the, arrest and deportation o PRANK FIORINI : ~ nee and “others | from British Honduras: (wT ce \ . i ~5- t Ge onfidential ; “ | - a te Sate bee ' Sl, oe CLT POLL S Docld: 32299945 Page &
” Released undér the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (34 usc 2107 Hote }. DATE: lla de ML. . wih, de - . . . re ae RLsORT ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES SUeROUNDING THE > * ARREST AND DEPORTATION FROM BRITISH HONDURAS OF THIRTEEN UNITED STATES NATION ALS nema “we . op th aang “About 1330 hours on Wednesday, 23rd October 1968 a ao foet ‘cabin. oruigers the 'AMIGO! registered at Pregresso, Yuca Mexico arrived 2lige City harbour with crew f two Mexigqan “nationals, Aonsox AMPO scalante and Rone KUAGANA estrella, and carrying five United States nationals as pa&ssengers. The object. of. the visit was stated to be refuel and re~provision. As: a result of information given by*CA POS to the Customs _ authorities, the matter was referredto' Police, and Special a. _Branch officers interrogated the two’ “Mexicans. From the info mation received, the.five United States nationals were arrest and charged under the British Honduras Innigration Ordinance. The boat was searched and, besides a number of suitcases cont ing personal clothing, medical supplies, anti-Castro literatu ff BEADS, - documents and United States Armed Forces training manua eB pisto loaded with 6 rounds was found hidden in the cabin. 2... Phe. five U. Ss. nationals gave names and addresses to Police, but several of the names given were later found to be false. The. Mexican and United States Consulate authorities Ww  notifie the circumstances ‘known: at that time. 3. phe two Mexican nationals were questioned separately, and poo. both told the same story. oo SO a | ae “The “AMIGO , owned by Alfonso co wart DNepsquea of Progresso Yucatan, was hired by the five United States citizens, with CAMPOS and ‘MAGANA as crew, for a five-day fishing and sightse ‘trip from Progresso to Isles Mujeres, Yucatan, at a cost, of - 3,000 pesos. Having obtained port clearance, "the party left : -Progrésgo on. the 'AMIGO' at about 2200 hrs. on Friday, 18th . October bout 2330 hrs. three of the Americans threatened t _ Mexican’crew with pistols, and forced them to take the boat “inshore opposite the abandoned hotel 'Tropical Reviera’ | Eig i ‘further men, with a*considerable quantity of equipment, were t ms , ferried on board by the boat's dinghy. This. operation’ was _ conpleted about 0300 hrs: on Saturday, 19th October.» The 7AM ‘was then. sailed eastwards. along the northern coast of Yucatan ‘both the Mexican. crewnen having been tied up, but released on at a time to steer the boat. They passed Isles Mujeres about 0400 hrs. on 20th Gctober and turned south. About this time, according Fo. CAMPOS , he learned that their dest inatioy Was | ‘Be ize. | : nc 5. : When ‘the boat. ‘arrived off Xealak, Quintana Roo, CAN OS was: told to head for Turneffe. The lighthouse at the: norther | end. of Turneffe was sighted at about 1830 hrs. on Monday, 21s . October. CAMPOS was told to steer to the east of Turneffe, | | _ ., where. they would meet another boat. which the Americans would { board,» ing the "AMIGO! and: the ‘two Mexican crew to return : | mS to Progré SO. |, | i Docld: 32299945 Page 3
' Released under the John F. Kenned 1 1 . y Assassinat C i DATE: JA 1420 ; ation Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 6. Abou -2100. hrs. on 21st October the 'AMIGO' went aground on a reef maining fast:until 0600 hrs. on 22nd . , sQctober, when, the. crew: and the Ameri ans got. it free. They -_gaotFema ined at anchor for about, 24, hours in the same area, but = age saw nothing of::;another boat: ‘On the-morning of 23rd October » “ CAMPOS pointed out that he only had fuel for about 5 hours sailing, and was, then told to make for Belize. The eight men, who were: not included on the Progresgo Port clearance _ . eertificate, were landed at Shag Caye Bogue, about 12 miles~™  -gouth_egastof Belize City, with the major part of the equip- ment, by means .of the dinghy, which they kept with them. The ‘AMIGO! then came into Belize City harbour. | The following morning a Police/Military party, guide : pay _. by CAMPOS, ‘went to. Shag Caye Bogue and collected the eight men } and their equipment without resistance. All were brought into - Belize City,.and all.were charged under the Immigration . Ordinance, ‘the Mexican and United States Consulate authorities again being. advised of the situation. On-the 24th October the five U.S, nationals taken from the 'AMIGO!' appeared before the Belize City. Magistrate on a charge of being prohibited immigrants. They were reminded in custody until 3lst October 1968. On 25th - October the ‘eight: men, all of whom claimed U.S. nationality; were Similarly. charged and remained until 3lst. October. ~~ 8... When the thirteen men appeared on 31st October, a “} deportation order to the United States. was made in respect of each. Arrangements were made by the United States Consul for them to leave on scheduled airline flights in four. Rr OUP on em Saturday: and Sunday, lst, 2nd and 3rd ovember, for Miami. “Each group was escorted from Belize © | ntral, Prison, and their departure was witnessed by Police. ty recovered was confiscated by Court Order. me! oo \ | All :the “proper 1° | a i wd Docld: 32299945 Page 10
e qo ok - wee, co ce me ee eee ee a ee re LING te vl as ve SA urraverd 3 tm or de 7° 5 Toun * 022 an ° 2 £ -- = 303, 19 aus OURS oma “we ollo QO a arrested ened £ be o~ 8 a ww 2 Sys <a = Piel aie Act of 1992 (44 USC 3107 an Ae ac 8 rounds 253 ion BER Hi D3 4 A ¥v on i ral ech was not /s, e * i:22 rounds. x 3 “Records Collect vy of 3 ation AY nds x ‘Kennedy. Assassina VEa od act oa) wie TOU “A tO 2 fasten dee a Yes “ ale 2.2 Gnder. the John F. 11-14-2017. a DATE: ease Rel Fr i . | i n arrested m TO on mash al datsils (& AOI (On - r) Yr OL e ieee fees chen ere on “ar 3 ANG 32299943 Page 11 DoclIad
| Released under the John F. DATE: | MM 2-192 i oe . _ ae | Gearites Co On November 6, 1968, MM T-3 advised that on _ ar . October 29, 1968, several of the subjects had been interviewed by authorities at Belize, British Honduras, and ep information had resulted from these interviews :(¢ 7 a) birth and ha. hanged his name legally some years ago in Norfolk, Virginia, to FRANK ANTHONY STURGIS following the remarriage of his mother, @) . » ’ ng _/. PIORINI was the leader of the expedition and may. have been the only One who knew precisely where the group ‘was headed, He gave the impression of being a professional b) That FIORINI and GONZALEZ are long-time members’ claims ‘to have acted as a recruiter for FIORINI. (¢) c)” That recruiting was carried out by newspaper ‘d) That the Subjects, apart from FIORINI, GONZALEZ ,* and possibly HULBERT, appear to be of fairly low caliber, © o's. They were probably attracted by the prospects of money and adventure,- Some of them would. pr bably have been equally attracted: to a criminal venture, {{ . _in“return: ; had: been. paid nothing to date, according to those interviewed 7 - £) That some of the arms belonging to group membeé were their personal property and had been carried with them from Florida,. (c) JOT? 26F¢ -SE “con-man" who was prepared to tell whatever Story suits him, (@-) _of the Secret Army Organization of the IACB, and that HULBERT::.: advertisements in the Florida area and by personal contacts.(@)) i g7 (44 SC 2167 Hote; . EK edy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (4 we Docld: 32299945 Page 12 N.
PReleased under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records: Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote). | > DATE: AD e20Y ee rc oo. Be Se is rosy oe Fak ah Re hohe 7 gs) “That some of the subjects crossed the U. 8. = Mexican border carrying these firearms. (a) ‘h) That all the subjects crossed the U. Sw “Mexican border at Brownsville, Texas. @) Se ae what the _ IACB undoubtedly has some funds but ‘that. FIORINI's claim ito have fifteen million U. S. dollars in Switzerland for aid of political. prisoners in Cuba is more likely to be. - false” then’ true. @) . j) That FIORINI- and GONZALEZ apparently ‘intended _to continue their anti-CASTRO activities. ~~) ’ “ “The November 13, 1968, edition of the "Miami. News", a daily newspaper ’ published at Miami, ~ Florida, carried on page one the following article: ; CORE PORRISye rey ‘ boa 7 -10- , ‘ oo eos. | ost FEE Y- EB Docld: 32299945 Page 153
Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hotes. (MM 2-192 Confidential ‘ : It is noted that the serial numbers of | the two weapons purchased by CURTIS from the Boca Tackle. Shop: are identical with those of two of the. weapons included in the above "list of arms, ammunition and other items" furnished by MM T-2 - -on November 4, 1968. &(u) Bee es | . oe oe On November 21, 1968, DOLORE OLON , ‘397 Fillmore Street, Staten Island, New 'Y rk, “Was: interviewed under a suitable pretext and advised . Ao) that: she is: the daughter of MAX GONZALEZ, who, on -asfar as_ she. knows, is in a Miami, Florida, gail, "having: been..arrested by the FBI as the result of a Plot. against Cuban Prime Minister FIDEL CASTRO. : It is. noted that a telephone call ‘to G..M. Used Cars, 2480 Northwest 36th Street; Miami, Florida, ' . on December 18, 1968, disclosed that GONZALEZ, oe -'.who had been a salesman for that firm prior to his’ departure on the. IACB expedition, continued to bei incarcerated in the Dade County Jail,.as of this." ‘date, awaiting trial on bad check charges. GONZALEZ was. arrested on these local charges immediately after ts - . his arrival. from British Honduras. He has not been y arrested by the FBI. ; 7 re ae  gontiaent tet | “ 7 oo J05-1 726 2Y- EG 7 Pine he Docld: 32299945 Page 14
' Reledsed under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Reco 1 DATE: 1s rds Collection Act of 1992 (44 usc" 2107 Hates. rr ne wp Gonfidential [1] RELEASE INPART pe oe ER ey BACKGROUND TOTAL DENIAL as nes < INTERNATIONAL ANTI-COMMUNIST BRIGADE CIACB) ond “<p 5 _. The October 21, 1968, edition of the "Diario de Yucatan", a Merida, Yucatan daily hewspaper, carried ae a - @ dispatch datelined at Progreso, on October 20, 1968, -| = which was devoted to the disappearance of the Americans’ Pf - aboard the ship "El Amigo". The article stated that |. - ot one of the passengers, MAX GORMAN, JR., had bought. _ ee “supplies for the trip in a grocery store called. °° «|. - a | - “Villa del Mar" for which he paid with a $50 travelers Co ; . check drawn .on-the American Express. Company, 65 Broadway, oO oe New York, New York. The check was reportedly invalid . 7 . and bore the number N-A-63-070-069. | aE >: . (:On October 30, 1968, the American Consul; Merida, fh. Yucatan, Mexico, advised that a photograph of FRANK ANTHONY i STURGIS, also known as FRANK FIORINI, had been identified , by Mr. EDUARDO ESCALANTE, who observed the group before they left Yucatan, as the member of the group who called himself "MAX GORMAN" and wore a beret. wee _ The Consul further advised that Mr. MAYNARD CLAYTON, Director of the Benjamin Franklin Institute _ in Merida, reported on October 29, 1968, that a tour guide named GARCIA had been approached by "GORMAN"... . who requested him to lead a group to the Guatemalan frontier overland, ostensibly to go hunting. GARCIA - . . . refused, pointing out that the hunting season was not oo ; yet open and the authorities would certainly detain any- - one in the.area bearing arms. re BO On November 5, 1968, MM T-l,. a confidential _Source abroad, advised that the Mexican Federal Attorney | - General's Office has not prepared formal charges against 7 ce h{ oo . the 13 American citizens who were. taken into custody at > pio... + Belize, British Honduras on October 23, 1968, after © . forcing a Mexican ship captain to take them there from _ Progreso, Yucatan. Neither did the Mexican Government - request their extradition from British Honduras. The. — _., Mexican Government expects the 13 men to be releaséd . ph | to the United States Government and is still studying - : ‘jous the matter of possible prosecution. However, it is’ doubtful boo. "that any action will be taken against these men unless =... ‘they return to Mexico... (CU) Docld: 32299945 Page 15
Released Under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (a4. use 2107 Hotey - DATE: 11-14-7017 a ‘ ‘ MM 2-192 ee te On November 4, “1968, MM 1-2, a second confidential source abroad, furnished “the: ‘following undated list of . items, all of which presumably | were among effects seized by ‘British Honduras authorities. from the subjects subsequent to their arrest at and near Belize, | ‘British Honduras. EY . “A. | a Conttaant ta . . | Jol-L?LPY- 5b | a = om we ae Sascha tbelear beth etait | Docld: 32299945 Page 16