Released under the John F. Kennedy DATE: 11-14-2017 AGENCY : RECORD NUMBER : RECORD SERIES : AGENCY FILE NUMBER: _ TT Document Information ORIGINATOR : FROM: TO: TITLE: DATE: PAGES: SUBJECTS : DOCUMENT TYPE : CLASSIFICATION : RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : v9.1 Docld:32321750 Page 1 JFK Assassination System Identification Form —_——o—oOoOoOo ESSE Agency Information FBI 124-10377-10408 HQ 62C-HQ-1029205-3627 FBI OPCA CID 01/21/1998 5 JFKARCA OF 1992 PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT Unclassified 1c Redact 05/06/1999 INDEFINITE INC MEMO eee 297
Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1997 (44 Us 2107 Hote). DATE: 11-14-2017 oN 3 une ; < \ Ch ; j ; (12/31/1995) we + 4, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Precedence: IMMEDIATE Date: 01/21/1998 To: Criminal Investigative Attn: Mr. Rother, Rm. 4427 Office General Counsel Attn: Mr. Campbell, Rm. 7338 From: Office of Public and Congressional Affairs Historical and Executive Review Unit (HERU), Rm. 11144 Contact: Carol L. Keeley, Ext. 0674 Approved By: Keeley Carol Drafted By: Keeley Carol Case ID #: (U) 62-HQ-1029205 (Pending) Title: (U) JFK ASSASSINATION RECORDS COLLECTION ACT OF 1992 (THE ACT) ASSASSINATION RECORDS REVIEW BOARD DECISIONS Synopsis: (U) Synopsis: On 12/1 & 4/1997, the Assassination Records Review Board (the Board) formally advised by letter their determinations on FBI documents. This communication advises offices of the information the Board, aE for release and may be subject to appeal. YE HO-k A POF" BA i (U) Clasaifijed By H G Reason : 1.5 Declassilfy : 12/31/2047 Enclosures: (U) Enclosed are the two documents that the Board voted to open, with the information highlighted that the FBI requested to protect. Details: (U) On 12/1 & 4/1997, the Board formally advised the FBI of determinations made on two FBI documents. at their meeting of 11/17/1997. Included in the Board letter were lists of other documents that the FBI had agreed to the postponements or consented to release. As previously noted, the FBI and Board's staff review and negotiate the release of information from FBI documents. When the staff does not agree to postpone information that the Task Force personnel cannot release due to FBI policy, then the FBI must present evidence to justify the postponement of information. (Woy At this meeting the Board released information in wigeh paper DE - Docld: 323271750 Page 2?
“Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 3107 Hote). DATE: 11-14-2017 O CO) ‘ nd pos SEYRET To:' National Security From: Office of Public and Congressional Affairs ~ Re: 62-HQ-1029205, 01/21/1998 two documents that opens the identity of Ricardo Anibal Morales Navarrete as a source. In the material being processed for release there are other documents that describe the death of the informant in Miami on 12/22/1982. Since the Board's instructions are to release any known deceased informant without evidence to justify the postponement, the Board asked for evidence to support the postponement. Based on the informants death and no known threats to relatives, the Board would not protect the informant because he did not meet their criteria of revealing “...the identity of a living person who provided confidential information...” or compromising “...the existence of an understanding of confidentiality currently requiring protection...and disclosure would be so harmful that it outweighs the public interest....” ‘ (ya) Although the source testified at the Bosch Avila trial on “federal charges of damaging foreign nations' vessels that were trading with Cuba in 1968, he continued providing information to the FBI. The source was’ also known as MM 1550-KS (Key Source) (IS - Cuba), who first started reporting information to the FBI in 1961. Initially he reported on information related to Cuban exiles in the United States and then focused on Orlando Bosch Avila and the Cuban Power Action Group's plans to blow up freighters. The information in the released documents concerns the informant's knowledge of Avila's actions that lead to his conviction. However, after 1968, the MM office continued to accept information from the source. In November 1974, the source moved to Venezuela and helped the Venezuelan government locate Avila who was a federal fugitive at the time. After this he accepted a position with the Venezuelan government and continued to provide information to the MM office about attempts of groups in Venezuela to overthrow the Cuban government. (Ng The Board voted to release information that reveals the source. The information and informant were eventually used by federal authorities in the Avila trial. However, there are other documents from the source's file that will be reviewed as assassination records according to the Act. Most of the material relates to the bombing matters that eventually went to trial. However, some information is related to the time Avila was a fugitive in Venezuela and the MM source was passing that information to the MM office. The concern of this office is the information not yet addressed by the Board that reveals the MM source continuing his cooperation while he served as a Venezuelan official. Currently in the other documents, not yet reviewed by the Board, the only information proposed for postponement is an attempt to protect the MM informant's SEYRET 2 Docld:32321750 Page 3
Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC Fi0T Hote). DATE: 11-14-2017 . C) nd ine / . Ce a ¢ Ss T To: National Security From: Office of Public and Congressional Affairs ~ Re: 62-HQ-1029205, 01/21/1998 cooperation while he was a Venezuelan official. (U) Before the documents were reviewed by the Board, 'HERU contacted MM's Chief Division Counsel (CDC) Bill Dolde concerning the harm to any family or any other concerns the MM office could have regarding the release of the informant's identity. The opinion of MM was that should the Board vote to release the identity, then the MM Office would not object.to the release. However, MM could not locate their file and did not know about the Venezuela information. (U) HERU requests NSD to review the information and give OGC and OPCA a recommendation concerning the release of the informant. If you have questions please contact Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Carol L. Keeley at 4-0671 or Contractor Classification Specialist Carl L. Valentine at 4-0556. Docld: 32321750 Page 4
Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1997 (44 Us 2107 Hotes. DATE: 11-14-2017 2 Cy ° ‘we “ 7 To: National Security From: Office of Public and Congressional Affairs ~ Re: 62-HQ-1029205, 01/21/1998 LEAD (8s): Set Lead 1: ALL RECEIVING OFFICES wry NSD should review and provide a recommendation to OPCA and OGC regarding the Board's vote on documents releasing the source and the documents that will release his position in Venezuela while providing information to the FBI. cCs 1 - Mr. Bryant, Rm. 7142 1’ - Mr. Parkinson, Rm. 7429 1 - Mr. Lewis, Rm. 7110 1 - Mr. Collingwood, Rm. 7240 1 - Mrs. Wilkins, Rm. 11144 1 - Mr. Valentine, Rm. 11144 1 - Mrs. Keeley, Rm. 11144 o Doclda:32321750 Page 5