HW 54653 RE: PLAN OF CUBAN EXILE LEADERS TO ASSASSINATE SELECTED CUBAN GOVERNMENT LEADERS the Miami area, BABUN specifically denied any involvement in, or knowledge of, any plan to assassinate selected Cuban Government officials. "He stated he had not paid, nor had he offered to pay any sum of money to anyone for the purpose of effecting the assassination of FIDEL CASTRO or of any other Cuban Government official. He also denied that he had been a party to any meetings with his associates and BYRON CAMERON, or with any . other individuals, for. the purpose of discussing ways and means | to assassinate FIDEL CASTRO. He stated BYRON CAMERON is the owner and operator of. the motor vessel "Cayman Hope" which plies between Miami, Grand Cayman Island, Montego Bay, Jamaica, and British Honduras. He stated his only connection with CAMERON is to furnish him warehouse facilities for his cargo at Miami at the regular price of $1.50 per ton. BABUN stated that as a matter of fact, even this relationship might not be continued in- asmuch as a $1.50 per ton is for cargo which is bound together in large boxes or bundles which can be handled quickly and easily, whereas the cargo of CAMERON>which consists almost entirely of greceries and foodstuffs, are in many small packages and boxes which are very time-consuming to place in and remove from the warehouse. BABUN stated that insofar as he knows, CAMERON is not interested in any anti-CASTRO plot, but he has certainly SE T MAT ae. Us SPR we rome re. wevewen fo  wernpes 0 semen oe abe emer = eemenrey we eee ye Docld: 322762051 Page 5
HW 54653 secder RE: PLAN OF CUBAN EXILE LEADERS TO ASSASSINATE SELECTED CUBAN. GOVERNMENT LEADERS never discussed any nlot with CAMERON and certainly no plan to assassinate any Cuban Government leaders. He stated he never mentioned such a matter to CAMERON and CAMERON never approached him or his associates with any plan to assassinate Cuban leaders, -  BABUN stated he never knew anything concerning CAMERON's personal background and associates other than those business associates directly concerned with the shipping business. BABUN stated CAMERON goes from Miami to Grand . Cayman Island off the south coast of Cuba and delivers foodstuffs to an hotel at Grand Cayman Island as well as hotels in Montego Bay, Jamaica. BABUN indicated at that time that his warehouse is full of Official League baseballs and Official League softballs as well as chicken coops brought back by CAMERON from Jamaica. _BABUN denied knowing anyone connected with the hoodlum element, either in the United States or elsewhere, who is sponsoring or participating in any plot to assassinate selected Cuban Government leaders. He denied knowing anyone from St. Louis, Chicago, or any other place, who has hoodlum contacts and who is in contact with BYRON CAMERON. He is acquainted with JULIO LOBO, a wealthy former Cuban businessman who controlled better than fifty percent of the Cuban sugar interests, and who now resides in New York. During a trip to New York approximately three months ago which | BABUN and his wife made to visit a member of their family, he talked with LOBO briefly at the ''Sugar Exchange Building 5e Weve wat _v 1916 SE\ T yO) aati - Sere dC a co a Ai A NEY, CeTtgr. SOT WE CSURSr ce oN Docld: 322762051 Page 6
seber  T RE: PLAN OF CUBAN EXILE LEADERS TO ASSASSINATE SELECTED CUBAN - GOVERNMENT LEADERS . . in downtown New York'', The only discussion concerning anti-CASTRO Cuban plans had to do with the possibility of securing bases in the Dominican Republic from which anti-CASTRO activities might be carried out against the CASTRO Government. There was no mention of any plot or plan to assassinate Cuban Government officials. He noted that over the past years since FIDEL CASTRO has come into power that at any time Cuban refugees discuss the possibility of overthrowing the CASTRO regime, there is someone who will vehemently state that it would "be a great thing if someone would kill the CASTRO brothers and other Cuban Communist leaders", but he stated that insofar as he knew, these statements had never been more than the venting of expressions of hatred for the CASTRO regime and he had never met a man with any specific plan to actually put inte effect an assassination plot. . Interview of ELISEO GOMEZ FERNANDEZ ELISEO GOMEZ FERNANDEZ was interviewed by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation separately, and immediately following the interview of TEOFILO™ BABUN SELMAN, at which time he furnished the following information: GOMEZ stated he is an associate of TEOFILO BABUN SELMAN in the operation of the above-named Antillean Marine Shipping Corporation at Miami, and is an associate of CEFERINO OSCAR FERNANDEZ VEIGA. GOMEZ specifically denied involvement or participation a any plan to assassinate selected Cuban Government. officials and J, tied a 6 e fie to HW 54653 DBocld:32282051 Page 7
+ S Ae a eae HW 54653 . oe, , . ; roN SECKET RE: PLAN OF CUBAN EXILE LEADERS TO ASSASSINATE SELECTED CUBAN GOVERNMENT LEADERS denied knowledge of the existence of any such plan. He admitted knowing BYRON CAMERON and admitted handling the warehouse operations in Miami for CAMERON who owns and operates the motor vessel "Cayman Hope". He indicated the Same route described above, on a map on his office wall of the "Cayman Hope" and the ports at which it calls. He likewise indicated, and voluntarily showed interviewing Special Agents, that a good portion of his warehouse was at that time occupied with large boxes containing Official League baseballs, Official League softballs and empty chicken crates made in Jamaica, He likewise indicated that the warehousing and handling of the groceries and foodstuffs for CAMERON are unsatisfactory inasmuch as the payment of $1.50 per ton is not sufficient to cover the labor cost involved in handling so many small loose packages and boxes and the company has agreed to advise CAMERON that further shipments will be Imndled at $2.50 per ton rather than $1.50 per ton. oo | GOMEZ further denied any knowledge of any connections of CAMERON with any individuals not directly associated with the shipping business, He specifically denied knowledge of any underworld or criminal element with any interest in an assassination plot designed to eliminate FIDEL CASTRO, RAUL CASTRO or ERNESTO "CHE" GUEVARA. He;,too,noted that at any time Cuban exiles gather to discuss the Cuban situation, and this admittedly is the main topic of conversation among all Cuban exiles, there is Pye ei 7. ray oD 1916 Docld: 322762051 Page &
HW 54653 srdter NC RE: PLAN OF CUBAN EXILE LEADERS TO ASSASSINATE SELECTED CUBAN GOVERNMENT LEADERS always’ someone who would remark that CASTRO should be killed. GOMEZ stated that he actually feels that the assassination of FIDEL CASTRO would accomplish nothing “towards actually ridding Cuba of a Communist regime. He denied paying any sum of money, agreeing to pay any sum of money, or being approached for the payment of any sum of money for the assassination of Cuban Government leaders, GOMEZ advised that he, BABUN, and FERNANDEZ were friends of JOSE "PEPIN" BOSCH and have talked with him on several occasions and at such time a discussion of the general Cuban situation was part of the conversation. GOMEZ specifically denied being present when any sum of money was asked of BOSCH or at any time when BOSCH agreed to pay any money for any plan having to do with the assassination of Cuban Government leaders, : GOMEZ strated that although he has heard of JULIO LOBO, a wealthy former Cuban businessman with interests in the sugar industry, he does not know LOBO personally and has not been in contact with hin. . Interview of CEFERINO OSCAR FERNANDEZ VEIGA interview of CEFERINO OSCAR FERNANDEZ VEIGA_ FERNANDEZ VEIGA was interviewed separately from the above individuals by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of. Investigation on July 2, 1964, at which time he furnished , the following information: - t=? SEcuer DOJ DoclId: 3227827051 Page 9
“HW 54653 ae RE; PLAN OF CUBAN EXILE LEADERS TO ASSASSINATE SELECTED CUBAN GOVERNMENT LEADERS His. full correct name is as set forth above and he is more commonly referred to as OSCAR FERNANDEZ. His home address is 4298 West 6th Avenue, Hialeah, Florida. He was formerly in the lumber and iron business in Havana and was born in Havana, Cuba, August 7, 1926. He is now an associate of BABUN SELMAN and GOMEZ FERNANDEZ, described above. my - FERNANDEZ VEIGA also specifically denied paying any sum of money to any person for the purpose of effecting the assassination of any Cuban Government officials. He denied knowledge of any plot to effect such assassination and denied approaching any person for the purpose of soliciting any funds for the formulation or carrying out ° of any such plan. He also indicated that in his opinion , while the assassination of FIDEL CASTRO might bring personal joy to many Cuban exiles whose immediate relatives may have been tortured or killed by CASTRO and his regime, it would actually accomplish nothing towards the overthrow of the Communist regime of FIDEL CASTRO . in Cuba. He admitted knowing BYRON CAMERON and the warehouse relationship with him. He denied knowing anything concerning the personal background of CAMERON, did not know his place of origin or birth,and denied knowing that CAMERON has any partner or associate with any contacts with elements of the underworld. He stated he knew of no plans and had attended no meeting where any plan was discussed by BABUN SELMAN, GOMEZ FERNANDEZ, BYRON SECRET 003 ee eee me ee ee OF TEMES 6 ESOS OT? Docld: 3227627051 Page 10
HW 54653 en aa ed RE: PLAN OF CUBAN EXILE LEADERS TO ASSASSINATE SELECTED CUBAN GOVERNMENT LEADERS CAMERON, or other individuals which involved the assassination of FIDEL CASTRO, RAUL CASTRO, ERNESTO "'CHE" GUEVARA, or other leaders. He denied being a party to any discussion and stated he knew of no discussion concerning the payment of any sum of money for the assassination of such Government officials. ‘He stated he knows , like practically every Cuban in Cuba. knows, JULIO LOBO because he was a gigantic financial figure in Cuba but stated he had never been a@ any meeting with LOBO where any amount of cash was discussed as payment for the assassination of any Cuban Government leader, FERNANDEZ VEIGA stated it is common belief that CAMERON has some partner or associate but he does not know him ‘Pergonally. and doesnot, in fact, know that CAMERON has a partner or associate. He also admitted knowing JOSE "PEPIN" BOSCH but stated he had never discussed with BOSCH any plan to assassinate Cuban Government leaders and had never been present at any meeting where such a plan was discussed. Sources familiar with numerous phases of . anti-CASTRO activities werecortactai on July 2 and 3, 1964, but had no knowledge of any plan to assassinate Cuban Government leaders. Each source indicated that there is never any discussion among any considerable number of Cuban exiles without someone expressing a desire to kill FIDEL CASTRO, or commenting on what great pleasure the news of his 10. | u Rien D903 cin i, i kD ee _ DoclId: 3227827051 Page i1
able RE: PLAN OF CUBAN EXILE LEADERS TO ASSASSINATE SELECTED CUBAN | — | : GOVERNMENT LEADERS death would bring to those who have been victims of his persecution. However, no source knew of any - with the possibility, means, or sufficient willingness to sacrifice - their own lives in order to carry out such a plot. PROPERTY OF FBI - This memorandum contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. 11, * — SECRET ss WA HW 54653 DBocld:322627051 Page 12