106 not include doing anything with those people. I have | | | | no interest in those people. al Mr. Triplett. Did you receive any favors or 7 presents from any? | Es | : The Witness. No. Never. oo a | . Mr. Triplett. Did anybody offer you any favors g 7 | ox presents? | | The Witness.. No. g | I would not be in this situation today, the < z 1d | way I am, if I did. Because I understand that people : 1 | who deal with them have good connections and I am, a , = 42 : throughout this whole thing with Watergate, in a é 13 | very very bad financial situation. All this publicity : Td ) since Watergate, with the JFK situation, have left : 13 me at a very very bad situation financially. : 1s Otherwise, I have had tremendous positions “OW | offerea me, but unfortunately because of the exposure 8 | that x have received throughout all of this, it has e IF | denied me really to earn a decent living. And if I 5 20 jo mob connections, believe me, then I would be all pal 2 Mr. Triplett. Have you ever heard of somebody iy Ww - i) a. } | ) | ‘called Stretch Rubin? | The Witness. Oh, yeah. Sure. } . t | Ww tay fo Mr. Triplett. Did. you have occasion at one time : ALDERSON REFSORTING COMPANY. INC. Docld: 32252529 Page 106 .
| | | The Witness. ‘oh, yes. In Santiago. ves. a fe Mr. Triplett. How did that happen? | 7 ° The Witness. Well, I was in ny. Jeep-with some | 3 a. of my bodyguards and I saw a commotion right near | “ -) | the Casa Grande Hotel. I stopped because .I heard | ce | thse 2 American raising a lot of hell ‘and so £6rth, 7 : 2] ana I stopped and I jumped out of my jeep between ug | my bodyguards. These were, Darbudas (phonetic). — | oa ' . H z 10 | I asked them what's | happening here? They said . | E HW | well, he's one of these gangsters here and. so. forth | | Sood aon i = 2 | and Rubin is hollerifa, you know, "They are. going ; a ce . : : 13 | to} kill me , they are going to shoot me." 7 | = ae So I went over: and says. wait a. minute, like | ne ; ’ ! : S| watts Ss the: problem here? | = Ce and he’ said “look I “just ‘Veft the business | ” 7 | over here, and he had tito. bags of money. I said, | : 8 | aia you steal anything, | or what? | He said, no. “He : = 17 | saia t checkea the slot machines. They had. a. | ft 5 doth room-at the casa Grande Hotel. : . ae a (S03 I told the Barbudas, I. says “Look “=r toa | WR “him, look, these people. are not going to kill you. I . oat says as a matter of fact I am going to take you with me, | Docld: 322525299 to save his life? - a . . | | | } you. know, so you will be all right. Ww, in So I told the-Barbudas, leave him alone... I am ' ALCERSON REF CRATING COMPANY, INC. Page 109
JI.[ going to take nim with me. ana. I told ‘him to. come. | vn 2] wien med “Whether I walked with hint someplace, ‘Or 2 Th cook him into the: ‘jeep with hones that is: what Ir dia. as = aie | rriplett: By the. way ir rT presume Stretch. 2° "s) would bea nickname. What” ‘was. Mr.” ~pubin''s actual name? | peur il S ed rr a —— an 8. 60 The Witness: Io do not. know. = | _ Triplett... ALL you know | is: “streten ‘Rubin?’ “ “the witness.” stretch Rubin, rights . nis Meplete. Bid: you ‘sabsequently see: Mrs “Rubin on occasion: after that? gt fla cet the Witness, yea. hir. Triplett. “Did he introduce you to’ any of his frienas?: oa Remember’, this is Santiago, Cuba. “the next time. REPORTERS BULLDING , WASHINGTON, D.C. / - ae ‘The Witness. o Yee oo | | SNe I ‘Saw him was _when I got. ‘to Havana and. they came over s Se a | can | . “to. ‘the ‘Air ‘Force: to See. “me because, I toLasthem I was” going to: Havana, T'was going to’ the AME Force, so “€hey came over. to the Air Force. to see me. And che. (900 7TH. STREET: #.| orousne ance another, person. over to ‘the Air. Force, which . Co : . lowasia Bynie uevine. Mr. | Triplett. Did he introduce you to Mr. Lévine ‘at that. ‘time? The Witness. Yes... Mr. Triplett. | Was there any purpose for the: | ALDERSON REF PORT ING COMPANT..ING..”. Docld: 322525299 ‘Page 110°
2NG2" (202) S5%-2345 — c, B, REPORTERS BUILDING,” HASHENGTON ’ MW. s 300 7TH STREET, Docld: 32252529 de w a . ' forces, especially with Fidel. ‘That day they came Sora on which T did because I saw them at. casinos. So I am . 111" _ introduction of Mr. Levine? The Witness. Yes. He was facinated with the fact -that I wasrian American officer with the Rebel out to see me, Fidel came in with a helicopter and he landed and Fidel saw me ‘at a distance, and ‘naturally they were there to see me; and Fidel. oA walked over with his entourage and saw me and gave ‘mé an embrazo, you know. So they were highly “impressed. The fact, you know, Fidel and here's this American, a Rebel officer. And Fidel left ‘after that. Mr. Triplett. Did Stretch Rubin introduce “you: to anybody else? the Witness. Well, from that time _- let's ‘see, this was in January. Then remember I didn't. to do with’ the ‘gambling at that time. Because it came” later... In February. — ‘But “in February, what Hymie did, and Stretch ‘both, ‘they said. I am going to introduce “you to some of the operators when you identity yourself to them, -not sure which casino it was. I: saw them at one ALDERSON REPORTING COMPANY, INC. ‘casino and naturally they introduced me to one of the 109 have anything to do with -- no, I did not have anything
i. ee, . | 110 Mr. Triplett. Who was that? tj managers who was operating the place. | | The Witness. I forget off-hand who it was. | | So they mentioned, this is Frank Fiorini. He 3 5 is Pidel's right-hand man. In charge of this. I mean, 2 6 ‘this is how this thing went around. So I got to know g 7 | whe was who, you know, and I made my report when I 5 5 | got back to my office with Pasternita, because they ; ¢ really didn't know who was who and so forth. Because a i = 10 | many of the documents that they had concerning, you Z ! || know the ministry concerning the casinos, many of them wi . . . . = 2 | were missing. So we had to go ahead and find out s : 5 i3 | who was involved in the Hilton operation, who was = © |Anvolved in the Nationale, who was involved in the = e 13 Capri, who was involved in the thing. You know, we = \6 jnaa to go in and try to make a list of these things, ” 7 lot the people involved in the operation of the gambling S 4 : 18 | casinos. an ; ; - 19 i Mr. Triplett. Well, who were some of these = 20 || | | Ie people that you do recall that Stretch Rubin and Hymie Bee yvevane introduced you to? Yr 2 i The Witness. I think one of them was Santos “3 |trafticante. Let's see, at the Nationale I think Ihe introduced me -- who was the operator of the { . “ ‘Nationale -- McLeaney (phonetic) I think was the one ; | ‘ i i ALDERSON RESORTING COMPANY, INC. Docld: 32252529 Page 112
I iL at the Nationale. 2 | Mr. Triplett. Which McLeaney? 3 | The Witness. Mike McLeaney. He introduced me . | to Mike McLeaney and told Mike who I was. And I 7 :} to1a Mike, if you don't mind telling your people. 3 é |) that if 1 come here, or my inspectors. come here, be s 7] courteous with them because. this is the way it has 3 8 got to be with Fidel. It has got to be strictly < | legit and we are going to find out whether your z 10} slot machines -- well, there was no slot. machines -- E Ny but whether your roulette machines are working properly, : 12 | whether ; your dice tables, there is no loaded dice. & aq these: other things that I instructed the people a oS : wir was introduced to, at I was introduced by them... : 1s | a But they. were. impressing their people | that they knew me .. Especially. Stretch telling them that I saved ‘his life, you know. “It's one of those things. s.W ae = ae Mr. Triplett., Did he introduce you to anybody = | jjelse that you recall? = 2 The Witness. He introduced me to a number of : 4 : se people, — 7 Le ' ; ; . 7 . Pe? 2255 a oN: i Mr. Triplett. Considering these people you 23 | | “ “were § introduced to, other ‘than telling then that they 24 ‘had to keep their slot, machines: straight -— ae i 5 ao it Eo ‘The Witness. (Interposing) No slot machines now. if i Hl i i ALBERSON REPORTING COMPANY. INC. Docld: 32252529 Page “113
a “aon 7TH STREET, S.A. REPORTERS BUTLOING, PASHTNGTON, D.C. 20924 (202) $54-23N5 4 Bp, As, Ni _ Docld: 32252529 slot machines. Mr. Triplett. Okay, that their games eo _be legitimate, whatever. they were. - The Witness. Right. | <a oe eS ee yo services, if any, did you perform for these The Witness... For what people? — ‘Hymie Levine and.the people they introduced services: for’ them because I represented the _ the Cuban Government and that was it. ‘Mr. Triplett. . How did you. first meet Rothman? ae The Witness. There in Havana. Mr. Triplett. How did: you meet him? —" 4) nw Oo ‘Rubin or Hymie Levine. ns res) nm ~ . Phe Witness. ‘well, I never performed Government. Everything had to be a set way ' Because Fidel never. told them they could do the. thhad to Mr. Triplett. Other than that, what other people? “Mx. .friplett,°| ‘These: people, Stretch Rubin, you to? any — Cuban - for Norman: The Witness. Introduced by either Stretch | Mr. Triplett. What was the nature of your i “.{ associatiion with Mr. Rothman? | ‘The Witness. The same thing... Introduction, 2 | you know. | I was going to inspect the Casino and Igo forth. i L SS \ a, , ALDERSON REPORTING COMPANY, INC. Page 114°
t i lie, . Mr. Triplett. Did you ever perform services 2) tor ni at that time, or later? | The Witness. Perform services for Norman - | Rothman? z 3 ‘Mr. Triplett. Yes.- a a —- a | ao The Witness. I never worked for these people. Mr. Triplett. Have you ever met Joseph a | 20024 (202) a) OO Jj 9 The Witness. I don't know Joseph Shilmon. | Shilmon? | | { = ey. Mr. Triplett. Shilmon? a i Looe . = oli. The Witness. You mean Commandant: Schmone? | = 42 i Mr. Triplett. No, that's not the man we are «o . : : B13 | talking about. .. yee. 4 ' a 14 | How about Robert McKewon (phonetic) ?: ze | “The Witness. I don't know. The name sounds = '$ | familiar. I might have read it in books or something 447 | about McKewon. But I do not recall personally ever 2 3 | meeting him. a I}. , . z ie Mr. Triplett. Have you ever -met Dominic S | Bartone? ee _ The Witness. Oh, yes. Yes.° pee a _ (Mr. Triplett. When and where did you first on . | Meet him? ay ‘The Witness. At the Air Force Base. . He came. - | - . , 25 i } | t 4 | . : Fe the Air Force Base.. I think his people flew in | AL CERSON REECRTING COMPANY. INC. - Docld: 32275295299 Page 115
iy = i) ao with this big aircraft, you know. They ‘wanted 3 4 | -some ridiculous amount for it. I think it was. a four. g 7 | engine aircraft. And that is how I met Bartone. S g a | Mr. Triplett. “And have you had any associations 3 9 with Bartoné since then? a HH . . : ; ' = 1a The Witness. No. I met Bartone one other time a in exile, through the exile movement. | 3 i| . ; . * 12 7 ee Fee ree When you say in exile, you mean 5 13 [here in the. United ‘States? - = 4 = id : The Witness. :Here in the_ United States. 5 I Pertaining to’ equipment hecessszy to fight against 4 a nr may have met. him? E ee The Witness. I think I did one ‘time, with . in . = | ymie Levine. I'm not sure. I am pretty sure that S 20 | is the only way because otherwise on my own I never eee! | naa a connection with him. ae Mr. Triplett. So you were associating with 3. Hymie Levine after ‘your return to the United States? . Docld: 32252529 | in an experimental aircraft and landed at the Air 2 | Force Base -and they were trying to sell this aircraft to the Aix Force. And rT put more or less: a clout to + | it because a ‘said hey, what the hell are. we going to The Witness. Oh, when I came over here I ran “across Hymie Levine one time, yes. Hymie Levine at ALDTERSOM REFCRTING COMPANY. INC. Page 116:
“REPORTERS. BUTLDING, WASHINGTON, D.C. We 3. 360 7TH STREET, Docld: 32252529 20024 (202) S5%-2345 4: cee) ia Lo yO we ve “ on ¢ .- ine, t wot TA eee, . aa . cd so, . me ee Bo . x cee fe 8 “ Ves one time said this Dominic Bartone was, I forget, some office he had downtown or something, and I went with him at his office. ; wr. Triplett. Let me ‘make sure I have this’ straight. | | | You have seen Hymie Levine one time since you came back and on that one time ‘he probably took you -to see Dominic Bartone? The Witness. I am ‘almost sure it was Hymie Levine that took me to see Dominic Bartone. But -now Hymie Levine; over the past years, I have been ‘in touch with Hymie Levine and the reason for that. ‘is, Hymie came'here from Cuba himself and stayed - ‘here all these years. ‘And as,a matter of fact Hymie Levine did have “a stroke. “As a matter of fact I. took Hymie Levine | ‘to my home. Hymie Levine had dinner in my home and I liked Hymie Levine: I liked him. He was a nice ‘fellow. A nice old fellow. Mr. Triplett. Did you ever meet Sam Benton? The Witness. I don't recall Sam Benton. Mr. Triplett. By the way, did Norman Rothman ever offer you money to assassinate Fidel Castro? The Witness. No. Mr. Triplett. Never? 3 - ALDERSOM. REPORTING COMFANY, INC. 115
] ‘ 2 3 i ut a 2 N i o P wv 3 ~ os ro, 2 ~ Nn f ~ ~ a oe 3 = ™N - . Q so 8 G = («TG cS “ aa it ~ te = - 14 ae a) a 13 = = =. xs TA i, = 14 x Liaw 3 : oe = 2 = 8 - s a“ V7 Se nd t: ~ ‘= is iad me) z 13 Oe : ~ ec. = a S .20 21 4 si Si oe ey / Docld: 322525279 to ao: 116 The Witness. -No. Not to my knowledge. - Me. ‘Triplett. Have you ever met Charles Tourine? “the Witness. . Charles Tourine? ‘Yes, one of my inspections of the Capri. Yes. - . ore Triplett. Once, or more than. once? What ~was the nature of your. association with him? The Witness: Strictly casinos. Mr. Triplett. Have you seen him since you “returned to the United: States, or talked to him on the phone? | a i “The Witness. “No. - Mr. Triplett. “How about Dino Cellini over there Poe rn ‘in Havana?’ | ee er u. ‘ . elt we uae ‘ oa a a Nie, The Witness. I ran into Dino.one time on 36th ‘Street: when hé ‘wae buying somé. bread, and this is going back a few years. 7 | Mr. Triplett. So you've only seen him once. since you have been back in the United States? ‘The Witness. Once that I know of. Mr. rriplett. Have you talked to him on the phone? : | | os | ; aa ' The Witness. Have I spoke~to him on the phone? Dino Cellini? ‘[-don't recall. | | “Mr. Triplett. How about Santos Trafficante? Have you seen or. heard from him since you returned to ALDERSON REPSCATING COMPANY, INC. Page 118
p.c. {INGTON , Fag ov Ss. 300 7TH STREET, rr fh AA Docld: 32252529 2002" (202) S5n-2345 . REPORTERS -BUTLDTNG, WA Ro $e in Page 119 the United States? . The Witness. ALL of these years I may have run into him again on 36th Street one time. Mr. Triplett. Was that an accidental meeting, or. did you plan to meet him there? é The Witness. Accidental. . 7 Mr. Triplett. \ Have you talked to him on the | phone? - | a oe the Witness. Not that I recall. | Mi. Triplett. Approximate ly when was it that n | you ran into Santo Trafficante? 12 | The Witness. oh, this was years ago. I don't 2 | recana just about what year it was. Going back many 14 | years. ago. 1s |. Mr. Triplett. “How about Donald. Edward Browder? Ip _ The Witness. I don't recall Browder. | an Mr. Triplett: “Joe Marola (phonetic)? 4 a “The Witness. I ran into Marola two or three 20 | | Mr. Triplett. when did you first meet him and 22 i . The Witness. rt don't recall, really, when I it re me oe | first met’ Joe Marola. 2" Mr. ‘Triplett. You do not recall when you met 25 | him? Did you neet him in Cuba or aid you meét him in | . - a a ae” ALDERSON REPORTING COMPANY, ING. . -
D.c,. We s 300 7TH STREET, Docld: 32252529 20024 (202) $$4~-2905 WASTPLHGTON , REPORTERS BUTLDING, fe tn 63 Page 121 St "possibly... people that we have been discussing, when is thé ‘liable to run into them accidently, you know... oer an ee) ER ee te BL ae how, did’ you meet him?,.y oe: “the Wi tness.. ‘In.Cuba.. ; eogeb hye poy em Mr. “Triplett. And have you seen or talked to | him since you returned ‘to the United States? | The Witness. I think I run into him one time, Mr. Triplett. About .when was that? The Witness. On the Beach, I guess. I don't know. I'm going back many years ago now. 7° “Mr. Triplett. Okay. | “The Witness. And that was accidental. . “Mr. Triplett. This last approximately 12 ‘or 13 people we talked about -- it. might be more, ee do not.have the exact count -- this last group of. last.time you saw or talked to any of them? °* “the Witness. Years. Believe me. And I°dén't ‘gécall what year, where ‘at or what. It has been years. I. go to the > Beach quite often and that is whee’ they stay at. And. if you! run out to the Beach you ‘are ~ oy + oie. 7 Triplett. You go to the Beach quite.often? , The Witness. haven't been at the Beach. for awhile, you‘know, put I used to go quite often to the Beach. vhs ALIERSIN & RES FORT NG OS OMBANY, he Lore 119
120! ry . 7 -Mr. Triplett. Have.you ever had any associations | : with the Drug Enforcement Administration? The Witness. Yes. Mr. Triplett. - And what type of associations? “The Witness. Well, while I was in jail, just ‘before I got out of jail on the Watergate thing, I | a i | + ce ae _ pe in the Dade County jail, where I got released here. 20024 (202) $54-2545 on A friend of mine came to see me and wanted to get in ¢ * | touch with the CIA. And I- looked at him and I said, a=) so ; . ‘ | . AG Ht you got to be crazy. ‘I am in jail. How am I going SHTHGTON , < re | | to get in touch with the CIA for you? ‘I said, tell | ‘me what it is about? . we » 2 He said well; Frank,. it is National security | business ‘outside ‘the country.: os tr said well, you are going to have to wait REPGRTERS BUTLDTNG, Wa until I get out.’ Which; in a few days I did get out ras c Ss _ “i here: So when I did get out he made contact with me over at my home. His name was Jerry Bucanhan. Mr. Triplett. ‘Jim Bucanhan's brother? -  9n 7TH STREET; o I zi J Ny | Jerry Bucanhan. vu , “oN ie So I made contact with a Mr. McVaine (phonetic). xed _Y { | | oO The Witness. Yes. Jim Bucanhan's brother. | ' | Mr. Triplett. What was his first name? Do you | recall? © | ‘ The Witness. No.. I forget his first name. There! | a ) - 3 ALQENSOM REPORTING COMPANY, ING. Od  Docld: 32252529 Page 122
D.c, TON, REPORTERS BUTLDING, WASHING Docld: 32252529 HH . i 2002" (202) S5N~-2345 ww ad = = n Faas - Cc = Gel } | i te da in ine} tn “Senate Watergate Committee, which I had to go to 121. is only one McVaine because that's a code name that they use. There's only one agent that uses that particular code name. | | a Mr. Triplett. - Okay. The Witness. And in the process of that, making contact with McVaine, I got a call from the Washington, D.C. and I was questioned again over the same thing just like I am going over the same thing here, the Rockerfeller Committee and so forth — questioned me. And then finally the punch line. came, © have you been in touch with CIA since you have been out of jail? And I said, yes, I have. Who? And I said well; it pertained to National security business. So why don't you get in touch with these people and find out, you know, because I do not even know what ‘kind of National security business it is. .I have not even had time to make the personal contact, you know. So I was instructed by the CIA stationed here that any of the Watergate people could not have any personal contact with the local CIA stationed here. Any contact with CIA would have to be done through ‘Langley, Virginia. -So they slamed the door in my face here. ALCERSON REPORTING COMPANY, INC. Page 123 -
1304 i i le j : | fon oc t 3 20 { a} Soa i Pe a4 aa a eae mo | 26 | | 28 | Docld: 32252529 _ 20024 (202) SSH-2345 REPORTERS BUTLDING, WASHINGTON, B.C. ‘So then I had to go through a friend of mine. who I knew had direct contact with cia. So I turned “my friend over to another intelligence organization a. nN ; ‘ de _— ~ an oO to make | contact with them. Mr. Triplett. ‘What other intelligence - organization? The Witness. U.S. Customs Invéstigations. Mr. Sturgis. “My question was, have you ever had any. ‘contact’ with the Drug Enforcement Administration? The Witness. Yes. This is what leads up to it. | Mr. Triplett. All. right. Keep, going then. ‘The Witness. So we had a meeting with the agent in the car, which was tape recorded and Mr. Bucanhan was with me. And Mr. Bucanhan spelled out everything.” ,It had to:do with international drug eos smuggling. . a ‘so ‘T ‘told: ‘thein, OE says, welt, 1 am turning him over to you people because that is out of my line, which I did. So a meeting was set up with U.S. Customs and the DEA for. Jerry ‘Bucanhan to do what he had to do with. ‘them. And that is “it. ALDERSON REPORTING COMPANY. INC. | 124 Mr. Triplett. Well, this is very interesting, Mr. Triplett. ‘And is that the only contact you
3n02u (202) SSh-2945° alc, SHTHGTON | WAS REPORTERS BUTLDENG, iH i) 200 7TH STREET, ae | 7 Ll am not registered with ‘those people. personally. have shad. with DEA? oe “The Witness. OYSs.. “Mell, that and a few. » ‘5 -, Me Boas re yd things. ‘But: ‘that Ais! de more ‘of less. other - Me welt, al Seu ‘aripléte., other” things. ‘What | few other things? Have you, been ‘investigated? The Witness. . No, not’ as an informant because tee But there are- ‘other people ‘that tT did, have made contact. with these - |: péopie; to. work with these: people. oo Mry triplett.. | Are > you familiar with the name ~ | Kenneth Bernstein? The Witness. Yes. 7 Mr. Triplett.” ana what is your association. with him? . . os a phe Witness. 1 have no personal association — with him. : This is where Jerry. Bucanhan comes <in “because he worked on. that case. .Mr “Triplett.” Bernstein was. with. DEA? | the Witness. Bernstein, was - at ‘the beginning, ‘not with DEA, ‘but because of. the investigation that. Jerry Bucanhan was’ doing | as an undercover agent “€or “ DEA and- U. S. Customs, this is. where. Bernstein at a. [later date was recruited by DEA. and. so forth. You a would have to:: Look: at. ‘the record on that’ because I ‘this was ‘an Jerry was not too: much” involved in ‘that. SMBANY. INC. Docld:32252529 Page 12500 oe aa a o ee are re (123
Bucanhan situation. ~~ Mr. Triplett. Are you familiar with the name 4< The Witness. Certainly. Yes. | i 3 Steve Czukas? © | : Sj Mr. Triplett. and what is.your association 2 é | or knowledge of him? = 7 “the Witness. Steve Czukas is a U.S, Customs 7 . g 3 investigator. ; | oe 3 ) ee ae, Triplett. “Is that also the person you. e | -) ce z 10 | contacted with respect to Customs? 1] ae “the Witness. Yes. a | — oo, a & 12 | a Mr. Triplett. “Have you had any other. ‘dealings 5 13 | with mr. Czukas other than this one you related? = . : = 14 The ‘Witness. “Any time that any information. te ; yt TO e 13 L-yes, ‘T have, pertaining ‘to information conséiiing = “| Giguueae a ‘fete “a ‘ot of it was. dote = go" ye a 7 | by Cuban intelligence. and. SO forth, in order that BF ; er ; . g 8 . CIA’ ‘would have a hand in ate This was internatiénal. a = 1s | that. they would be advised of it through Steve .Czukas. 5 oe | Mr. Triplett. Now when, you talk about" ‘Cuban: SH || terrorists, are you talking about any cuban. terrorist, pa 22 or. just pro-Castro Cuban terrorists? Loo oa _ The Witness. I am talking about the. pro- “Castro 24 | Cuban terrorists because I am not aware of all the terrorists activity that's going on in this area. — ay ALDERSON REPORTING COMPANY, INC. : Docld:32252529 Page 126" °° |: 124 |
202" (202) $54-2345 cy yy ‘ Docld: 32252529 i 10 customs or FBI or CIA. He was” my contact with the | hy | a 300-2TN STREET, S.W: REPORTERS BUTLDING, WASHINGTON, ‘D, business of investigations or. anything like that at. ny 125 tame I am “not. in that. business. T am not in the co | : | the, present, time. But any time IT would gather some. ve “information ‘through friends of mine, like CIA fellows 5} who 4 were Cubans, this, information; if I felt that it sf-was essential to. the Government, then I would turn | eertain péople™ over, nake introductions to’ certain people ‘to ‘Steve Caukas who = in turn, if they had to - oo SSS re go. ahead and take them to. either the DEA Or. ‘U~ S. ‘Federal Agencies to turn these people and the ‘information over to them and I’ kept out of it. Because I maintained to them that much of the drug “amaggling in this sountry here, which ds slowly; ‘Castro. is “behind ite A lot of the érug smuggling is) Ras something ‘to do with the. terrorist activities | that has been. going on here. . ‘so thése.t things F: am concerned of, which ‘I. ‘consider. National security to. this country. And because r myself, would not want: to ‘be, directly involved in any of. these things as. far as, you, knows being the, informant oF anything like that. I made 4 “ the connection “for these peopie to go ‘see Steve, go. ee sée thisy, go see, that Get vin touch with him, . and “Ww ty then ‘they were, on their own. I Kept: out “of it. sew ye ALSERSQN REPORTING COMPANY, ING. Page 127) 1
20024 (202) SSN-24945 a On aM, s Docld: 32252529 REPORTERS BUILDING, WASHINGTON, 308 7TH STREET, no. be ray ; fF. ~ ty Page | ‘Mr. Triplett. Okay. ‘Again, ‘why did you use Steve Czukas as a go- between? The Witness. Because he had contacts with CIA. Mr. Triplett. To your knowledge was he a CIA agent or employee? The Witness... Steve Czukas? To my knowledge, Ido not know. The only thing I know-about Steve -Czukas, he is a very influential man with the U.S. Customs for many years and even though his capacity is not as an official of that, but hé holds great ‘influence and personally: I like him. Tremendous ‘man. Mr. Triplett.., are you familiar with. Cesar Diosdado? | | “The Witness. I have heard of him. I am not sure if tam familiar with him or not. | K, Mr. Triplett: Have you had any dealings with 7? ‘the Immigration and ‘Naturalization Service? : * . eg, eee * DLR et ‘. The Witness. Yes. -, Mrv. Triplett:: what type .of dealings was that? The Witness. I had my citizenship taken away from me ‘in the early '60's when I came from Cuba. .It was because of all the attempts against. Castro and i my activities against Castro, which I did not know at that time the American Government: did not want these MLCERSON REPORTING COMPANY, INC. 128 126
127 | 5 rl £ no this, the’ Government. put. pressure on me. I went with Marcus | Diez Lanz to go to Guatemala ae : de to. ‘speak with: President: ‘vai gotas® in ‘Guatemala. And. evidently, ‘the ‘Cuban: Intelligence Service found out 7: activities to persist. So. naturally, not. knowing §54-2345 ° | that. Diez Lanz and. | myselé were ‘there and we were = i x 7 | eating dinner and here it! comes over the television - 3 / in the dining room, it showed my picture and Diez ¢ 5 | Lanz' picture, that we were there for the United z ld) States,. which was not true, for the United States I i Government, arranging for bases in Guatemala to invade OR Cuba. co 1 : = i , qo 1 So that evening at our hotel, the Chief > f a 4 | ineeniigence, Officer of President ‘Yaigoras ‘told. | an t i] we ‘ . 1 & zt s Is i us that for all. concerned, “it would be much better = i ae, Lo : . . ; : “| that we leave Guatemala becacuse of the international | we: . oe ‘ e . 4 , * ‘ . . - "| pressure that was going on. by ‘our presence there and | e bed talking with President Ydigoras. So naturally . | = o = aa we ‘left. S 20 | . , ee oe | Marcus Diez Lanz decided on his return trip 403 . i to the United States we would go by way of Mexico in order to arrange ‘for. his reentry, or whatever he had to ‘do, and people he had to see in Mexico,- and I would leave Guatemala directly to Miami. w ta When I got to Miami I was detained going through cod . _° ALQERSOM RESORTING COMPANY, INC. . Docld: 32252529 Page 1279.
“128 | the gate at Customs and Immigration and they told wv me that It would have ‘to prove -- evidently my name was on the black: list. there, and ‘they grabbed me, - - took me to-.a side room and. they said-you ‘are going to have to prove that you are an Amercian citizen. $54 -2345 . “4a te we. a a I. said, you have got to be kidding. This is my S 7 | passport. “Well, we can not accept it.” They were s 8 \: busting my ase. Excuse my language. ‘That is exactly a 9 |. what they were doings: And I got. very angry at them:. a i . z Aa Because there was some “shit in Washington, going on = ui | pecause’ « of me and Diez’ banz being in Guatemala with a * 12 President Ydigoras. . 5 i3 | $0 they told me, they said, ‘we are going to pt sees you. “back to Guatemala. I says look, r am an. E American citizen, . I. have my. passport. In. order for | . ie | me to deta a- ‘passport. 1 have to have my birth certificate. “ | T was. ‘born. in this country. and” you bastards are hot | e is | going. “6 deport me ‘anyplace because if you deport: me | E ? | pack to- Guatemala, a ‘will’ éneak in the. country. What | 5 20 are you going to ao?: You ave going to have to put. : 7 a cet} me: in prison. | i ba? 22 ie . Well, they locked my ass up. Would you believe | am ite. they did. They Lécked my ass up. Right here 7 a ‘in this Post Office here. I got out 30 minutes later. © 25 | - So ; Then I had a series of things I. had to go .to on N RESORTING COMPANY, ING: Docld: 32252529 Page 130 |
Z 3 | he says well, Mr. Sturgis is no longer a citizen of 5 sf the United States. Here is a paper, a document signed. a 7 by the Secretary. of State taking away Mr. Sturgis’ é i nee . . . Well, this little Guinnie (phonetic) here ‘blew: pope stack.’ And I. said, _all‘you queers up in | g 11 | Washington, D.C. in the, State Department -- believe a3 mike on record, on tape there. And Tr apologized ‘to moo = in Mr. White. And I looked at that Federal prosectitor fn Da I says, you, and I said if you fall into it with : is those queers up there that you represent, and believe = is | me, I was so upset that my lawyer was holding me down. a 7 | And I used’ every filthy word in the language. ‘Take z aa my citizenship away? Illegal. E. a ae contacted Mr. George. ‘Smathers, Senator Smathers 5 wl me. Smathers eSntactaa & the State ‘Department mnd wrote ame tte saying you, ymean to t tell: me, at the stroke pe’ 22 po a-pen, that you took ‘the citizenship of ‘this World 2 war II hero -- I don't know if I'm a hero or not “ “lat a stroke of your pen?. - | as bo , Docld: 32252529 129 '.| Biscayne Boulevard at the Immigration there with Mr. nw White who is the presiding officer for the Immigration, 3° not knowingly ‘every time I had to go there, the ‘Government, with the Federal Attorney, ‘popped it out, He says, well, you know, documents are put in MSOM REPORTING COMPANY, INS Page 131 - of
130 + _ front of me and I just sign them. He says, is that. a | put a document in front of you and you will take my da citizenship away from me. He said well, no, it's i : right? He says then I, as a Senator, somebody can ‘ | { | {not like that. And he said, bull shit it is‘not like SSu~2345 - that. . re é i oo _ That is exactly what happened. Well Senator | anes (202) Smathers told me, he says, Frank: -- cooked steak for 4 6) mé at his house with his apron on, and- cooked steak | for me and Pedro Diez Lanz -- he says don't. worry pabout it. He says, if they do not give you your. | citizenship back, Frank, I will put a special order in. to the Congress ‘or the. Senate and you will get your | BUTLBING , ASHIINSSTOR , citizenship back. And I got it back eventually. But can you. imagine the Secretary of State — BN PGETERS _ Ley signing my citizenship away and that dirty bastard, ‘4 an when the war was going, was out screwing while I was fighting and giving. my blood for this country? ‘Mr. Rubin.. Okay. Now let's just answer the questions. ~_ vat Rowe = = r rd = 4 € ¢ gS. Lenker " The Witness. Good. But I want it on record I. think about Rte ‘ pa) 4 | b 9ecause ‘I am still hot at the State _ Department. Pag os - . oe Mr.. Rubin, Cool. off and let's go. ed oo _ . { phe: ‘Witness. I got hot about it. The more le . 25 5 ALS EN St ON REFCRT ING COM2aMY, INC. _DocId: 32252529 mand aah DE ee meses tee napeteneitemetpacmennetine eae neces cree:
Docld:32252529 Page 133 — REPORTERS BUILDING, WASHTNGTON, D.C, 20024 (202) 654-2345 SM. gan 7TH STREET, os) a . 1960" s? 1960. Mr. Triplett: - all right. oo The. Witness. “This was before the Bay of £ Pigs. etore « everybody, got! the. bases. ‘in Guatemala and Nicaragua. You know what I mean? “So.it had to be -- T would say exactly 1960. . “Mr. Triplett. _ Have you had any ‘other associations with the Immigration. and Naturalization * Service? 7 | “Phe Witness. I.do not think so. Not that I Yecall. a on | | oo Mr. Triplett. How about the united states. Secret Service? | | | - } ‘The Witness. No. Not that I recall. Mr. Triplett. — Alcohol,: Tobacco and Firearms? _ a . aD. ~, : irae : The Witness. Not that, L recall. : I mean they eos P win used to run‘ ‘after me: “years ago, you know» “the ATA --— Doe kag! + 43 . Alcohol, ( flobicto, = Pe wf Mr ‘Triplett. ‘And Firearms. The ‘witness: Fivearhs; “The ATF. Years ago, 4 ‘you know; because of my activities against Castro.. But. otherwise not. that. I remember. vf I. did it was’ ALDERSOM R REPORTING COMPANY, INC. “431 | Mr, Triplett. Was that early 1960's or late The Witness. “I don't know. -It had to be early |
¢ “REPORTERS BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D.C. SW. iad aj a =. = n . “sz = ~ < oe oy 20024 (202) $5%-2345 ia So ee ee a a Docld: 32252529. Page 134~ years ago and I do not recall. officer. in Norfolk, Virginia, have you had any , have ‘Cuban friends: “OF mine: chatarally; and we want to know what: is” going on. vand’ in. okaée to. “know what is “going’ on. now, this. big investigation that is. going ‘on now. Naturally ‘the people, I received information that these pedple were’ “behind certain killings here. “matter of fact: this Salvadoré, however you Pronounce is a top Cuban: ‘Géneral in Cuba.. and this guy -- guy is a millionaire, see. In. exile, coming here, Mr. rriplett. Aside from you, being a police associations with any. local law enforcement agencies? ‘The Witness. Here? Mr. Triplett. Here, or anywhere in the country? The Witness. Well here, organized crime: -- tw going on, we “have contact with everybody, you “know. : . avd t dy Because. that is, how. we. pick’ “uP information. *- é + For instance this WFC Corporation, what is. and we suspect them of being Castro agents. As a his last. name, either his brother ‘or ‘his first cousin . look at me. “Look at iny bank account, and here this dirty bastara come in from. Cuba into. exile and. the playing footsies. He's a millionaire. Me, I am dying to make a living around here. You know. But. that is the way do, you know. «They want to play spy ALCERSON REPORTING COMPANY. INC.
E — oe FO 133 get angry at the Government because the Government and they want to play their little games. And I e all this and the Government don't do a-God- de . Damned thing about it. And they run around with itheir big yachts and their Cadillacs and people | | : | ! | { . | S| dike ne got to struggle in this world. oe | | | | | | | 7 | Mr. Triplett. Let's take a’ five minute | break. a | ey (A short recess was taken.) to | Mr. Triplett. "okay, let's get started again. " At this point, Mr. Sturgis, we would Like cy “to just make a record of your employment history. . | from the time of 1952 when you: got a discharge“.from | the United States army to date. i ‘Do you have a record of that available?” Is | . The Witness. To date -- let me make this © have this newspaper card. signed by the Sheriff of “Dade ‘County. Show it-to Mr. Fonzi. || tecord, if my Attorney will look’ at this also -5 I - Mr. Triplett. Let. the record reflect that’ i 300 7TH STREET, S.W. REPORTERS BUTLDING, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20024 (202) $S4-2345 _ s Mr. Sturgis is showing us a Dade County Public. aa AY | Safety Department News Media Card indicating he | is a news reporter for Elexpresso, which. is a |. | newspaper. . The Witness... Spanish newspaper, yes. | WALDERSON. REPORTING COMPANY, ING. - DoctId: 322529529 Page 135°
: : Mr. Triplett. Okay. Why don't I advise you | 2 | of: what we know. a 2 | ee ‘You got out of: the Army in 19527 7 The Witness. Yes. | | zs S : Mr. Triplett. And from "52 to 1954 you were eS 6 [a part owner and manager of the Top Hat ‘night club §. 7 “in: Virginia Beach? | : a ° | The Witness. Yes, sir. | S oy a Mr. Triplett. | Did you have any other employment. z 10 asco that period of '52 to '54? z n | a The Witness. Well, before ‘that 1 owned a bar ls East. Main: Street. And T an trying to _Femember ‘the - B03 | name of the bar But’ it: is ‘there. because I had to it /be registered, . You. know, with the city; in order to. & 13 | have the . license.- rr’ | : & I Mr. ‘Triplett. All. Fight. >” ‘ | a After 1954, what aia’y you do. for’ employnent? A 7 The Witness.» I think I worked with a steel | E ' lcompany » building a - gasoline storage tank, Bethlehem a 3 * | seat, building storage ‘tanks. ‘I worked real estate. wank was a real estate salesman in. Norfolk. i Mr. Triplett. “Were you on Salaried employment | _ jin these jobs? 1 The-Witness. I believe so, yes. Mr. Triplett. . During the year 1955, did you -have - ALDERSCN REPORTING COMPANY, INC. Docld:32725275299 ° Page 136