(404-10133-10341] . / oO CONFIDENTIAL 24 June 1956 MEMORANDUM ¥FOR:--Deputy Director of Central Intelligence SUBJECT 2-MAHEU, Robert a, | . - a 1. 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 ' gangater-type action. The mission target was the-Howidation-c7> . Fidel Castro, ° 3. Because of its extreme sensitivity, only a small group waa 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 oificials. Certain TSD and Commo personnel partici- pated in the initial planning stages, but were not witting of the | purpose of the mission. 4. Robert A. Maheu was contacted, briefed generally on . the project, and requested to ascertain if he could develop an en- tree into the gangster elements as the first step toward accome plishing the desired goal. 5. Mr. Maheu advised that he had met one Johany 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 wag in fact a member of the clan, he undoubtedly had connections leading into the Cuban gambling interests. CONFIDENT) a7: omen - = me uae super ran Exefegst tre actvsstic ctassizicp sy PLBZEH 94 e-¥ 76 EXEMPT FRO CiNERAL DECLASSIFICATION SCHEDULE OF 8.6. stare, PNEMeTION CATEGORY: § s3().@) sore {al (siecle one or mere) AUTOSIASICALLY DECLASSIFIED ON Gowan Qvaded to con Tra (anlean impossible, insert date oF event) Snr poms, [sian st bead [)
14-00000 § $3043, . AUTURAUILALLY DECLASSIFIED ON 8 ea! CLASSIFIED BY OL EXEMPT FROY GINT RSL DECLASSIFICATION SCHEDULE Grit. te: (aaless impossible, insert date or event} — “ONDE ay #d 6. Maheu was asked to approach Roselli, who knew Maheu a3 a personal relations executive handling domestic and foreign accounts, and tell him that he had recently been retained by a client who represented several internxtional business firms which were suffering heavy financial losses in Cuba as a result of Castro's action. They were convinced that Castro's removal wag the answer to their problem and were willing to pay a price of $150, 000 for its successful accomplishment. It was to be made clear to Roselli that the U. S. Government was not, and should not, become iware of this operation. ¢%. Ths pitch was made to Roselli on 14 Septernber 1960 at the Hilton Plaza Hotel, New York City. His initlal reaction wag to .void getting involved but, through Maheu's persuasion, he agreed to introduce him to a friend, Sam Gold, who knew the “Cuban crowd." Roselli made it clear he did not want any money for his part and believed Sam would feel the Same way. Neither Ly of these individuals w#h&ver paid out of Agency funds. \ 8. During the week of 25 September, Mzheu wag introduced to Sam who wags staying at the Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami Beach. “Eis tnittal imorossion of Sancwas that of a2 hard; uncouth indi- vidualwwh6 looked and-acted lik: 1 common ‘run-of-the-mill hoody lum... However, his living accommodations at the-hotel-belied— thig, zs did the-fact that Maheu learned Sam was under periodic. surveillance by the FBI.) It was 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 photographea of both of these individuals in the Sunday supplemental "Parade, " They were identified as Momo Salvatore Giancana and Santos Trafficant, respectively. 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 latter, the Cosa Nostra bosa 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 some type of potent pill, that could I PF9 tf VE tern ?, TRANS TION CATEGORY: 7 (0) (alrde one ee more 2 CONFIDENTIAL $e,
74-00000 cLassirics sY OS3SSGY @Iyeey oe EXENPT FAQ CUATAR* -L DECLASSIFICATION Aiton. vanes 2 DECLASSIFIED ON Cowngvedad. Fo conden tia. (unless impossibie, insert date ar event) Ba tseae & RP , aa CONFIDENTIAy be placed in Castro's food or drink, it would be a much more effective operation. Sam indicated that he had a prospective nominee in the person of Juan Orta, a Cuban official who had been receiving kickback payments from the gambling interests, who still had access to Castro and was dn a financial bind. 10. Cornelius Roosevelt, ‘Chief, TSD, was consulted and assigned les develop a pill that had the elements of rapid solubility, high lethal content, and little or no traceability. Six of these items were produced and, after being checked out for their effectiveness by Dr. Edward M, Gunn, three pills were ultimately turned over to Sam for the mission. Neither TSD nor Dr. Gunn w$ briefed on the ultimate use of the pills. ll, Joe delivered the pills to Orta. ter 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 inderendent operation. He was told that the private interests-backing the project did not want the U. S. Government and, particularly the CLA, to know of their involvement. (So far as this 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 requested $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 wers retrieved. SUP TION CATEGORY: 74 ay (euels one of mors)
14-00000 sat NTIAL . @ 16. Of significant interest was an incident which involved a request levied by Sam upon Maheu\and now shapes up as a potential flap.) " se EX€igeT poo § 56ci;, AUTonn,, Ctassizten sy OS -~ * is! Ccarcle one or mere) Cenvevee ¢ “ECLASSIFLED ON Csalesa impossibie, ing SChEbyiz o- BECCASSIFICATION “@ At the height of the project negotiations, Sam expressed concern about-his-girlfriend,-Phyllis McGuire;—who -he-learnad-was-getting much atten- tion Trom Dan Rowan-while, hoth wexe.hooked-at a Lag-Vepras titphtclub, (Rowan,.at-that_time-a-réla- tive ly-unknown.-c omedian;~is now. a-partierin R6wan and Martin, the ‘summer “replacement-for_thea Dean Martin coast-tq-coast.T show.) Sam asked Maheu to put a bug in Rewan!'s room to determina the ex- tent of his-intimacy-with Miyy-"MtGuire. , Maheu “tohd Sam-he- didn't have thefacilities, whereupon: Sam threatened to-leaye-Miami'to g6 to Vegas and — take-care- of the-matter himself: In ordarto pre- vent this, | Maheu contacted Edward Dubois, a Florida investigator, and-asked him to handle the job.f ~- | _ Dtstead lof ingtaithrg a bug-in the-xoom, the technician _placed_atap_on the phone, which*ob- viously did mot sarve Sam!'s-purposé. ' The techni-~ cian involved in the assignment was discovered in _ the process, arrested, and taken to the Sheriff's office for questioning. Aftemhe tailedNio-veacth ee Dubois.by telephene,/he called Maheuat-the _ ii. ea Kentiworth Hotel, Miami, and 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 1952, the Director of Security briefed the Attorney General, Robert Kennedy, on the circumstances leading up to Maheu's involvement in the wiretap. At our re- quest, prosecution was dropped, SP VRY 5 a SP TION CATEGORY: ConGhea tes ert date or event)
74-90000 dun 4, ee ed : 16. OF significant interest was an incident which involved @ requast levied by Sam upon Maheul and now shapes upasa potential flap."] . a 2 Ne At the height of the projact negotia . &Xpressed concern gine a a ions, Sam ee oc & ‘to put ine the ex- tent off .Maheis “Et Sam he-didw't have the facilities, whopeupon- ° Sam threatened to leave Miamtto $6 to Vezas and fake-care-of-the-matte® himself li order té7 pre~_ vent this, }h Mahau contacted-Edwarg Dubois, a Florida investigator, and-asked him.to handle tha _ Jéstead of inatalting a bug"in the-xoom, the. technician placad a tan on the phone, wahickob- . viously did not serve Sam!s purpose,” | The techni- cian involved-in the assignment was discovered in the process, arrested, and taken to the Sheriff's ~ office for questioning. Afterhe Seach eet Dy e,fhe called Mahefat-the 2s ~ .. Kenilworth Hotel _Miami> and informed him that . ae -~ he had been detained by the police. This callwag —— 7: - 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 1982, the ' ‘Director of Security briefed the Attorney General, Robert Kennedy, on the circumstantes leading up to Maheu's involvement in the wiretap, At our re- | Guest, prosecution was dropped, as . Loon 4 CONFIDENTIAy CLassirten sy Of ZZ iM hr scnitet Fa oR EL DECLASSIFICATION gms O | 4. SUMPTION CATEGORY, AGT. * 4.) (etrele ene o¢ more) ws thon ¥ ZECLASSIFIED ON Bringrated ths Cualess . “ges $a pessibie, iWaert date og eveat}
14-00000 — Se CONFIDENT,  BBSSEE NTIAL 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. Tha first article appeared in the Chicaco Sun-Times written by staff writer, Sandy Smith, ‘and had as its headline: CIA Sought Giancana Help for Cuba Spying. It relates that tha 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 Lag 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 ona of you!" Sam allegedly stated that, after Castro's rigs 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. Sam said he had frienda on both Sides, but no clout. ‘That was it. 17. Roselli was introduced to James P, O'Connell, of thig Office, who was identified to him as an employee of Robert A, Maheu, Associates. Over the several months of close contact be~ tween these two individuals, Roselli began to speculate ag to O'Connell's trus 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 CLA wes never mentioned to him, it is Mahen's belief he eventually sus- pected the Agency was the power behind the operation, classifica sy 2S 3 o? Soingeraded focon€frdlenfrat t Cauless impetsibls, insert date or event) EXEMPT FRO C*" UAL CECLASSIFICATION . { SCHFOULE QE E.t °. ° | LNEMPTION CATECORY: 5 hoe my 4 § sect), - ..4 (circle one or mora) CONFIDENTIAL AUTUMAG. la LY DECLASSIFIED ON ‘ a : cen ter . ite # bat : a9 . $2 9% ey com tomy
mE CONFIDENT: 18. In May 1962, because of Mr. O'Connell's assignment to an overseas post, it was decided to turn Rogelli over to Mr, William Harvey, who was at that time Chief, Task Force W. Flarvey was introduced as William Walker, It is not known whether Roselli ever became aware of Harvey's true name.. Howard J. Osborn Director of Security crassirien BY OLAZFY — FIFPAW 96 EXEMPT FROM O-LURAL DECLASSIFICATION SCHEDULE OF E.G %1 :., iXEMPTLION CATEGORT: 6 § 5B(1), (2) °3. at (s) (circle one or more) AUTOMATICALLY DECLASSIFIED ON EF \oe 2353-3 down Graded Eo Con Erp dlem tral ae Cine (ualess impossible, insert date or eveat) = oe WOT CONFIDENTIAL