JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION FORM Seg eee eee eee + AGENCY, INFORMATION AGENCY CIA RECORD NUMBER 104-10103-10174 RECORD SERIES JFK AGENCY FILE NUMBER 80TO01357A DOCUMENT INFORMATION AGENCY ORIGINATOR FBI FROM FBI TO FBI TITLE WITHHELD DATE 04/08/1977 PAGES 30 SUBJECTS INTELLIGENCE VECIANA INTERVIEWS DOCUMENT TYPE PAPER CLASSIFICATION TOP SECRET RESTRICTIONS 1B 1C ; CURRENT STATUS RELEASED IN PART PUBLIC - RELEASED WITH DELETIONS DATE OF LAST REVIEW 07/22/93 COMMENTS JFK36 F29 1993 .07.22.09:51:41:870530 THIS IS A DUP OF 104-10102-10198. THE DOCUMENT CONSISTS OF TWO FBI REPORTS: 23 PAGES DATED 8 APRIL 77, AND 7 PAGES DATED 12 APRIL 77. Page count is correct, Pa [R] - ITEM IS RESTRICTED 104-10103-10174 HW 50529 Docld:32357039 Page 1
TOP SECRET ‘ FEDERAL BUREAU OF “INVESTIGATION WASHINGTON, D.C, CUBAN INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES Two: reports of interviews at San Juan, Puerto Rico, on April 8 and 11, 1977, with an individual in recent contact with the Cuban Intelligence Service are attached. This individual is of continuing operational interest to the FBI and.it is requested that FBI concuyrence be obtained prior to initiating any action based on this information. Warning Notice - Sensitive Source and Methods involved, No foreign dissemination, Extraction of information controlled by originator, TOP SECRET ; Classified by 5182. Exempt from GDS, 1, 2, and 4 Date of Declassification, Indefinite ( . ‘AW 50529) Docld: 32357039 Page 2?
; Coordination of United Revolutionary Crganizations {CORU). He ‘Stated that on April 3, 1977, he attended a meeting: which ‘Concerned itself with humah rights and was presided over by foe gee ag DR oo Qe RAL suse als OF INVEStIGaTI © Dote of transcription __. 4/8/7 7 - = On April 8, 1997, FELIX ZABALA MAS, also known as tuto, a resident at 350 Lerida, Urbanization Valencia, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, was advised of the identity of the interviewing Agents, and he furnished the following informa- tion: | FELIX 2ABALA advised that he was a member of Alpha 66 from 1961 to 1965. He is currently a member of Circulo Cubana, a large Cuban exile social group in Puérto Rico, and beyond this belongs to no other political or social group in Puerto : Rico. He stated that he is not a member of Frente Liberacion Nacional de Cuba. (Cuban National Liberation Front) or the ey One FRANKLIN DELZ.NO LOPEZ who was interested in sending five Cuban exile individuals to Washington, D. C., ana Present a case to the United States Department of State ta tell Presidant CARTER how to ceel with the Cubans. He stated that their main -concern here was the political prisoners and the system of Conununism under CASTRO, ZABALA stated that he Participated in no other similar activities, He Stated that he does have a close relationship with a very political individual, ENRIQUE NUNEZ, who is the editor of Replica Magazine in San Juan, Puerto Rico. a CO, ZABALA advised that his Sister, AMALIA ANGELINA ZABALA MAS and his mother, ANGELINA MAS, came to Fuerto Rico from Cuba on Decenber 23, 1976, for a vacation in Puerto Rico. ZABALA stated that his mother has a six month. visa which expires in June, 1977, and that she is currently attempting _ to stay three months longer in Puerto Rico and is awaiting word from Cuban authorities through her daughter who has since returned to Cuba tc Secure a Cuban government OK to remain in Puerto Rico. Upon receipt of that OK from the: Cuban guvernmont, the subject's mother will then apply to the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (USINS) for a three month extention of her visa to visit Puerto Rico. ZABALA's Sister, AMALIA, was in Puerto Rico fréih December 23, 1976, until January .17, 1977, at which time she returned to Cuba, Classified by 3073~ sans” wotinite . . er om gre + ; . This, Jocumans contoins neither fecommenda:ions nbr- dondhision’ “of the Fal. tt isthe property of the FBI und is loaned to your agency; aed its. contents are not to be distribute 4 oostsido your agency,
HW 50529 Ais father, JOSE b. EARALA, ‘also known as "PHPE," DOMING PUP ScunEE bit caiece SJ 65-514 2 FELIX ZABALA stated that AMALIA is married to JULIO CESAR MAS MARTIN, who is a medical. doctor who has a very good practice in Calixto Garcia Hospital in Havana, Cuba. ZABALA stated that AMALIA's husband is not a political-type person and he is not considered to be a Communist. He Stated that JULIO. CESAR MAS MAPTIN ‘is happy Living under the Cuban system. of government because he is a dcector and therefore lives extremely well. ZABALA stated that the latter's brother, LUIS MAS MARTIN is currently living outside Havana assigned to an. agricultural project ZABALA | stated that LUIS MAS MARTIN, who is approximately 50 years old, is currently nav? ng a severe drinking problem. ZABALA believes that he. is working with the agriculture project in the vicinity of ‘Matanzas,’ Cuba. ZABALA termed LUIS MARTIN a Communist and an anti-Batistite. ZABALA added that his Sister's recent trip te Puerto Rico was her first triv ever to this country. He s ated that he last saw her in 1965 i Cuba. PARALE acorted that t he went ta Jamaica and. met his sister and his mother on December 21, 1976, and assisted in their travel, to euerto Rico by helping. them to a hotel in Kingston, Jamaies, and then to the United States Bmbassv there to secure a visa to visit Puerto Rico. He stated that since 2 ‘1965 he had only talked -to his sister on the telephone approximately every six months. ZABALA stated that he rarely writes to. any friends or family members in Cuba... He stated that his brother, DOMINGO ZABALA, also known as Nino, is currently an athletic fh promoter and he vorks in a group known as the Instituto vacional Derortes Revolucionario in Cuba. ZABALA stated that }- SY on November 23, 1954, in Cuba and that his two sisters, AMALIA and ELENA, currently live in Cuba. He sta ted. tha’ his brother, JOSE LUIS ZABALA, and himself snent various periods of time’ in Cuban jails. Ho. S hated that "PRPH" served four years and nine months which began in May of 961.  pOMINGO, who CABALA taxmed. a non-Communist, was in dail for 18 months from September, 1961, to 1963. SABALA stated that he himself was in jail only for seven days. which beqan in Mav, 1961. ZABALA aided that the reason that the ahove individuals received jail terms had to do with their affiliation with a group which was going to plant bombs in or near the waterworks in Ha avana, Cuba, in 1061. , , . hoa oa aa) DoclId:32357039 Page 4
“ C3 cs SJ 65-514 3 FELIX ZABALA MAS stated that he doesn't know any. individuals who are in FLNC or CORU. He stated that REINOL RODRIGUEZ is a cood friend of his and they have been associated. since ZARALA's affiliation with Alpha 66. He “Stated. that he did not think that RETMNOL RODRIGUEZ is still” a member of the latter organization. He stated that he has only belonged tc one political group in Cuba and that he was a member of the Movimiento Revolutionario- Pueblo (MRP) and | that that group placed over 100 bombs in and around Havana, Cuba, protesting the CASTRO government. OO ZABALA was questioned ahout his relationshio with one ANTONIO VECIANA and he stated that VECIANA is like his own brother. He added that VECIANA is his son's Godfather and is currently a resident of Miami, Florida. ‘ZABALA reported that YECIANA and himself were in Aloha 66 and at one time attemptzd to form an Alpha 66 groun in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Two other individuals,. accordina to ZABALA, were in on this enterprise: TONY CUESTA (who is possibly living. now in Miami, Florida). Z%ABALA considered VECIANA to not only be bis friend, bit his business partner and added that VECIANA resides at Numbe:> 311 Northwest 30 Cr.. Miami, Florida, 33125. ZABALA stated tht VECIANA left Alpha 66 in 1966 and that he is definitely anzi-Castro and would personally like to kill. CASTRO. He did not know VECIANA to be affiliated with any political groups at this time. ZARALA staied that four or five vears aqo that VECTANA, EN®eTOUR NUMEA, and MANOLO RAY went to Costa Rica and formed a revoluticnary party (anti- CASTRO), which had the same ideals of Alpha 66. He added! that this grounm which was known as Partido Revolutionario Del Pueblo, lasted perhaps e:.qht months. FELIX #ABALA MAS revealed that on October 28, 1976, he left San Juan, Puerto Rico, and traveled to Kingston, , Jamaica, for the purpose of seeing an entertainment promoter, PEEIX SMITH, about putting on the Chinese Circus Review from Taiwan. He addec that he met no one other than FELIX SMITH during his stay jn Jamaica. He insisted that he had met no. one HW 50529 Docld:32357039 Page 5
SJ 65-514. 4 who could be a representative of any foreign government, . particularly from Cuba. FELIX 2ABALA MAS reported that on November 8,°1976, he traveled to Miami and then on to Kingston, Jamaica. He stated that he went there to see the promoter, FELIX SMITH, and discuss problems on how to get money out of Jamaica if ZABALA were to bring the Chinese Circus Peview from Taiwan to Jamaica. ZARBALA added that this was approxixately one month prior to the popular elections and thare is always a problem bringing monev out of Jamaica. ZABALA again stated that he had: contacted na-™ one other than FSLiIx SMITH, , . ZABALA advised that he traveled to Jamaica again on November 30, 1976, and returned to Puerto Rico via Miami on December 2, 1976. He stated that at that time he again visited FELIX SMITH, ZABALA stated that he traveled alone to Montego Bay aid another town, Ocho Rios, in Jamaica, and visited theaters whera he could possibly present the Chinese Circus. fe addel that he stayed in the Shératon Hotel when he was in Kinaston.on this occasion. He stated that he had seen no family members or anvone who could be possibly considered a rep tesentative of a foreign government. He added that while in Jamaica he traveled bv public automobiles which are used as taxis or buses. . AS advised that he had rented the "UYappy Center Bar" whici is located in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, for the period betwasin December, 1974, and July, 1976. He stated he gave-up this line of business in that he was not making it financially. We added that at the moment he is not in financial. straights and that he has been receiving current income from his premotion.of ‘the Taiwan Circus Group and two professional prize fidhters (both Dowinicans), HECTOR JULIO MEDINA and ADRIANO MARRERO, also known as Nane. He stated that the latter wo individuals are under his control as he is their manager and receives approximately 33 percent of any purse for sétting uo their fiahts.- 7 ZABALA TA ZABALA stated that he would like to go back to Cuba 4“ if CASTRO and the Communist system of government was out of | Cuba. He added that he personally believes in a system of ‘ Socialism and Denocracy. ZABALA revorted that his family ~here does not Lile the Communist form of ink and that 3 his brother, BOM, 5.not like the current Gulbsan system. ZABALA vas not sure if his sister, AMALIA, likes the HW 50529 Docld:32357039 Page 6 FRR OURO ET
SJ 65-514 5 CASTRO or Communist system. He added that she told a friend, HUGO PEREZ, a Cuban exile who is about 50 years old. and resides in Floral Park, Puerto Rico, that .if she could get out of Cuba with her four children, she would leave. She reportedly told PERE2 that her husband, JULIO CESAR MAS MARTIN likes the good style of living tha athe currently enjoys in Havana, Cuba, as a ranking médical doctor. ZABALA ‘added that HUGO °ERES sent alot of clothing back to Cuba with his sis ster, AMALIA, for HUGO PEREZ' father. ZABALA advised that as far as his future travel plans are concerned, he interds to go to Los Angeles, California, abou: the IS5th of April and there, prepare theatrical arrancements. He stated that this would take approximately | two or three days. He added that he has to - go to Santo Dominga at some. future date for the theatrical -presentation of whe Chinese Circus Review from Taiwan. -Ie- stated that this would probably be in May, 1977. He added at this point that VECIANA, supra, and he set up all the Chinese Circus Review from Taiwan's eng agements. He added that he might pousibly be in Chicago and New York City, New York, after May, 1977 The interviewing Acents reminded ZABALA that he at one time. in 1966 was interviewed and polygraphed by a United - States Government. official. ZABALA, who stated that he did not know the restlts of that ‘interview or the polygraph, stated that he remembered taking the test and being | interviewed at a‘hotel room in the Miramar Hotel, Miramar, Puerto Rico, but that. he did. rot know who or what’ organization was behind Jt. He stated that an Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investi- gation (FBI) at that time had set up the interview and the - examination. He stated that.at that tiine he was asked about going to Cuba and working for the United States Government for intelligence reasons. Ne could not furnish any details: about any of the individuals, appr ximately three or four, who were in the | reom at that time.: the interviewing Agents questioned ZARALA about a possible trip to Panama which was made on January 10, 1977. as He was confronted with information that revealed. that he had traveled with Pan American Airlines, flight 585, to Panama on January. 19, 1977, United States Passport number 22494541, HW 50529 Docld:32357039 Page 7
of managers of aiditoriums from throtighout.the United S SJ 65-514 6 mo, tourist card number 745643, and that he returned to the United States on January 11,.1977, on another Pan American Airlines flight, number 586. @ZAPALA stated that he was in Panama for one right and thereafter traveled to Miami, Florida, and yest Palm Beach, where he spent one night:in the company of JOSE PRADOS HERRERO, who currently resides in Puerto Rico \eelephone number 798 3-4367). He stated that he went to Panara on this occasion for boxing business anda that he saw LUIS ESPADA, a boxing promoter, and. Dr. RODIGO SANCHEZ, of the World Boxing Association. He stated that he only contacted these.two versons and one radio commentator, - while he was in Panama on this occasion. Ue added that one of his fighters, HECTOR JULIO NEDINA, was supoosed to fight RORERTO DURAW and that ZABALA called MEDINA. (a resident.of Santo Domingo) from Panama and the fighter advised ZABALA that he was cut of shape and therefore could not fight DURAN. 2ABALA added that he has exclusive permission to Sidqn a contract re MEDINA. le stated that he discussed the possible fight with the aforementioned radio Commentator «, The interviewing Agents again requested that ZABALA be perfectly honest.with them about anv possible contact of foreiqn agents or other government renprasentatives while on ‘the shove trips cutsice Puerte Rico. He strongly advised that the interviewing Agents had his word that he never contacted anyone from a foreign government, embassv official, consular ‘official, foreign attache, or intelligence officer. 2ABALA stated that on the above mentioned dates, January 19, January lL, 1977, he was supposed to qo to Houston and San Antonio, Texas, aiid other places in the United States to arrange for a presentation of the Chinese Cireus. He stated, though, io0en arrival at Miami, there was a convention States (these are individuals who could present the Chinese Circus) . ZABALA stated for this. reason he did not have to qo to Texas “as the managers that he wished to see were there in: Miami, particularly at the Ramada inn Hotel around January 11, 1977. HW 50529 (Officer to travel to Panana during wfanua 4 - In lignit.of the subject's current probation reaula~ tions with United States Probation Office, he was questioned as to whether he had sotten the permission of his probation ry Of 1877. Me statert fhnak dre ded this nermissic: Docld:32357039 Page @
tose r } SJ 65-514 7 . ZABALA WaS askad if he had ever bean requesteg to ‘bring anything back to Puerto Rico From. any Of his above mentioned travels and he Stated that he never broucht back | any money o Other -than business money | He tated that in AUgUst,. 1976 he brought back to Puerto Rico From Santo Domingo. approsina ately $800.99 aS this wae the result of. a to Puerto Rico Some Checks which were from the Chinase Circus ‘Presentations ~ f@. stated that he had S3an -50 in addition to. these Checks which represented box OF fies receipts. de> Placed thesa checks In an account at Banco Obrero, Hato Rey Puerto Rico, in tha account of Promoter Antillana, Which is” 4 trade name, Ha stated that this eccount js administered by himself and VECTANA . He Added that in December of 1976 he brought, back to Puerto Rico from Jamaica approximately 2400.00 when he Vag accompanied by Mis mother and -sister” from Caha ON their journey tO Puerto Rico - The interviewing Agents [WeStioned FELIX 2ABALA MAS about his nog ationship vith ong GABR TET, y PIGUEROA and a possible 510,00 ( fdvertising PYCchlam he has with this Individual ZABALA Stated that PIGUERD» is the OWNe BF an advertising ¢ firm, Communications Arts and was Sg ponsibls for advertising the Chinese Circus in Los “Ngeles San Diego, Santa Monica, p Pasadena, Santa Barbara, 4nd San Bernarding. California. whils the Chinese Cizoag Was recently chere, He Stated that rr GUSROA, Who is a Fesiden;¢ of Niami, loridea Sent the ads to various Newspaper s in California” Fron Miami and that ZABALA Totestaa the VTvertising In that the Recing WAS too Smal] iy the adv ertis SEMeNE For Pecple to read, Ne added that he any De TANIA SOMplaingg to PIGUEROA and had Paid PICUERAA 23,400 for the adverse ising, PIGUPROA told the latter individuals. that they Owe hiin ePPLoximately °15,000,09 for the: advey tising, CABATA State Gd that CN Pe} Try 19 1977, he Sent PIGUEROA ac. Chee; for $14 000, 06 Via a Clivery agency’ Espagas nvertising, Meorporated, 596 Dea liostes Avenue, : Urbanies fation Rallir{en Tata Rey, ‘Piel be Rice 099] 9, Espasac. reportedly made tha delivers to Prune. and then imuediatele advised SABALA tC) sang a Cag sNiers Checle Pron his bank an Puerto Rico te PIGUEROA inasmuch aS the first Check would nok be Cleareg by a tlami, Florida, } Dank for ay Coron ‘imately two weeks. ZAPATA g Tatad that on Maresh 2, 1977. he sent the Page 9 : . 357039 DoclId: 32 HW 50529
—_—_—— SJ 65-514 cashiers check via Espasas Advertising, Incorporated, to PIGUEROA and that the first check, which should not have been deposited in light of the eoecend check, was placed in an unknown bank and when it.finally reached Puerto Rico there were insufficient funds to cover it. @ZABALA stated that both checks were made out to Communications Arts. FELIX 2ABALA advised that his brother, PEPE (JOSE LUIS ZABALA), his sister ELVIRA, and ne, paid an organization which, handles the paperwork for Cubans who wish to visit ‘outside Cuba, Al:acen Espanol, approximately $1,200.00 to secure the finanzial aspect oF his mother and sister' leaving Cuba. He stated that his brother, PEPE, filed the “necessary applications regarding his. mother and sister to. Almacen Espanol in Miami. - He s Stated that approximately half of the money wen: into an account “in: Kingston, Jamaica, to render secure that his sister and mother would not be a Financial burden to the Jamaic can Government.and that they would have money to leave that country. Sle added that PEPE, ELVIRA, or himsetf had nothing to do with his mother's and sister's leaving Cuba other than sending the necessarv application pape:z:s to Almacen Espanol in. Miami, FPlerida. He added that he went to Jamaica ‘on December 21, 1976, to help his sister and his mother and that after they landed from Cuba he took then to the Sheraton Hotel and later on to the United States Embassy to secure the necessary visas. ao) “The interviewing Agents questioned ZABALA about his recent source of income and he stated that he earned apnoroxi- mately $3,090.90 from a prize fight which was held in Rayanon, Puerto Rico, on Sentember 10, 1976, between ESTEBAN DE JESUS and NiicTOR JULIO MEDINA. He added that he earned approximately $1,290.00 tren his presentation of the Chinese Circus in Miami Beach, Flori , between October 5 and 10, 1976. He stated that he got wanrerinetelsy $2,900.00 on or about December 18, 1976, as a re-:lt.of his g s@lling his rights and contract to the fighter, HECTOR. CULIO MEDINA, ZABALA stated, however, that he had ta pay this money back to proioter DON EING and Pantalones Santiago as his fighter backed out of the deal and it fell’ =) through. -ZABALA advised that between February 9, and March 6, 1977, he earned epproximately $3,809.00 from the performances HW 50529 Docld: 32357039 Page 10
HW 50529 | @ SJ 65- 514. 23 Subject! $i Docld: 32357039 Page 25. TOP SEEREY sters age DOMINGO ZABALA, also known as "NINO," age 39 (currently a resident of Santiago de. Cuha;: ARMANDO. ZABALA, also known as “ARNANDITO," age 25. student, Chicago, Illinois) AMALIA ZABALA, age 50, resident of Cuba: HILDA ROSA, age 48, resident of Peru: ELViRA SABALA RUBAYO, age 46, resident of Carolina, Puerto Ri ELENA ZABALA MARTIN, 42, resident. of uba. S