Originator: HSCA
From: CIA
Document date: 03/02/1978
Document type: NOTES

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180-10144-10409

2023 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

aDo File summary

besire Wizelman

O SECRET

257

is, bad it

Norman

Rotoman

Inclusive dates - 1951-1975

Rothmanis aharacterized on the a01 fle review

form as a "'tormer withing collaborator (relatunship.

terminated). The adl Ale was reviewech in 1925.

-An Oct 15, 1959 cable states that a new anti-castro

organnaton with beadquarters in miami at the Biltmore

Terrace Hotel, is managedby Roihman "who is supposed to

provide source thru une gangsters fur guns and other.

weapons."

An oct 19, 1959 cable indicates that

_Rathman

is under indictment in Pittsburgh fur the Interstate

Transportation of stolen Armi. A Dec. 10, 1959 cables

states that Bothman is "guing to yucatan, mexico

to seek a site fur a dare of operations against the

castro gov't." A Dec 31, 1959 cable reports that

after Rothman returned trum mexico city he stated

"We have a strip."

- A compatriot of Rothman, Eduardo

whitehouse, is later tere said to remark that we

have the planes. " The cable states "Belleved that both

subj:... (ra Rothman).. and whitehoure are acquiring planes.

for purpose of setting up base af operatuns- in Yucatan

Peninsula for anti-castro group headed by. Col. Orlando

Piedra. and Roberto Fernandez miranda.".

A cable dated. Feb. 5, 1960 reports that Rothman has been...

released trom the .. Allegheny County Jail alter. an appeal bond

was posted....A ..June 23,1960 cable reports.. that Rothman.

was... conuicted of interstate transportatión of firearms stoles

from ..the National Guard. Armory in Canton, Ohio.... He.

...9..

recerved a 5 year... sentence

and

A 10,000 fine

180-10144-10409

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410/00D

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Sept 2?, 1960 cable to the Directur fum mASH (0828)

stated:.

s "I. FBI has adused of approach made to Frank

Fiorini tur procurement of two mIG arcraft which would be

brought testates byigne (rech and une cuban pilot. Approach

made by norman Rothman who is hood indicted tor

gun running and stolen bonds currently out on $50,000 bund.

"a FBI contact felt Rothman interest was straight proft motiver

hope fur tavorable treatment-re above rap. Contact stated no

chance whateuer latter and that had adused Florin that FBI.

could not handle such adeal but would pay to other interested

uS. gout agency. Said that inspite of abde decog into belleued Pattman.

coulduery-probably produce.

"3. Has Has- any interest pursue."

Headquarters-_responded on Sept 28, 1960 (Dir 02972)

stating, "It Ret para 1 plan inuolves detectun of ma6

and Es Crech pilot

from Cuba Has. vitally interested:

Aause all pertinent details."

JMASH responded on Oct 1,1960 (mASH 0891):

"I hews Rothman forthcoming thal local FBI feels

Justice Department be aduised priorany cIA contact subj..

This to prevent any complication-prosecution if op succeechs.

and Rothman atlempts. make deal re possible prison term.

a. Per telecon a9 sept mASH aduised HQs Santago

Rey also approached by Rothman with same plan let A

[mISPLANS]. If HQs decides go ahead withops, mAst plan

make contact through Rey.".

This cable was followed by and cable to the Director.

from mast..., dated oct 20,1960 (MASH 1162) stating

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herise educatedes

99460

3

"Request replies to rets (References are mAs+ 0625)

masH 0891) FBI still has apen abi case Ret A and has.

called several times. Also desire give portive answer to

Santago Rey on ref B."

- No responding-cable from Hag.

is contained in this file.

The ble cuntained two memuranda fur the recora prepared

by

Catherine. La marstre,

dated June 30, 1961 and July 10,196).

The tune 30 mena contains the following information:

a- Rothman's DOB IS 26 DeL 1914; POBis Bronx, Nt.

b= "ehen Rothman first came to CIA's attenton in.

Sept 1958, he was living in Dallas, Texas and was

allegedly_engagedin.public.relations.work.According.to.his.wite,

Gloria, he made a one-week trip to Los Angelos in Sept ember

on undisclosed business."

c- In Oct 1959, Rothman was managing the Biltmore

Terrace Hotel in miam: trom which he was reported "the FoI

tobesupplying-an.anti-castroorganization with.arms which

heobtained.through.us.gangsters.

d- Following Pittsburgh conuction, Rothman went to

Chicago , Where he surrendered on charges of playing a key role.

in one of the biggest robberies in modern criminal history, the

# 13,5 million looting.ola Canadiznbank..

"Robbery was

touched off when the canadian branch of the mafia received a

hurry -up urder frum the Caribbean for arms. The canadien

mata.did.not.have. the money to.buy.arms, but it knew how

to get.

hands on the contents of the Brockville, Ontario bank

It called upon the U.s. matia for assistance, and it was then

that Rothman entered the preture

Ately as charged. "'Suaveguently.

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'?""

safe 2l

cause t

or grators

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portions at 100t turned up in Shanghai, Argentna, cuba,

and Australta."

e-Before Rothman was tracked down in connection with the above

crimes, he was reported sy the FBI as traveling-to Yucatan to.

seeka-base.ofoperations.against.the castro.govt.In this enter=

he was associated with (Teddy) untehouse Insua, formerly

ot the cuban Guel Aeronautical Associztun; ex-Colonzl

orlando Predra Negueruela 6, turmer member of BRAC:and

head of Cuban Bureau of Investigationa; and Colonel Roberte

Eesnandez. miranda brother-in-law of Batiste and former

cummander of the presidential guaras as well as president

of the National Sports commission. While no mestun i made

of Rolando masterser in this connection, Rothman has engaged.

in many exploits and deals with masterrer."

f. "In sept 1960 Rothmanstill out on #50000 bond,

made an approach to Frank Forini, soldier of-fortune,.

aftering to obtain two migs- one flown by a crech

and.anather.by.acuban.Forinifeltthat-Rothmanisistere.t

wasstimulated.by astraightprottmotiveorbyhoped

for fauorable_treatment.regarding-_the_Fed.case.againsthim"

g." In oct_1960, Rothman again appeared in Dallas, -

where he approached Robert E Gunnan, and oil

contracts promotor man, Rothman claimed to have

connections with Nor-Roth Industries of N.V.C and stated.

that chents of his had an interest in purchasing million

netric tons of diesal fuel or and l million metricton

of crude oil to be delivered ouer a five-year period.

to Hamberg, Germany... Grinnan, puzzled by the ofter,

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reported to the FBI. He went tu N.Y. In November and met

Rothman and the other principals of the deal, a mary.

Talley and a De. Phillip-Paneth de Panay Largely

because of Grinnan's suspicions the deal was never.

consumated. "

b. "As at December 1960; -Rothman wa huragin

Dallas, Texas, "'-

The second, memorand um for the record (July 10, 1961)

contains additional background infermation and an updated

that

location on Rothman. The memo indicates Battr during

the Batista regime, Rothman was the superuwur of

slot machines in damaguey province under the national

superuisor, Alberto. Ardura moya, who was one of o

at tie Tropicana nightclub in Havans. The memo states

that recent reports place Rothman in miami

The bole also contains a memorandum for the

Deputy Chiel of the western Hemisphere Division from Clark

w. Simmons re a meeting with Rothman and David m.

mcconnell. The memo is dated June 30, 1961. The meeting

occurred on June 29, 1961, at the Deputy. Attorney venercul's office

and was for the purpose of

...cualuating "Rothman's claim to

operatonzi assets inside Cuba and elsewhere in the Carbbean

area.... An agreement was made that Bates wouldbe

nonted of rothmants "opercitional potential in cuban affairs" urs.

Thly 5, There is no record in the file o..

further communication with mcconnell).

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Commanded talest

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192414670

H71.44/1

At the beginning of the meetng mcconnell spoke to simmond

privately, maconnell describea himself as a "leading politica)

figure in the democratic Party machine in N. Carolina, anch

stata he was acquainted with Robert Kennedy, General Taylor, and

General van Fleet.

McConnell is a corporate tax attorney anc

as concerned about the embarassment to the kennedy

administrator caused.by the cuban "trasco." te stared that

Rothman chims to have assets and capabilities which would

enable Rothman tu destroy the arms aumps on the

plantation of ex-president cardenas of mexico, tu set up

opercitional bares in the Yucatan at a cost ot 150-81, 000, to

sabatage targets in cuba identitied by the us gout,

and to provide positive intelligence on the acturtes at

Chinese communist Groups in the western Hemuphole.

wonen Rothman was atty questoned by simmons he

made the fallowing points:

1- castro bad executed three of his close trienas:

(FrancIsco - lar name)

Rogelio Gonzalez,

Sori mario, and Efigenio Fernandez.

2- BRothman has the operational capability to destroy arms.

dumps of Cardenas. He has agent assets in mexico with whamhe

he made contact 4 to 5 monthsago.

3- He had Indians construct an airstep in the Yucatan.

One 8-26 had landed there.

4- He is well acquainted with sancher Arango and

considers him a close personel friend. He last met Arango 6

i weeks agu.

5- He has the personnel and capabilities tu attacle ur

sabatoge any target of our choosing n cuba. He has a a

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basic plan for assassinatión at castro. The plan called tur an

air attack with napalm against castro when he was addressing

a rally He has 100 pilots who had partipated in the

invasion of cuba and are now working for the congolese Aur Farce..

Rothman would not dentity the pilots.

6- Rushman sald be back many agents going in and out of Cuba

He is un contact with o agents at this time. The agents

-are in the tourist-teavel business or import-export business.

and enter the Us, through 3rd countries

1-He knows of many Chinese communits going into

Canada from Cuba.

8 - Rothman expressed resentment ouer gun-running

charges He said

"that CIA used the same people in these

gun running achurtes and the same houres,.. for which he

(mr. euthman) was being prosecuted by the Federal Government.

He sald that he

_had superuised 40 ship operatunion behalf

of the Frente against cuba. He said that CIA would truck

the stuff to the pant of ship pick-up, where he (Mr. Ruthman)

wouldsuperuisetheloading.of.theshops.Hesaidthat he

had... purchased

the aott ship "reefer" which was the hirst.

boat to support the underground in Cuba. Headded that

he knew everything the cIA planned in maritime operation,

and for the muasion.."

9- Rothman stated he is a close friend of John Abbes

Garcia, Chief of Dominican Republic Security.

At the cunclusion of the memorandum, simmons comments

that he did not belleve

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agents and material assets. Herecommences that there be no

further discussion with euthman re these a claims.

summons notes from this meeting... qie meconnell's

address as chariote, m.laroling.

This memo includes

additionz comments made by Ruthman -

a- claims to know prio, Betancourt

767999

b- "suspects Patrick op as being funny and ill-adused."

6:31

se In the last year Rothman has met. Arango do 25 times

Rothman snows friendsi "Garcia" and "Tito"

2- Auster Young is Rothman's persunal pilot

e- He last visited the Dominican Rep. In 1959 er the

purpose of communicating with assets and contacts, John Abbes

asked Ruthman du Jub"

The tole also contains some information on Eduardo

Whitehuuse, Orlando Piedra, and miranda Fernandez.

I. ten Eduardo Julia Whitehouse Insua (0013-3-14-14)

aka" Teddy"

" Whithouse is described as a compatnot ut Ruthman's.

An April 5, 1960 report states that whitehowe and Elliot

Spinning intended to take aB-ab to vera Cruz. Sam Rubin.

(believed to be identical with Sam "Stretch" Rubin, chief

doorman at the Biltmore Terrace Hstel.) was reported to be

the owner of the B-26 (Reg# N32446). A Dec. 31,1959

report.indicates that.u.customs seized a B-ab at miami and

another (N2881G) at Vero Beach, when Whitehouse and

Spinning. attemoted to move them. A ia Del 1960 report

states that whitehouse was responsable for selling fire.

to the sugar crops an early stater stater he ww asked by

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Alberto Fernandez for help. Fernandez has set up a

guerilla organization. A 13 Feb 1961 repurtstates that

according to Alexander I Rorke, Jr. , Whitehuure has

70 pilots available and ready to take drastic action against

Castro and have worked unt a "detnite plan of actrun"

to accomplish "Castro's overthrow."

II. Orlando Predra

Pedra uas tormerly in charge of the Deptent Investigation

under Batista. A 8 Jan 1960 report states that

according to enrique Fernandez Parajon, both heand

Piedra are heading the "military section" of the cuunter-

revolutrunerygroup.which. is. reelingmonetary.support

trum Batzsta...

.A 4 march 1960 report indicates Piedra

met ur planned to meet with General Jose Pedraza during

the latterts visit to washington. Precras described as a

member of BRAC whu fled Cuba on Jan 1, 1959

Reference is made to a new orleans FBI repurt, dated

maren 27,1961. on uct a, 1959 there is a report that

Piedra recelveu orders by Batista thru Joe Suarez Nunezto

immediately consolidate anti-castro forces.

miranda Fernandez. - There is one report, 3-8-61, which

matate to furnishingaid

to Rolando masferrer in 1959-1960. He stated be is now

providing ald and assistance to his former military

regiment who arestill in cuba working against castro.

He thinks the group is associated with FRD.

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ENO

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