Agency: FBI
Originator: FBI
From: SAC, WMFO
To: DIRECTOR, FBI
Document date: 01/21/1992
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

Released under the John E Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote) .

-DATE: 11-14-2017

IDENTIFICATION FORM

AGENCY INFORMATION

AGENCY: FBI

RECORD NUMBER: 124-10192-10011

RECORD SERIES: WMFO

AGENCY FILE NUMBER: 89-DL-43-3

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM:

TO:

TITLE:

SAC, WMFO

DIRECTOR, FBI

DATE: 01/21/1992

PAGES: 5

SUBJECT:

SEE FBI 62-109060-8288

DOCUMENT TYPE:

ORIGINAL

CLASSIFICATION:

REVIEW DATE:

STATUS

PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

Secret

09/24/1997

Redact

NEW

CLASSIFICATION:

UPDATE DATE:

02/12/2001

RESTRICTIONS:

JFK Act 6 (1)(B)

COMMENTS:

INC A/T, INSERT

DocId:32177748 Page 1

---

## Page 2

Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Note).

DATE:: 11-14-2017

FD-36 (Rev. 8-)9-85)

0*

(3/3/97)

9/16/9951560

16,00

3

-072

*'17

MARRIE

FBI

TRANSMIT VIA:

Teletype

Facsimile

AIRTEL

PRECEDENCE:

• Immediate

D

Priority

Routine

SEGRET

CLASSIFICATION:

• TOP SECRET

• SECRET

CONFIDENTIAL

UNCLAS EF TO

UNCLAS

Date 1/21/92

TO

: DIRECTOR, FBI (ATTN: VIOLENT CRIMES SECTION, CID)

FROM

: SAC, Washington Field Office (DI 89A-43) (RUC)

SUBJECT : ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY,

DALLAS, TEXAS,

9-93

11/22/63

Class

56201

R

KFO

(00: DALLAS)

Re WMFO telcalls to Violent Cimes Unit, FBIHQ,

1/17/92 and FBI, Dallas, 1/21/92.

Enclosed for FBIHQ, Dallas and New York are two

copies each of a self-explanatory insert documenting

information from a high level New York source concerning

For information of FBIHe and Dallas, New York FC!

source providing the attached information is a

former WMFOLTOp

Echelon source.

This source has provided reliable and very

sensitive high level information lin both criminal and FCI

matters for many years-(S

For clarification, attached information is being

provided by WMFO as WMFO SA WILLIAM M. MACKEY is the original

source case agent who now is a designated an alternate source

contact agentS SA MACKEY is responsible for disseminating any

criminal information developed by source regarding

criminal

activities outside the New York Metropolitan area

2-Bureau (Enc. 2)

• 2-Dallas (Enc. 2)

2-New York (Attn:

2-WMFO (Enc.2)

WMM/ wmm

1 cito sour file

SA Dave Cavanaugh, Squad I-6)

89-

ALT TAFOR ITCN CONTAINED

HEREIN I UNCLASSI FLED EXCEPY

WHERE SHOVE OTHERWISE.

• i

894-52-433

SECRET

Transmitted

(Number)

(Tine)

Approved:

DocId: 32177748 Page 2

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## Page 3

Released under the John F. Kennedy

Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Note).

DATE: 11-14-2017

DI 89A-43

PAGE TWO

New York is being provided information copies for

inclusion in source file only.

The attached is provided for whatever action deemed

appropriate.

Leads are being left to the discretion of

Dallas.

Since no leads are outstanding, WMFO is placing

this matter in RUC status.

ADMINISTRATIVE:

gurce providing the attached information is

ANY (7856-0A.9)

WARNING: INFORMATION FROM NY E856-OAJ IS HIGHLY SINGULAR IN

NATURE AND DISCLOSURES COULD REVEAL SOURCE'S IDENTITY. SOURCE

IS A FIGH LEVELEINFORMANT L CRITICAL TO MAJOR ECI AND CRIMINAI

WHOSE IDENTITY, IF REVEALED,

WILL POSITIVELY

LEAD TO PHYSICAL DANGER TO SOURCE AND SOURCE'S FAMILY

WARNING: DISSEMINATIQN OF THIS INFORMATION TO UNITED STATES C

DEPARTMENT OF STATE VIA CHANNELS THAT WOULD BRING INFORMATIO

TO THE ATTENTION OFLINR EMPLOYEE

JESSE CLEAR MAY CREAT

SECURITY PROBLEMS FOR SOURCE.

WARNING: STATEMENT TO BE ADDED TO ANY DISSEMINATION:

INFORMATION ON THIS DOCUMENT SHOULD NOT BE PROVIDED TO ANY

OTHER AGENCY WITHOUT PRIOR BUREAU APPROVAL.

WARNING: STATEMENT TO BE ADDED TO ANY DISSEMINATION:

INFORMATION ON THIS DOCUMENT SHOULD NOT BE PROVIDED TO THE

UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY (USIA)

6(4)

SECRET

DocId: 32177748

Page

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## Page 4

Released' under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote).

DATE: 11-14-2017

DI. 89A-43

SECRET

bynuy E356-04/PLlowing information was telephonically provided

Special Agent WILLIAM M. MACKEY, Federal Bureau

mvestigation (FBI), Washington Metropolitan Field Officelon

1/16-17/92:

Source learned Tampa, Florida, attorney FRANK RAGANO

(phonetic) would be appearing on the ABC News show "PRIME TIME

LIVE" on 1/16/92 claiming to have information that former

TEAMSTERS President JIMMY HOFFA instructed La Cosa Nostra (LCN)

bosses to kill President JOHN F. KENNEDY in 1963. Based upon

source's past relationship with both HOFFA and RAGANO, source

categorized RAGANO's claims as "lies".

Source advised source's relationship with HOFFA began

in the' late 1950s while HOFFA

was a Vice President of the

TEAMSTERS. Source's relationship with HOFFA lasted until HOFFA'S

disappearance. Source described the relationship between

source

and HOFFA as "close" noting

that source was one of HOFFA's few

associates who could meet with or call HOFFA at any time without

an appointment.

Source stated HOFFA offered source a position as

one

of HOFFA'S trusted assistants which source respectfully

declinedS

In regard to RAGANO, [source recalled attending only

contact with RAGANO for many years, source recalled RAGANO (like

most people attempting to contact HOFFA) was reguired to make an

appointment to see HOFFA in the early 1960s. Source was not aware

if RAGANO'S status with HOFFA changed in later years

Source identified attorneys close to HOFFA

as EDDIE

SHAFITZ (phonetic), a partner of the late EDWARD BENNETT WILLIAMS

in Washington, D.C. and an attorney (name not recalled) who was a

close associate of the BUFFALINO LCN family.

consider RAGANO an attorney "close" to HOFFA

Colice did not

Source advised HOFFA was very close to LCN bOSS SANTOS

TRAFFICANTE and other LCN members. Source said HOFFA was capable

of ordering a contract "hit".

Source advised HOFFA was always

"doing favors" for high level LCN members and, if HOFFA requested

a contract "hit", the "hit" probably would have been done by the

LCN for free.

111

3/15k

Ctassin

Declaesi

ALL INFORMATTON CONTAINED

HEREIN LE UNCLASSIFIED EXCEPT

WHERE SHOWN OTHERWISE: A

SECRET

(2/3/94)

REASON: 1.5

DECLASSIFY ON: X

(BG0)

8, 5101602

DocId: 32177748 Page 4

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## Page 5

Released' under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote).

DATE: 11-14-2017

Source advised HOFFA was not stupid and would not have

made a request for a contract "hit" in the manner described by

RAGANO. Source advised HOFFA never trusted "shyster" attorneys

and certainly would not have trusted an attorney to pass on a

request to kill the President of the United states.

believed that if HOFFA wanted to order a contract "hit" on

anyone, HOFFA would have distanced himself from the "hit".

Source believed HOFFA would have made the request of a very close

trusted associate who then would pass the reguest on through many

other layers of trusted associates without mentioning the origin

of the request or HOFFA's name.

Source described HOFFA as being "very paranoid" about

being under constant FBI physical and technical surveillance..

II HOFFA attended a meeting where illegal activities were

discussed and notes were taken by HOFFA, he (HOFFA) would tear up

the notes and flush them down the toilet before leaving the

meeting. Source noted HOFFA took this action because he feared

being stopped and searched by the FBI as he departed meetings.

Source recalled HOFFA frequently had his telephones and

offices swept for wire taps by an LCN associate (name not.

recalled). This associate was later the victim of an ICN "hit" in

Chicago.

Source advised HOFFA was so paranoid that at one time

HOFFA feared the FBI had "bugged" his toilet.

Source never had any discussions with HOFFA about

killing either President JOHN F. KENNEDY or Attorney General

ROBERT F. KENNEDY.

Source did recall disparaging remarks made by

HOFFA about the KENNEDY family while both PRESIDENT KENNEDY and

ROBERT F. KENNEDY were alive. Source advised that while HOFFA

"disliked" JOHN F: KENNEDY, HOFFA did not "hate" him. Source said

HOFFA "hated" ROBERT F. KENNEDY. HOFFA's hatred for ROBERT F.

KENNEDY resulted from problems ROBERT F. KENNEDY caused HOFFA

while KENNEDY was assigned to the Senate Rackets Committee and

after KENNEDY became U.S. Attorney General.

On several

occasions, HOFFA made statements hoping that someone would either

"beat up" or "blow away" ROBERT F. KENNEDY.

After PRESIDENT

KENNEDY's assassination; HOFFA told source "JACK (KENNEDY) was

not a bad guy but he allowed BOBBY (KENNEDY) to run his life".

Source recalled that immediately following PRESIDENT

KENNEDY's assassination on November 22, 1963, the TEAMSTERS

offices in Washington, D.C., were closed and the American flag

was ordered to fly at half-staff by order of HAROLD GIBBONS,

HOFFA'S Executive Assistant in Washington. Because of this

action, HOFFA fired GIBBONS and replaced GIBBONS with ROY

FITZSIMMONS.

DocId: 32177748 Page 5

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## Page 6

Released' under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote).

DATE: 11-14-2017

SEGRET

source identified JOSEPH CONNO (phonetic) as a current

source described CONNO as

one of HOFFA's close assistants in the 1960s who may have

knowledge of HOFFA's activities prior to the assassination of

PRESIDENT KENNEDY.

Based upon source's relationships with past ICN bosses,

source commented that if RAGANO's claims about an LCN contract

against PRESIDENT KENNEDY were true, RAGANO would have been

killed by the LCN years ago. Based on RAGANO's claims that HOFFA,

through RAGANO, requested TRAFFICANTE to arrange for the murder

Of PRESIDENT KENNEDY, RAGANO should have been killed shortly

after PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S assassination. This would have been

done to prevent RAGANO from identifying either HOFFA or

TRAFFICANTE as orchestrating the "hit".

ADMINISTRATIVE:

WARNING: INFORMATION FROM NY 0856-02151

IS HIGHLY SINGULAR IN NATURE

AND DISCLOSURES COULD REVEAL SOURCE'S IDENTITY. SOURCE IS A HIGH

LEVEL INFORMANT «CRITICAL TO MAJOR FCI AND CRIMINAL

INVESTIGATIONS SWHOSE IDENTITY, IF REVEALED, WILL POSITIVELY LEAD

TO PHYSICAL DANGER IO SOURCE AND SOURCE'S FAMILY (6)

WARNING: DISSEMINATION OF THIS INFORMATION TO UNITED STATES CA~

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

LA CHANNELS THAT WOULD BRING INFORMATION TO

THE ATTENTION OF INR

EMPLOYEE JESSE CLEAR MAY CREATE SECURITY

PROBLEMS FOR SOURCE

WARNING: STATEMENT TO BE ADDED TO ANY DISSEMINATION: INFORMATION

ON THIS DOCUMENT SHOULD NOT BE PROVIDED TO ANY OTHER AGENCY

WITHOUT PRIOR BUREAU APPROVAL.

WARNING: STATEMENT TO BE ADDED TO ANY DISSEMINATION:

INFORMATION ON THIS DOCUMENT SHOULD NOT BE PROVIDED TO THE UNITED

STATES INFORVATON AGENCY (USIA) §U/L

Sents

SECRET

DocId: 32177748

Page 6

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