## Page 1

va.

Released under the John F. Kennedy

1 (Rev. 5-1-59)

Assassination Records Collection

Act of 1992 144 USC 2107 Notel.

CaseR:NU 54464 Date: 10-11-2017

FEDERAL BUREACON SENTIAL

NYESTIGATION

REPORTING OFFICE

MIAMI

TITLE OF CASE

OFPICIONORIGIN

Xpic

MLAMI

DATE

8/8/63

REPORT MADE BY

VICIOR DOMINADOR ESPINOSA

FERNANDEZ-

WILLIAM MAYO DREW, JR.

CARLOS EDUARDO HERNANDEZ SANCHEZ:

CHARACTER OF CASE

JOHN KOCH-CERE

ACELO PEDROSO.

INVESTIGATIVE PERIOD

7/18 - 8/5/63

CK

1341

NEUTRALITY MATTERS

REFERENCE:

Bureau afrtel 8/2/63;

ALL INPORATION CONTADOr leans teletype 8/1/63.

FATE

jUSCLASSIFIED

1S.C8

RENE SHOWN

* OTHE

LEADS

ST. LOUISE

Classified

Declassify d

SOSBIAGCL

• OADRH/6/84

AT ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

It 1s requested that information set out by St.

Louis teletype August 3, 1963, be placed on a Form FD-302 in

the eveat this case reaches prosecution.

70n lat

APPROVED

SFECIAL AGENT

IN CHARGE

COPIES MADE:

- Bureau

(RM)

1

- CIA, Miami

(RM)

1 =

INS, Miami

• (RM)

1 - U. S. Border Patrol, Miami (RM)

1 - ONI, Miami (RM)

2 - Miam1 (2-353)

(Copies Cont'd. Cover Page B.)

Dissemination Record of Attached Raport

Agency

Request Recd.

Copy to: itA/State/o

Date Fwd.

How Fwd.

By

by routine-elip for info

Datep

17 2 AUG 21 1963

2-

DO NOT WRITE IN SPACES BELOW

1821-

•33

REL. 47

EX-102

25 AUG 12 1963

Notations

Custom

FAA

NAT. DIM SEC.

CONK

NW 54464 DooId: 32570533

Page 1

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## Page 2

CONFIMENTIAL

MM. 2-353

• ADMINISTRATIVE

X'eet on page 21

on 7/26/63 U.S. Supervising Customs Agent

WALLACE SHANLEY, Miami, advised SA WILLIAM MAYO DREW,

that saubentor was being utilized as a source

of his office and he believed that through BENTON

Customs had necessary coverage of the subjects.

SHANLEY was of the opinion that it was preferable not

to interview the individuals Involved in the bombing

raid plan in order that the subjects would not be.

deterred in engaging in overt acts which would make a

prosecutable case.

on 7/27/63 Mr. SHANLEY was recontacted

relative to the interest of U. S. Customs in the cache

of explosives which was believed located at a house

near Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana.

Mr. SHANLEY

answered that the case was not workable from Miami

since the subjects at Miami might take no action for

an extended period, and Customs as a matter of policy

did not handle cases involving explosives wherein the

explosives would be under the control or within the

knowledge of Customs and at the same time present the

considerable danger which explosives constitute.

He

stated that the Customs Service makes every effort to

avoid being a party to the moving of explosives, as

when done by subjects of a case with knowledge of

Customs, and therefore he believed the matter of the

located

explosives

should be turned over to the local

authorities in Louisiana for seizure action.

on 7/26/63 MM 639-S advised that on that same

date he talked with SAM BENTON, of Miami Beach, and

BENTON Informed him that he had 2,500 lbs. of dynamite

in Mississipp1 which he would like to sell for TNT.

BENTON told the source that he would like to locate

B-25 and also American pilots. BENTON told the source

that the cubans with whom he is dealing did not truat (xle

•D=

∞ COVER PAGE •

CONFIXENTIAL

HH 54464 DooId:32570533 Page 2

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## Page 3

MM 2-353

EVELIO ALPIZAR, who was to have been the pilot in

the attempted raid on Cuba which was broken up

Customs at Miami In June, 1963.

BENTON stated that

ALPIZAR is believed to have been the informant who

enabled Customs to round up the participants in

the planned raid. @fU

on 7/31/63 Mr. SHANLEY stated that he had

learned nothing further of the plan of subjects, but

that BENTON was In touch with his office,

and as of

a week previously BENTON claimed he was still looking

for a plane and that the group intended to go

through with the raid on Cuba.

Mr. SHANLEY said he

believed that BENTON would inform his office if the

bombing operation was undertaken.

The foregoing information from MM 639-S

is not included in the body of the report inasmuch as

BENTON 1s a contact of Mr. SHANLEY, of Customs, and

the

Information could reveal to SHANLEY the informant n

In interview of MIGUEL ALVAREZ on 8/1/62, he

stated that SAM BENTON's late model Pontlac, confiscated

by Customs at the time of the seizure of the plane and

explosives on 6/15/63, has been returned to BENTON,

whereas the Ford Thunderbird belonging to the aunt of

VICTOR ESPINOSA has been held by Customs.

During the Interview of VICTOR ESPINOSA on

7/31/63, ESPINOSA stated that Customs at Miami told him

they would return his car if he told them where he obtained

the money for the explosives which were seized and from

whom he bought the explosives.

ESPINOSA claimed that he

told Customs to keep the car.

On 7/31/63 Mr. SHANLEY, Of U.S. Customs, stated

he had no objection to interview of SAM BENTON by the

Miami Office of the FBI

in connection with instant case.

- E.

• COVER PAGE

CONFI

NTIA!

NW 54464 DooId: 32570533 Page 3

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## Page 4

FD-298 (Rev. 5-1-599)

FEDERAL BURLAU OF INVESTIGATION

J0IN8X04181112

REPORTING OFFICE

MIAMI

THILE OF CASE

OFFICE OF ORIGIN

MLAMI

DATE

INVESTIGATIVE FERIOO

8/8/63

17/18. - 8/5/63

REPORT MADE DY

VICTOR DOMINADOR ESPINOSA HERNANDEZS CHARACTER OF CASE

WILLIAM MAYO DREW, JR.

CARLOS EDUARDO HERNANDEZ SANCHEZ;

JOHN KOCH GENE;

ACELO PEDROSO.

NEUTRALITY MATTERS.

TYPED BY

CK

REFERENCE:

Bureau adItel 8/2/63;

ALL INTORMATION CONTAINED

New Orleans teletype 8/1/63.

UNCIASSIFIED

•P.

ONE SHOWN

OTHERWISE

LPADS

ST. LOUISS

Declassity on: OADR /16/84

AT ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

It is requested that laformation set out by St.

Louis teletype August 3, 1963, be placed on a Form FD-302 1a

the event this case reaches prosecution.

APPROVED

SPECIAL AGENT

IN CHARGE

COPIES MADE:

12) - Bureau (RM)

1 - CIA, Miami (RM)

1 - INS, Miami (RM)

1 - U. S. Border Patrol, Miami (RM)

1 - ONI, Miami (RM)

Co - BLant (2-353

1 Cover Page B:

Dissemination Record of Attached Report

Agency

Request Recd.

Date Fwd.

How Fwd:

By

DO NOT WRITE IN SPACES BELOW

211821-33

Noration's

CONFIDENTIAI

NW 54464 DooId: 32570533 Page 4

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## Page 5

MM. 2-353

CONFIDENTIAL

• ADMINISTRATIVE •

on 7/26/63 U.S. Supervising Customs Agent

WALLACE SHANLEY, Miami, advised SA WILLIAM MAYO DREW,

JI•.

that SAM BENTON was being utilized as a source

of his office and he believed that through BENTON

Customs had necessary coverage of the subjects.

SHANLEY was of the opinion that it was preferable not

to interview the individuals Involved in the bombing

raid plan in order that the subjects would not be

deterred in engaging in overt acts which would make a

prosecutable case.

on 7/27/63 Mr. SHANLEY was recontacted

relative to the interest of U. S. Customs in the cache

of explosives which was believed located at a house

near Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana.

Mr. SHANLEY

answered that the case was not workable from Miami

since the subjects at Miami might take no action for

an extended period, and Customs as a matter of policy

did not handle cases involving explosives wherein the

explosives would be under the control or within the

knowledge of Customs and at the same time present the

considerable danger which explosives constitute.

stated that the Customs Service makes every effort to

avoid being a party to the moving of explosives,

as.

when done by subjects of a case with knowledge of

Customs, and therefore he belleved the matter of the

located explosives should be turned over to the local

authorities in Louisiana for seisure action.

On 7/26/63 MM 639-S advised that on that same

date he talked with SAM BENTON, of Miami Beach, and

BENTON informed him that he had 2,500 lbs. of dynamite

in Mississippi which he would like

to sell for TNT.

BENTON told the source that he would like

to locate

a

B-25 and also American pilots. BENTON told the source

that the Cubans with whom he is dealing did

I not trust (4 74)

• COVER PAGE

CONFODENTIAL

HH 54464 DooId:32570533 Page 5

---

## Page 6

MM

2-353

CONFISENTIAL

EVELIO ALPIZAR, who was to have been the pilot in

the attempted raid on Cuba which was broken up

• by

Customs at Miami In June, 1963.

BENTON stated that

ALPIZAR is believed to have been the informant who

enabled Customs to round up

the participants in

the planned raid. (AXU

on 7/31/63 Mr. SHANLEY stated that he had

learned nothing further of the plan of subjects, but

that BENION was In touch with his office,

and as of

a week previously BENTON claimed he was still looking

for a plane and that the group intended to go

through with the raid on cuba.

Mr • SHANLEY said he

believed that BENTON would Inform his office 1f the

bombing operation was undertaken.

The foregoing Information from MM 639-S

is not included in the body of the report inasmuch as

BENTON 1s a contact of Mr. SHANLEY, of Customs, and the

information could reveal to SHANLEY the Informant

status of MM 639-S. CACK

stated that SAM BENTON's late model Pontiac, confiscated

by customs at the time of the seizure of the plane and

explosives on 6/15/63, has been returned to BENTON,

whereas the Ford Thunderbird belonging to the aunt of

VICTOR ESPINOSA has been held by Customs.

During the interview of VICTOR ESPINOSA on

7/31/63, ESPINOSA stated that Customs at Miami told him

they would return his car if he told them where he obtained

the money for the explosives which were seized and from

whom he bought the explosives. ESPINOSA claimed that he

told Customs to keep the car.

Miami Office of the FBI in connection with instant case.

• COVER PAGE •

CONFIDKINTIAL

HH 54464 DooId:32570533 Page 6

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