Originator: HSCA
From: CIA
Document date: 00/00/0000
Document type: FORM

## Page 1

180-10145-10316

FBL

REVIEWED BY FBNUFK TASK FORCE

ON

4/98 dat

RELEASE IN FULL

RELEASE IN PART

_ 2022 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

MAX LESNICK MENENDEZ

SECRET

201-209258

RETURN TO CIA

Background Use Only

VOLUME I

* Io Not Faproduce

6/22/49 - 12/31/73

11110930

400 sn

LOTION TO

DECLASSINCATION AND/OR

RELEASE O

THIS DOCUMENT

at,

THIRD AGENCY DOCUMENTS:

FBI--

12/31/73

9/27/73

11/8/73

6/26/73

4/26/73

4/27/73

Miami

Miami

Max Lesnick,

Directorio Revoluc.

"

105-3492

105-20202

9/25/69

Miami

Miami

Miami

Miami

Miami

Orlando Bosch

105-20202

105-2856

"

10/15/68

1/29/65

9/21/61

3/30/61.

11/23/55

Rolando Masferrer Rojas 2-156

Miami

Unk. Subj.-Cmte of Cubans 105-16515

for the defense...

Miami

Second Natl Front of

105-6243

Escambray

Miami

Max Lesnick

San Antonio Max Lesnick

105-3492

105-2124

Carlos Rafael Rodriguez

Rodriguez

-

STATE DEPARTMENT

6/22/49

TOTAL DENIAL

Havana

Proposed Cub. Natl Congress #486

for Peace and Democracy

FILE:

Synopsis:

File consists mainly of information from the period 1949-1961,

indicating Lesnick has been active in politics for most of his

adult life.

During the fifties he was a prominent leader of

Juventud Ortodoxa, which was considered to have strong leftist

leanings. He engaged in propaganda efforts to large extent with

this group and was vocally anti-Batista. By 1959 he was involved

with sint, a lettist-oriented group which originally backed the

Castro-Urrutia government. In 1961, however, he left for the United

States and was keptein detention for some weeks because of suspected

10145-10316

---

## Page 2

LESNICK, page 2

SECRET

11110931 •

Conmunist leanings. In the fifties he had had some contact with

CIA operatives or cut-outs.

- DoC X ref - 201-0733547[LX/03890 12/12/73

[AMFREE, )considered good source, claimed Lesnick was an officer

with Fidel.

Described Lesnick as "red as a beet.'

--

INS - Agency name check 10/1/68

Max Edgardo Lesnick Menendez, PDOB: Las Villas, Cuba 9/8/30

Organizations:

Federacion Estuantil Univ. Havana, 1948-55

Ortodoxo Party, Director, Juventud Ortodoxo, 1951,

1947-60

SFNE, Natl Secy

1959-1960

Residence:

Miami from June 1961 to present; Havana until Jan 1961.

Employment:

2/1959 - Cadena Oriental de Radio, Diario Nacional,

9/60

Havana

2/65-4/67 - Self-employed, WMIE Radio Station

to present - Unemployed

Last admission to U.S. 1/26/61

-- CUFG 21845/33 Bio data report -

Pre law student, Havan, 3 years/

ran small cigar and coffee shop in Havana 1955-8

Radio Commentator, 1959-60

Member executive board of Ortodoxo Party Youth section.

In charge of propaganda for anti-Batista group, SNFE, 1957-585

and for anti-Castro groups, People's Revolutionary Movement, MRP,

and Montecristi group (AM, 1960.

Arrived in small boat in U.S in early 1961. Held in INS

detention center for several months because of suspected pro-

Communist connecitons.

Taped daily program, "Cuba Awakens" in Miami and broadcast from

the Dominican Republic, 1962-63.

Publisher of a small exile newspaper in Miami,

"Replica", since

1963, and commetator for daily news program, "Radio Replica";

since 1964.

Father, Samuel Lesnick, born in Poland, operated cothing store

in Havana, and now lives in the Dominican Republic. He 1s

divorced from Lesnick's mother, Maria Teresa Menendez, a retired

teacher.

Max Lesnick is married to Miriam Alvarez, a ballet teacher.

---

## Page 3

LESNICK, page 3

SECRET

11110932

Lesnick: small, stock, sloppy, brash, aggressive,

and excitable.

Highly partisan and argumentative.

Effective public speaker

and writer, and a keen, bright political observer and analyst.

Unreliable and not very trustworthy. Does not have political

leadership talents.

Reported as pro-Communist and as an active Communist propagandist

while at the University of Havana.

Rumored to originator of

Cuba S1, Yankee No slogan, which he denies.

Says relationships with

Communists stems soley from opposition to Prio and Batista...

-- Doc X ref

019-300-004 UFGO3590 9/10/63

Lesnick committed himself officially to JURE. Would broadcast

weekly on behalf of JURE in Dominican Republic.

-- INS Name check 1/29/61

Indicates :

-- Cable IN 43772 1/2/59

5'6", 150 lbs., brn eyes, brn hair; dark complexion.

Indicates, Lesnick rear guard of SFNE, of which Menoyo and

Fleites,

at front.

SNFE accepting Castro, Urrutia, urgently

seeking contact with Camilio Cienfeugos, coordinate use troops

Remainder of file regarding pre-Castro activities.

Dispatch

-[HKH -A-4002]

10/31/57

Indicates listed as UMKEEL target in 1957. Contact was established

with him in about August 1957 as a consequence of his non-

immigrat visa application, and about six meetings ave been

held with him since that time, ostnesibly for the purpose

of fully clarifying his visa astatus. When and if he obtains

visa, PRQ Part. I will be forwarded according to UMKEEL porcedure.

VOLUME II:

THIRD AGENCY DOCUMENTS:

FBI--

11/16/77

Director

Cuban Intell. Activities

in U.S.

8/6/77

1/1/76

"

"

Wild Stallion, IS-Cuba, Panama

Anti-castro Activities

---

## Page 4

....

:

LESNICK, Page 4

9/25/74

9/20/74

8/20/74

7/31/74

7/29/74

7/23/74

6/28/74

6/25/74

3/27/74

3/14/74

3/14/74

2/28/74

2/20/74

Miami

Miami

Miami

Miami

Miami

Miami

Miami

Miami

Miami

Miami

Miami

Miami

Miami

2/13/74

2/11/74

2/16/74

1/15/74

Miami

Miami

SECRET

Max Lesnick

11110933

105-3492

Union Mundial Anticomunista

105-22159

Ruben Dario Mascunana Correa 105-21878

Accion Cubana

105-21947

Orlando Garcia Benitez

105-21901

Union Mundial Anticommunista 105-22159

Max Lesnick

105-3492

"ZERO"

105-22094

Anti-Castro activities

105-1742

Rev. Medical Union; Dr. Hum- 105-71604

berto Luis Fontana Menendez

Accion Cubana

Max Lesnick

105-21947

105-3492

Alfredo Santiago Soler Alva-

rez

Directorio Revolucionario

105-20202

Jose Antonio Calatayud

• Rivero

105-21599

Orlando Bosch Avila

105-2856

Frente Cubana de Liberacion

105-21892

FILE:

Synopsis:

Indicates Lesnick still inolved with "Replica" from 1963

to present.

Known as pro-Castro leftist.

vera be with one terror suspecte reing ent A Poramanian

government, possibly engaged in anti-Us. proganda in the

CanalZone.

- Doc X ref - 200-006-495/18 DTR-01686 1/18/78

Attended meeting for purpose of organizing secret anti-Castro

group.

-- Cable 936139 012017Z 11/1/76

Traces re: Lesnick--indicates Lesnick involved with Orlando

---

## Page 5

LESNICK, Page 5

SEGRET

11110934

Bosch and was involved in and supported a number of Cuban

exile Revolutionary groups' terrorist activities/

Lesnick recvd money from Panama (allegdely) in conneciton

with narcotics traffic and allegedly was responsible for

the arrest in Panama of Gabriel Gregorio Rodriguez,

who was suspected of plotting against the Torrijos

government in Panama. As of 9/74 Lesnick and Bosch reptdly

no longer cooperating because of an argument over money.

(Cable also has traces on Aldo Vera Serafin, DPOB 7/28/28,

Las Villas, Cuba.

Held several positions in Castro govt

including that of Chief of Technical investigations Dept,

main intelligence organ of Cuban Natl Police. Arr. in U.S

3/13/61. Issued permanent Alien reg. # A 12-486-223 June 1965.

In 1972 moved to Puerto Rico. Very active in Cuban exile groups

until killed 10/25/76 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Vera involved with Bosch's Accion Cubana. BKHERALD] had had

contact.

Considered in 1964 for

Registered with Army ISR for period 1/64-7/64

-and 8/64-4/66, both times dropped without prejudice.

-- Message - IN 080362 262132Z Oct 76

Indicates Bosch under arrest in Venezuela with Luis Posada Carriles

alias

"El Bambi."

Bosch traveling on Costa Rican passport

and also had Nicaraguan, Domincan and Chilean passports.

Bosch's contacts: Manuel Porro in Nicaragua; Orlando Nunez in

Costa Rica; Mario Rivadilla in Santo Domingo. Posada

described as ex US Army ranger, who worked for Nenez. DIGEPOL for

8 years and then organized private detective agency which employs

over 1000 men. Posada directed all violent actions in Venezuela

against the Communists. His alias,

"Inspector Basilio" and

also "El Caliche'

The recent operation agasint the Cubana plane

was mounted by Posada assisted by Aldo Vera.

Bosch's recent trip

to Venezuela was an attempt to settle the differences between

"Aldo's group" and CORU. Bosch's mission was successful as it

appears CORU and Aldo's group will unite. Aldo Vera reportedly

in Puerto Rico.

Joe Merola and Rolando Martinez to introduce reporting writer

to Arnulfo Arias in Panama.

Merola and MArtinez described as

having contact with CIA.

-- Message - OM 076237 211217Z Oct 76

Max Lesnick implicated in Cubana Airliner operation.

Trace [UFG - 0179) 10/20/62

Planned a shortwave broadcast of recent Alpha attack from

Santo Domingo on 10/12/62

-- Trace

TUFG 04843 / 3127/64

Believed to be liason between Ray

?

---

## Page 6

LESNICK, page, 6

Trace

SEGRET

LUFGA

17410 A0178/24/64

Contact of Jorge Volsky

11110935

201-209258 REF

UFGA 12336, 11/3/63

Arr USA Key West, FL, 1/26/61 requesting political asylum.

Date of info 11/63

--

Message IN 314921 231916Z July 74

Newsarticle indicates Pedro Martinez filing charges against

Lesnick, claiming Lesnick threatened him with guns ordering him

out of Dade County.

--

Message 570490 031611Z 7/3/74

Lesnick involved in court case in Washington as defense witness.

Possibly CUIS agent.

possibly unregistered panamanian agent.

- Doc Extract - PACT}2892476126174

Subject of security investigation by FBI. In contact with

Ruben

Dario Mascunana.

---