[RESTRICTED]
Originator: FBI
From: SAC, AL
To: DIRECTOR, FBI
Document date: 09/28/1976
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

124-10221-10299

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

JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM

IDENTIFICATION FORM

AGENCY INFORMATION

AGENCY: FBI

RECORD NUMBER: 124-10221-10299

RECORD_ SERIES: HQ

AGENCY FILE NUMBER: CR-SEE TITLE

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM:

SAC, AL

TO: DIRECTOR, FBI

TITLE: CR 134-25251-56X

DATE: 09/28/1976

PAGES: 6

SUBJECT:

DOCUMENT_ TYPE:

ORIGINAL

CLASSIFICATION:

REVIEW DATE:

STATUS

PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

Secret

08/17/1998

Redact

NEW

CLASSIFICATION:

UPDATE DATE:

RESTRICTIONS:

JFK Act 6 (1)(B)

JFK Act 6 (4)

COMMENTS:

INC LHM

HH 50953

DocId: 32340906 Page 1

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## Page 2

FD-36 iRev. 2-14-74)

FBI

MATION CONTAINED

E UNCLASSIFIED

Date: *

ORE SHOWN

9/28/76

Transmitsthe following in

MA OTHET

CLASSI

68 SID/KSR

(Type in plaintext or code)

DON

REASOATEOIM II,

ECTOR,

MEROPRIATE AGENC

AND

WED OFFT

ADVISEI

OUTING

SE.

07

D/OR

= CIA INFORMATI

9-203

1896-

DECLASSIFCAT

BELEASE

IN THIS DOCUMEN

FROM

SAC, ALBANY: {105-11938

SUBJECT

MANUEL LEONARDO DE

ARMAS

S - CUBA (C)

PEGISTRATION ACT

2100: ALBANY) (S(M)

aces made for SSCA revenut

1 FBIHQ Of. Hofor reguest #6013(3a))

1p.29/r recuest *6013 (3c)/

56/4

BefAlbanyt

Irtel of 9/27/76.(U)

Enclosed for the Bureau is the original and

copies

of a letterhead memorandum dated and captioned

24

six

as

above, which reflects the subject's interview of 9/17/76 at

thexutica, New York, Resident Agency. (9) Sx)

infielda

Enclosed for Miami#are

two

copies and for Chicago

Sia)

One

copy of the above described LHM. (U)

Contents of the LIM

LHM

are self-explanatory and are

in

furnished to the Bureau

for transmittal to the CIA at

the Headquarters lavel. (U)

2.3

2,4, 5, 6.

Agents who conducted the interview were SA's

7,9;10, 1

"JOSEPH

DEYO and JAMES J. ROSE. (U) ..

12, 101,15,.

This IHM has been classified "Secret" in that it

17,18,19;

i relate an pose dout as it bat it in sex is 237

gation

a priority statushana

case will be expeditious

BureaU

REC-60

(Encs.

SECRET

7242524

Miam: (105-23589)

05! 25 42)

24 ACT -1 1978

Chicago

(Enc.

*Albany

JR/rvm

1555

7)

54.1l.

Blassified

Declassily

5

Salgael

CLASS,

REASON

DATE

assified by.

tate ate as poozas

1271

Cat

hite

NN 50953

Doc1d:32340906

Page 2

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## Page 3

DECLASSIEICATION AUTHCEITI DERIVED EROU

FBI AUTOMATIC DECLASSIEICATIEN CUIDE

DATE 00-15-2023

BY: 3043/98142

4/14/81

•2

CL

REASO

SEBR

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

In Reply, Please Refer

File No.

Falbany, New York 7Cg)14)

10-214

80

Classified iy

3cklicl

CLASS. &

September 28,

1976

EXT

REASON-FCIM II,

Declassim on: DADR

7/6/53

BY 92-4200/3

2.4,

DATE OF REVIEW

920-96

32/

*MANUEL LEONARDO DE ARMAS * ,

• Fria Release

Information contained in this memorandum

is considered secret unless otherwise noted herein. U

on september 17, 1976, MANUEL LEONARDO DE ARMAS, by

request, voluntarily appeared at the Utica Resident Agency

of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (FBI) He was advised

goof the FBI's interest and jurisdiction in internal security

matters as well as his constitutional rights as they appear

an Interrogation; Advice of Rights Waivery DE ARMAS subsequently

furnished the following information which was recorded with-

I1s knowleage and consent.

MINGA/ BETANCOURT

VENEIL:

DE ARMAS departed Utica, New York, in March,

1975 for the purpose of obtaining employment in the Miami, Florida

a firm named Preventive Security Service. DE ARMAS explained 'that

his grandmother presently resides in Caracas, Venezuela and that

the 26 year old daughter of INCA

currently residing

in Cuba and employed as a director of Cuban bird"

Motion Pictures, and the ex-wife of RAUL BETANCOURT_Of Venezuela.

D'ARMAS stated

that MARIA has been involved In the leftist Movement

in Venezuela

along with 4 brothers whose last names are GARCIA-PONCE

who are considered the Leftist elite of that country. DI ARMAS

pointed out that his primary reason for traveling to Caracas was

to place himself in a position where he could be of assistance to

the United States Government. He stated that in conversations with?

MARIA and the GARCIA-PONCE Brothers, they discussed numerous

& Illegal activities including the possibility of drug traffic from

i columbia:

(SAM)

DE ARMAS returned to Miami on October 4, 1975 and discussed

the overall possibility of establishing contact with the Cuban

Government with the FBI, but in view of the vagueness of his

statements, there was little response from that agency,

He then

This document

SEG

GRET

CIAtHA&s NDe DENICTION TO

(M)

ACT TAT

RICATION CONTAINED

I UNCLASSIFIED

EXCHE! WHERE SHOWN

OTHERWISE

the FBI. It is

the FBI and is

REASEOgERTY SPFORMATION

it and its conti This bocoMent never t

BRACKETS

distributed

onese your

CLASSIFIED

8134-253

ORY NUMBER

AND 24

Tm 6, 25:4

SLD|KSH

7-31-97

HH 50953 DocId:32340906 Page 3

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## Page 4

RE :

MANUEL LEONARDO DE ARMAS *

CRASHOD FERNANDEZ, whom he described as an Assistant

to the President of Venezuela and a CIA source

came to his attention from a MINOLO FERNANDEZ

This information

(V)

whom DE ARMAS

described as a functionary of the venezuelam General Counsel

in miami, and also from one RIcARdOMorAlES NAvARETTE

functioned out of Caracas.

the information concerning this individual is common now-eage CubA

in certain circles. A second individual, ORIANDO GARCIA VASQUEZ

was described as a Cuban National in charge

security of the President of Venezuela and also a CIA source,

and apparently in charge of security for high levels of

Venezuelan Government in general.

DE ARMAS, established a cover for NAVARETTE, in Venezuela

who is also working for the CIA, as well as the FBI When

.. (U)

asked how he knew this DE ARMAS claimed that information

amoung Cuban emigre groups as well

as

in Cuba itself. He claimed that VASQUEZ has

a target of the

Cuban Government for the last fifteen years.

tape was completed to the satisfaction of his Cuban

Intelligence corroboraters and he described the finished product

as a "bombshell". The tape was then submitted to FIDEL CASTRO

for review and approval:

CASTRO reviewed the film prior to its

submission to the Political Bureau and after CASTRO's review it

was sent back to their group for revision.

A number of cuts

were made in the video tape which is apparent when viewed in

that the tape in part lacks continuity.

Reference to BRASTOS FERNANDEZ and ORLAND GARCIA

VASQUEZ was deleted from the video tape.

The purpose of these

suts wagilyavoid any stress in Venezuelan-Cuban relations.

PASCUAL

to have been the case officer handling

DE ARMAS, told DE ARMAS that CASTRO desired to speak to him

after reviewing the tape.

DE ARMAS was placed on standby to

await a summons from CASTRO for interview.

About 2 o'clock

he a ot the Revie ye or the brate ng dry or tro

behind the statute of JOSE MARTIN

floor office occupied by CASTRO.

Mireeded to a fleth

DE ARMAS' interview with CASTRO was brief and to

the point. CASTRO was sympathic towards DE ARMAS' position

but spoke as if the impetus for the press conference came from

V

SECRI

16

191-10s5dd

HH 50953 DocId:32340906 Page 4

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## Page 5

RE :

MANUEL LE

SEC.

ARDO DE ARMAS

F

pe)

DE ARMAS and that for his own reasons CASTRO wanted a number

of revisions made in the tape. CASTRO's attitude implied that he

Cut that

AL)

DE ARMAS recalled, that again on his own, he made a

statement at the beginning of the press conference in which he

remarked that the statements he was making were voluntary. His

interview with CASTRO lasted for approximately twenty minutes and

he expressed a completely willing and positive attitude to CASTRO

in the release of the press conference.

He did not object in any

way to the revisions which CASTRO had found necessary.

DE ARMAS'

impression from his interview with CASTRO was that CASTRO attempted

to convey the impression to him that he or the Cuban Government were

doing DE ARMAS a favor in permitting him to make the press release.

At this point in the interview, DE ARMAS explained

that he did not feel that the information that he furnished in

the press release was of any great damage to the United States

Government in that it contained many obvious untruths ang

misinformation. As an example, he purposely identified Mr.

an employee of the CIA when he is actually

an employee of DEA.

He reiterated that his motivation throughout

all of this activity was to ingratiate himself with the Cuban

Government in order to place himself in a position whereby

he could be of assistance to the United States Government.

DE ARMAS

accepted full responsibility for all

his actions as .

noted throughout this entire affair.

FARMAS noted that he had made some comments concerning.

one FELIX MARTINEZ whom he identified as a Cuban exile who left

sometime during the revolution and is connected with the

Anti-CASTRO news media.

DE ARMAS did not know MARTINEZ 'and

was simply briefed on his activities by Cuban Intelligence, which

information was reflected in his news release.

He also referred

to

a POLITO (phonetic) in the same context.

identified MARTINEZ and POLIFO as CIA contract agents

ma cove, e

He recalls haying

He referred

ARMAS, was a State witness in

the case of DR

ORLANDO

DE ARMAS stated that the press release contained comments

concerning the FBI in Miami, Florida, and specifically about an

individual named DWYER who is well known in Miami

and who is

(ni)

17

991-172

HH 50953 DocId:32340906 Page 5

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## Page 6

In regards to the ROLANDO MASFERRER murder, DE ARMAS claimed

that Abdala considered MASFERRE? as an obstacle to Its efforts and

had formulated plans for his assassination.

The possibility of

planting C-4 plastic explosive in his automobile was explored.

After a number of discussions, of which DE ARMAS was privy,

someone in Abdala made the statement to forget about the

plans to kill MASFERRER. DE ARMAS stated that shortly thereafter

MASFERRER was killed when his automobile was bombed.

After the

bombing,

Mr. ROBERT MILLS of the FBI Miami, approached DE ARMAS and

inquired as to any information he may have

as to the bombing and whether

he was personally involved in it.

DE ARMAS advised MILLS of the discussions

denied any direct knowledge 'of MASFERRER's murder.

Cuban Intelligence were aware that DE ARMAS was affiliated

with Abdala and they also believed that he had direct knowledge of

the MASFERRER killing. As a result, during his debriefings, DE ARMAS

attributed the receipt of plastic explosiye C-4 from BOB MILLS whom

he purposely identified/asja CIA Officer.

Then he claimed that he gave u

the explosives to Abdala with the implication that Abdala

responsible for MASFERRER's murder.

WiSA

DE ARMAS claimed that an individual named MA

LESIN

although claiming to be an anti-Castro Cuban in the Miami

ETorida

area, is a close personal friend of CASTRO and RAUL CASTRO.

He is

the director of an anti-Castro magazi

yet the feeling in

Havana is

that he may be working for CASTRO.

A2)

CABA

also discussed with DE ARMAS. DE ARMAS claimed that

The bombing of WOlA Broadcaster EMIIIOMQUIION WaS F

shortly after

furnishing his press release he was naturally branded as a traitor

by the Cuban Community in Miami.

MOULION took the position

publicly that the full story concerning DE ARMAS had not come to

light and thereafter statements concerning his treason were unfounded

at the time.

About 3 days after his defense of DE ARMAS,

his automobile was bombed with the result that MOULION

lost both his legs. DE ARMAS had no knowledge of the bombing

LUB.

of MOULION's car.

However, the offigial Cuban sentiment is that

the bombing

was performed by elLIud

RIVERIA'S group.

Government is elated over this because favela whe has alvasy beentant.

of the leaders of the anti-Castro movement in Miami, had now resorted to

radical terrorist action, fearful as many other anti-Castro Cubans .

are, that the United States will resume diplomatic relations with

SEC

29

991-109077

HH 50953 DocId:32340906 Page 6

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## Page 7

.154

RE :

MANUEL

LEONARDO, DEY ARMA

DEVARMAS also stated that Cuban Intellagence considered

RAMON

ORZCA CRESP instrumental in the bombing of the Cuban fishing

vessel off the Bahamas which precipitatedihis press-conference.

DE ARMAS explained that all of the information concerning the

above bombing was forthcoming from conversations with Cuban-Intelligence

or participation in any of the above described bombings or other

bombings related to Cuban matters in the US oF abroad.

He placed a

Intelligence

and attributed that to

weat ee loaste te the be an extense at network working in Maimi for

the CASTRO Government.

He advised that that network furnishes the Cubar

Goverment back from Manif We ferdous operations within a matter

Concerning ORIANDO BOSCH, the Cuban Government feels

that the United States In sohe way

is protecting him, and considers

the Dominican republic as being dominated by the united states (5)/m)

DE

ARMAS felt that he had accomplished his objective of

himself in a position of trust within Cuban Intelligence

He wished to make this

a matter of record with American

igence as well as to place himself at their disposal.

His only

is that he be advised as quickly as possible as to his possible

ation by the United States Government. SHe stated that he

directed by Cuban Intelligence to pertorm any acts

Chane those noted above on their behalf.

The Cuban

enge officers that he identified never identified

vespas being with the DGI but only described themselves as

chen

beii

Or

Cuban Intelligence.

DE ARMAS was never shown any credentia

cuments which would identify them as such a

ZECKEL

30*

991-109dd

HW 50953

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