STURGIS, FRANK - REVIEW OF FILE.
Originator: CIA
From: HOPKINS, CHRIS
To: MEMO FOR THE RECORD
Document date: 10/01/1973
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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1104-10049-10024

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

APPROVED FOR RELEASE 1993

In response

IS STORICAL REWEN, PROGRAM letter of 27. September 1973

requesting clarification of Frank A. Sturgis' connection or associat

with the CTA, Agency records were again reviewed with the following

results.

There is no evidence that Mr. Sturgis officially participated

in the Bay of Pigs invasion. Attached is the copy of an article

whici appeared in The Washington Post on 14 May 1961 concerning

colunmist Jack Anderson's interview of Frank Fiorini (Sturgis)

in which Mr. Sturgis tells of his role in the Bay of Pigs Invasion.

Any activities that Mr. Sturgis might have been engaged in in relat:

to the Bay of Pigs invasion was

in no way connected with or authori:

by the CIA. Also attached are articles by Jack Anderson which apper

in The Washington Post and The Miami Herald on 21 August 1962, in

relation to Mr. Sturgis' activities against the Cuban government, ar

another article published in The Miami Herald on 16 September 1963

which shows that Mr. Sturgls was acting without authority of the U.!

, Government.

Our files indicate that Mr. Sturgis was friendly with persons

who were contacts of CIA. While Mr. Sturgis may have been aware tha

these persons were contacts of CIA, Mr. Sturgis was not involved

in operations sponsored, approved or funded by this Agency.

Most of the information on Mr. Sturgis available to this Agenc!

is contained in FBI reports concerning his numerous exile activitie:

CH

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October

1973

MEMORANDUM®

SUBJECT: Frank FIORINI - STURGIS'

Following is information from further review of FIORINI's

official file in response to Daniel E. Schultz' inquiry to

the Agency dated 27 September 1973.

There are four volumes to FIORINI's 201 file, the

majority of its content being reports from the FBI dated

from 1958 through April 1969.

Agency information includes a cable from Santiago de Cuba

dated 7 January 1959 stating FIORINI claims to be chief of

26 July Arms buyer Miami and willing cooperate 100 percent

in supplying info.

Cable stated it possible FIORINI may lose

value to rebels but believe worthwhile CIA endorse his staying

on. Hqs CIA replied that FIORINI had been under FBI

investigation for possible registration act violations and

base should deal with FIORINI under strict Consular cover

and not make any commitments which might later be construed

as USGOVT approval his activities. Wish to reiterate here

that FIORINI was never employed by the CIA.

The following is worthy of note. FIORINI was involved

in Nov/Dec 61 leafIet dropping flights over Cuba. . The FBI

queried CIA about allegations that the flights by FIORINI and

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Alexander RORKE, Jr., were entirely supported by CIA with CIA

arranging Air/Sea rescue, and that all of FIORINI's actions

were known to CIA Miami and his activities being done on CIA

instructions. Has CIA was satisfied allegations not true but

troubled in view fact FIORINI was in contact with CIA rep

Florida who used name "Barker" who supposedly gave FIORINI

phone number for CIA Miami office. FIORINI was to call this

number if he was arrested or stopped on flights and CIA would

"get him out".

These Cuban overflights were not authorized

by CIA and the FBI was alerted to fact it was not CIA

operation. (BARKER was generally known in Miami Cuban exile

community as a CIA source.) Since BARKER was a close friend

of FIORINI, BARKER, shortly before the Bay of Pigs invasion;

was asked by CIA to attempt to obtain from FIORINI information

concerning FIORINI's activities. BARKER met with FIORINI

several times a month from fall of 61 to July 62. BARKER

insisted when queried by CIA case officer, that he never

revealed classified info or operational data including JMWAVE

phone numbers to FIORINI. FIORINI told BARKER that the

leaflet op was conceived by Sergio ROJAS. A Hqs cable to

JMWAVE dated July 1962 stated that ROJAS had been non-operational

since Feb.

62.

SECRE

is Hop tue

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