Report
Originator: FBI
From: O'Brien, Francis J.
Document date: 03/13/1958
Document type: Paper

## Page 1

Date

Page

10/16/98

1

JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM

IDENTIFICATION FORM

AGENCY INFORMATION

AGENCY : INSCOM/CSF

RECORD

NUMBER: 194-10003-10012

RECORDS

SERIES : FOREIGN PERSONNEL AND ORGANIZATIONS

AGENCY FILE NUMBER : C8005823W - PAGES

1424-1444

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

ORIGINATOR : FBI

FROM

: O'BRIEN, FRANCIS J.

TO

TITLE : REPORT

DATE

03/13/58

PAGES

21

SUBJECTS : [ RESTRICTED ]

I RESTRICTED

]

GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY

WINGFIELD, WILLIAM B.

IRIARTE, JOSE PABLO

ORTA, JUAN Y CORDOVA

MILITARY TRAINING IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

THE AUTHENTIC GROUPS

DOCUMENT TYPE : PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION

: UNCLASSIFIED

RESTRICTIONS : SECTION 10(a) 2

CURRENT STATUS

RELEASED WITH DELETIONS

DATE OF LAST REVIEW

: 09/28/97

OPENING CRITERIA

: COMPLETION OF REVIEW BY FBI.

COMMENTS

COORDINATION WITH FBI HAS BEEN COMPLETED.

Beleased under the John F. Kennedy Assassination

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

Case# Nk 64954 Date: 09.22.2022

NW 64954 Docld:34528780 Page 1

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## Page 2

Report Form

+ED 1463-15-12-5519

Reporting Office

NEW YORK

TITLE OF CASE

CARLOS PRIO SOCARRAS,

ET. AL

FEDERA

BUREAU OF INVES

GATION

Office of Origin.

NEW YORK

Date

Kop 03/13/58

Inde21@56/575920/2, 3,7,8,21;

21;2/5

12,13,17,19,20/58

Typed

By:

FRANCIS

CHARACTER OF CASE

I. O' BRIEN

FOREIGN POLITICAL MATTERS - CUBA;

REGISTRATION ACT; NEUTRALITY

MATTERS

Synopsis:

FALAFK TASK FORCE

150

late did

1S2 iN FOLL

ELSAGE I PART

AL DENIAL

Details regarding CARLOS PRIO'S

bank account maintained at the

Guaranty Trust Company, NYC, set

forth.

WILLIAM B. WINGFIELD,

associate of PRIO and JOSE PABLO

IRIARTE, attempted suicide in Fort

Lee, New Jersey, on 11/29/57, while

under arrest Ior carrying a con-

cealed

weapon.

assäult charges against

WINGFIELD, IRIARTE and three other

Cubans were dismissed on 1/18/58,

In Court of Special Sessions, Manhattan,

NY.

Newspaper accounts of PRIO's

plans to launch attack on Cuba from

Nicaragua set forth. Dr. MANUEL

URRUTIA, FIDEL CASTRO's choice for

Provisional President of Cuba, was

acceptable to the Authentic Groups.

Informant advised that JUAN ORTA Y

CORDOVA sent Cubans to the Dominican

Republic for military training and

Special Agent

in Charge

ALL INCE

Modiriti

DATE 3-12-46 37.5%68 SUD/KS

JFK)/

Approved

Coptes rade:

12

- Bureau (109-430) (RM)

I - ONI, 3ra ND, NYC (RM)

I - US Customs, NYC (RM)

- INS, NYC (RM)

- Houston (109-7) (Info) (RM)

3

2

= M 11(100-431)

Do not write in spaces belon

Property of FBI - This report 1s

the agency to which loaned.

1424

to you by the FBI, and neither it nor

# U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1956

0-385319

CRF File Copy.

are to be distributed outside.

NW 64954 Docld:34528780 Page 2

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## Page 3

NY 109-43

SYNOPSIS (CONT'D)

that expenses for the military

camp were paid by CARLOS PRIO.

Federal Grand Jury began hearing

of winesses in the Southern

District of New York on 1/7/58.

An indictment naming CARLOS PRIO

and. eight other defendants was

returned in the southern District

of New York on 2/13/58, for

conspiracy to

violate

Sections 371 and

960, TItle 18, USC.

-P-

- 2 -

1425

NW 64954 Docld:34528780 Page 3

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## Page 4

NY 109-43

DETAILS:

AT NEW YORK. NEW YORK

I. BANK ACCOUNT OF CARTOS PRIO SOCARRAS

WIIF THE GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY, 128

BROADWAY. NEW YORK OTTY

T-1 advised on February 13, 1958, that a

subpoena duces tecum, dated October 24, 1957, was

Southern

District of Flcrida for

Issued by the United States District Couconcerning

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2

for Jrk Law 10(a) 2

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2

and

K Law 10(a)2 T-l advised that

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2

were

to be presented to the United States District

Court,

Southern District of Florida, Miami, Florida,

on November 25, 1957 •

I-l advised that l

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2

that

thatl

JFK Law 10(a)?

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2

T-1 advised

TT-1 advised

JFK Law 10(a)2

T-I advised that I

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a) 2

- 3 -

1426

NW 64954 Docld:34528780 Page 4

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## Page 5

NY 109-43

JFK Law 10(a) 2

JFK Law 10(a)2

JEK Law 10(a) 2

JEK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2]

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2|

JFK Law 10(a)2

JEK Law 10(a)2|

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2

JEK Law 10(a)2

JEK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a)2

I-1 advised [

JFK Law 10(a)2

JFK Law 10(a) 2

Information furnished by I-l is not to

be made public except in the usual proceeding

following the issuance of a subpoena duces tecum.

Concerning Mi's. INEZ GEORGINA KAREIL,

Investigator,

KARELL is the first wife of CARLOS PRIO and PRIO

sends her $1,000 a month

for herself and her child

born of PRIO.

-4-

1427

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## Page 6

NY 109-43

II.

INFORMATION CONCERNING WILLIAM B.

WINGFIELD AND JOSE PABIO IRIARTE,

ASSCCIATES OY CARLOS PRIO IN NEW

YORK CITY

WILLIAM BPETON WINOFIELD, 95 Main Street,

Lee, New

November 29, 1957, in a parked car with a loaded

•38 caliber

snubiuses & W Chief Special with one

cartridge shot.

WINGFIELD was interviewed by

agents of the

Newark Office of the Federal Bureau

of Investigation (FBI) on November 29, 1957, at

the Fort Lee Police Department.

WINGFIELD stated

that he had been drinking a great deal and was

fearful for his life from two separate Cuban

factions.

WINGFIELD said during interview that

he had been arrested by the New York City Police

Department on June 24, 1957, for felonious

assault, which charge was later reduced to simple

assault, and that he was free on $500.00 bail.

WINGFIEID sated that he was arrested with four

cubans as he trird to break up a fight between

a group of cubans. WINGFIELD stated that an

individual named REVALDO VAIDES and his son,

RENALDO. VALDES, JR., attempted to kidnap

FILIBURTO MACKLID. W20 10 2.

member of the PRIO organization in New York City.

WINGFIELD stated that a brother cI RENADO VALDES

was a member of the Cuban Investigations vivision,

Havana, Cuba.

= 5 -

14.28

NW 64954 Docld:34523780 Page 6

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## Page 7

NY 109-43

WINGHIELD also adinitted that he had been

arrested on July 7, 1957, hy the New Yorks City

Police Department

Ior the Hoboken, New Jersey Police

Department on a charge of forging

American Express

travellers checks.

WINGETELD stated that he was

ut on $500.00 bail on this charge, and that the

ail in this matter had been nosted by JOSE PABLO

IRIARTE. WINGFIELD stated that he went to cuba in

1954, In order to look for a job, and there he

met JOSE IRIARTE in Havana, Cuba. IRIARTE

tOOK WINGFIELD arourd Havana in an effort to get

a job for WINGFIELD, but was unsuccessful.

WINGFIELD stated that he returned to Cuba in 1955,

for a visit and again saw IRIARIE and that some

time shortly after his second visit to Havana,

IRIARTE left Cuba and moved to New York City.

WINGFIELD advised

that it was

through his friend,

JOSE TRIARTE, that he besame interested in the

PRIO faction.

The December 2, 1957, issue of the "Bergen

Evening Record," Mackensack, New Jersey, carried an

article on page one entitled,

"Case Expanded by

Suicide Try."

This article

stated that WILLIAM

WINGFIELI), age 34, unsuccessfrily attempted suicide

on November 29, 1957, in his

cell in police

neadquarters, fort Lee, New Jersey, where he was

being held on the

charge of carrying a concaaled

weapon, a .30 caliber revolver.

hat WINGFIELD, some time between 8:45 p.m

3:25 p.M.. on November 29, 1957, took a double-

edged razor blade from a hiding place between

layers of the sole

of his shoe and slit open an

artery in his left arm just below the elbow.

- 6 -

1429

NW 64954 Docld:34528780 Page 7

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## Page 8

NY 109-43

According to this article, WINGFIELD told

Chief of Police THEODORE E. GRIECO,

Fort Lee, New

Jersey Police Department,

that he did not want to

be free.

WINGFIELD was discovered lying in a poo

of blood in his cell block at 9:25 p.m., by

sergeant

ARTHUR DALTON and Patrolman JOSEPH ZEVITS.

WINGFIELD was then rushed in an ambulance

for emergency treatment to a nearby hospital, the

Bergen Pines County Hospital.

This news article quoted Police Chief

GRIECO as stating that when WINGFIELD was interviewed

by the Fort Lee Police Department on the afternoon

of November 29, 1957, WINGFIELD periodically told

the police, "You are looking at a corpse."

His

remarks, according to the news article, were

attributed to fear of attack by others

because of

his refusal

to post bail and because of another

remark made by WINGFIELD wherein he said

"I'm

no good on the outside."

This news article stated that WINGFIELD ,

if his condition permitted, would appear in Municipal

court on December 5, 1957,

to face the charges of

the Fort Lee, New Jersey Police Department.

An

additional charge of attempted suicide had

been added to the original charge against WINGFIELD.

This article also stated that WINGFIELD waS alsO

awaiting

awaiting hearings on the Hoboken, New Jersey

forgery charges and also on felonious assault

charges brought against him in New York City,

on

June 28, 1957.

..

-7-

1430

NW 64954 Docld:34523780 Page 8

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## Page 9

NY 109-43

This news article further stated that

WINGFIELD was under subpoena to appear before the

Federal Grand Jury in Miami, Florida, to testify

concerning opposition to the present Cuban regime

by persons

of his acquaintance.

The January 19, 1950, Issue of "El

Diario de Nueva York, "

a Spanish language newspaper

published daily in New York City, carried an article

on page five entitled,

"Absolve Accused of

Attacking a Brother of Cuban Police Lieutenant."

This article stated that two Cuban exiles and a

North American who had been accused of beating a

Cuban police lieutenant, were föund not guilty

on January 18, 1958, and

assaulu charges against

them were dismissed

in the court of Special Sessions,

Manhattan, New York City.

This article identified

those who

nad been freed of assault charges as

PABLO QUINTANA, age 34,

505 West 103rd Street, and

ADEL ECHEVARIA, age 28, 505 West 183rd Street,

New York City.

This article identified the North

American, who spoke perfect Spanish and who was a

friend of the Cubans as WILLIAM

B. WINGFIELD, age

33, 166 Grand Avenue, Englewood, New Jersey.

assault charges were

made by ISrADE VALDES, and

his son who reside at 367 Wadsworth Avenue,

York city.

The attorney for WINGFIELD and

Cubans was identified as IRWIN GRAY, 391 East

149th Street, Bronx, New York.

This news article stated that Dr. JOSE:

PABLO IRIARTE, age 39, 368 Audubon Avenue,

York City, and FILIBERTO ORFILA, who resides in New

York City, had previously been found not guilty on

similar charges.

- 8-

1431

NW 64954 Docld:34528780 Page 9

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## Page 10

NY 109-43

This article stated that Attorney GRAY

presented a suit for $50,000 against

ARNALDO VALDES

alleging false arrest an imprisonment for being un-

justly

accused by VALDES.

This suit was presented

in the name of BERTERSO ORFILA. It was also noted

that it was possible

that the

other Cubans who

were

found not guilty would also sue VALDES.

This news article identified RENALDO

VALDES as being the brother of Lieutenant CARLOS

VALDES of the Bureau of Investigations of the

Havana Police.

III. NEWSPAPER ARIICLES CONCERNING

CARLOS PRIO AND URE PARTIDO

AUTENTICO

The December 6, 1957, Issue of the "New

"on page fourteen, carried an

entitled,

York Timesisonoza Reports Prio Cuban Plot."

This

article, datelined Managua, Nicaragua, December 5,

195% Indicated that President LUIS ANA SOMOZA

DEBAYLE, had stated that he hai "definite information"

of a plan for an invasion of Cube. from Nicaraguan

territory with the assistance of arms bought in the

United States.

President SOMOZA of Nicaragua

stated that this plan had been thwarted.

This news article said that President

SOMOZA charged that the plan of invasion of cuba

was formulated by the exiled former Cuban President,

- 9-

1432

NW 64954 Docld:34528780 Page 10

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## Page 11

NY 109-43

In an interview held by President SOMOZA

on the evening of December 4, 1957, It was reported

that President SOMOZA stated

that Dr. PFIO, the

President of Cuba from 1940 to 1952, had

years been rocking for a place in Contral America

Irom which to begin an attach on Cuba."

President

sOMOZA was quoted as saving that Dr. PRIO had

recruited exiled Nicaraguans, Cubans, Guatemalans.

and Dominicans in order to execute his plans.

This article quoted president SOMOZA

as saying, 'We have definite information they had

designs on some port of Nicaragua for launching

their attack, and Puerto Cabezas was the last

place considered.

The United States will nave to

pay more attention to Prio.

He has been able to

buy arms in the United States and distribute

them all over the place, some of them to Central

Americans."

mis news article quoted CARLOS PRIO as

saying that President SOMOZA's statement about an

invasion was "fantastic and grotesque."

PRIO

said that it was part of a plan of president

FULGENCIO BATISTA of Cuba to have Dr. PRIO expelled

from the United States.

This news article stated that Dr. PRIO

was interviewed by telephone at his home in Miami

Beach, Florida, and that PRIO ridiculed the state-

ment made by President SOMOZA of Nicaragua.

PRIO

was quoted as saying that it was preposterous

--

to think that anyone coula invade Cuba Irom a

country hostile to Di. PRIO and fricnaly to

President FATISTA.

- 10 -

1433

NW 64954 Docld:34528780 Page 11

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## Page 12

NY 109-43

The January 8, 1958, issue of "El Diario

de Nueva York,

four, carried an article

entitled,

"Authentics Accept

Urrutia for the

Presidency."

This article stated that the Authentic

Groups in Miami, Florida, on January 7, 1950,

announced that they had accepted the provisional

presidential candidate of the rebel chief, FIDEL

CASTRO.

This article stated that Dr. MANUEL

URRUTIA had been selected by FIDEL CASTRO as his

candidate for provisional president.

stated further that URUTIA was acceptable to the

Authentic Groups, which are headed in Miami,

Florida, by the

ex-President of Cuba, CARLOS PRIO

SOCARRAS.

Dr. MANUEL ANTONIO DE VARONA, President of

the Authentic Party, and Dr. ENRIQUE C. HENRIQUEZ,

Head of the Authentic Organization, were quoted as

saying in a joint statement that Dr. URRUTIA,

FIDEL CASIRO's choice for provisional president,

was acceptable to them if CASTRO would withdraw

or change his demands, namely that the July 26

Movement not only designate the provisional

president but that the July 26 be permitted to

keep its arms, reorganize and control the Armed

Forces of Cuba and that it be in charge of

maintaining public order.

This joint statement of VARONA and HENRIQUEZ

states that CASTRO relegates the other organizations

opposed to BATISTA to await the convocation of

elections and to take part only as political partie:

when the president selected by CASTRO decides to hol

these elections: The Authentic Groups observed that

such a demand by CASTRO contained the threat of-

a permanent control of the country by force, w to

would be opposed to the tradition of cuba,

the re-establishment of democratic institutions.

= 11 -

1434

NW 64954 Docld:34528780 Page 12

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## Page 13

• .

NY 109-43

The Authentic Groups contended that the

re-organized and

that the military

accordance with

the

Constitution that all Cubens

have

sworn to re-

estaklish.

In another section of this joint state-

ment, the Authentic Groups protested the fact that

FIDEL CASTRO SARC

the July 26 Movement,

establish the Council for Liberation, had lacked the

authority to do so.

The Authentics stated that it was improper

and unjust to accuse such outstanding and respected

citizens as Doctors FELIPE PAZOS and RAUL CHIBAS,

MARIO LLERENA and RAUL COPEDA Of having assumed a

in the unity pact, which had been signed during

October, 1957•

This article also noted

that the

Authenties denied the statenenü attributed to

CASTRO that he, CASTRO, had not received any help

from the jiberation front, and the Authentics stated

that without the aid of other groups and organizations

opposed to President BATISTA, FIDEL CASTRO WOULd

not have been able to come to Cuba on December 2,1956.

Concerning FIDEL CASTRO, it is to be noted

that he is the Cuban rebel leader who led an un-

successful attack on the Moncada Barracks on July

26, 1953, from whence his organization has taken 1ts

name. FIDEL CASIRO, together with eighty-two

- 12 -

1435

NW 64954 Docld:34528780 Page 13

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## Page 14

NY 109-43

followers left Mexico aboard the Yacht, "Gramma"

and landed in Oriente Province,

on or about

December 2, 1956.

their headquarters in the Sierra Maestra

from whence they have waged guerriiia wartare

against the Government of President BATISTA of

Cuba.

IV. MISCELLANEOUS

Mr. LARA MATOS, Superintendent, 310 west

2nd Street, New York City, advised SA MAURICE

1. LAUcIeRe on January 8, 1958,

that MANUEL MEJIAS

ANDRINO, who formerly resided at this address, was

now living in Miami, Florida.

Mr. MATOS. stated.

that he had ascertained this

Information from

friends of his who were acquaintea with MEJIAS.

Mr. MATOS stated that he would attempt to obtain

the present address of MEJIAS in the Miami area.

Mrs. WANDA MORAN, 581 West 160th Street,

New York cicy, advised sA MAURICE H. LAUCIERE, Or

rebruary 12, 1958, that JOSE ROLANDO CURRO MONTES

had left for Miami, Florida, approximately three

months ago.

Mrs. MORAN advised that she did not

know his present whereabouts and knew nothing

concerning his background or activities as CURRO

was only a boarded in her apartment.

Mrs. MORAN advised that a Miss CARMEN

BELLO, 601 West 164th Street, New York City, might

know CURRO's present whereabouts as Miss BELLO has

received letters from CURRO.

- 13 =

1436

NW 64954 Docld:34528780 Page 14

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## Page 15

NY 109-43

SA MAURICE H, LAUZIERE attempted to contact

CARMEN BELLO at 601 West 164th Street,

New York

City, on February 12, 1950, with negative results.

Mrs. RAFAELA GUIDI, mother of ARTURO

MUNOZ GUIDI,

39-22 50ch Sureet, Wooaside, Long

Island, advised SA LAUZJERE Or

February 12, 1958,

that ARTURo MUNOZ had left home some time during

November, 1957, for California, and as of the

resent time,

she has not had any word Ircm her

Mrs. GUIDI advised that she would attempt

to get some information about the present where-

abouts of her son, and would notify this office

of her son's present location.

BRANDON ALVEY and MARV.IN

3?3AT

Special

Assistants to the Assistant Attorney donegal,

United States Department of

justice, Washington,

D. C., advised on January 24, 1950, that they had

interviewed I-2 on several occasions during January,

1958, and that during one of these interviews,

T-2 stated that guns which had been purchased

for

Cuban revolutionaries in the New York area, were

being transported to Miami, Florida hy Cubans who

were driving autcmobiles fron a car forwarding

company owned by one GERASTEGIN, 317 West 55ch

Street, New York City.

Mr. SSCAL stated that T-2 said that

Cubans would pick up these cars from the afore-

on Riverside

Miami area.

"deliver these arms to the

-14-

1437

NW 64954 Docld:34528780 Page 15

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## Page 16

NY 109-43

T-2 advised Mr. ALVEY and Mr. SEGAT

that these cars were being driven from the New

FR 4-3974.

Enterprises Many, who handles these cars, which

'are engaged in

transporting arms from the New

York area, is one J. VEGA.

A neighborhood inquiry was conducted in

the vicinity of 317 West 58th Street, New York

City, on February 5, 1958, and it was ascertained

that 317 West 55th Street, is a private dwelling

and no one by the name of BERASTEGIN resides at

this address.

It was also noted that there were

no garages or car forwarding companies located in

three hundred block of west 55th Street, New

York City.

Inquiries were also conducted on February

5, 1958, at the

Automotive Shippers, Inc, 250.

West 57th Street, New York City, Fleet Carrier

corporation, 1?T5 Broadway, New Yoric City, and

the Peyton Automotive Transportation Service, 300

west 56th Street, New York City, with negative

results regarding one BERASTEGIN, or of Cubans

driving automobiles for the above-named companies

The current Manhattan Telephone Directory

and classified section failed to reflect any listing

for BERASTEGIN cr a car forwarding company in the

vicinity of west 55th street, New York City.

- 15 -

•1438

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## Page 17

NY 109-43

The records of the Credit Bureau of

Greater New York, as furnished by Miss PAULINE

DE FIORE tO SA FAUL F. ROWLANDS, On February 2,

1958, failed io reflect any inforcation regarding

BERASTEGIN o? any forwarding company in the

vicinity of 317 west 55th Street, New York City.

T-3 advised on January 21, 1958, that he

had been associated with CARIUS PRIO SOCARRAS during

195ú and 1957, and was engaged in revolutionary

activities in behalf of PRIO in Havana, Cuba, during

the above perica.

T-3 stated that JUAN ORIA Y CORDOVA Of

Miami, Florida, had sent cubans to Ciudad Trujillo,

Dominican Republic to receive üralning in the

use of weapons in preparation for an invasion of

and an attack on the Government of President

BATISTA.

I-3 stated that it was common knowledge

that all expenses incurred by individuals who

travelled to une Dominican Republic, and who were

trained in the Dominican nepublic at a military

camp, were raid for by CARIOS PRiO SOCARRAS.

T-3 stated that he was acquainted with

PABLO IRIARTE Of New York CIty, who was identified

as a member of the Authentic Party or CARLOS PRIO

and vas a representative of PRIO in the New York

City area.

T-3 further advised that he was acquainted

with LESTER RODRICUEZ and described RODRIGUEL as

being a trusted agent of FIDEL CASTRO. The informant

said that he was acquainted also with ARNALDO

G. BARRON, who is one of the leaders of the July 26th

- 16 -

sit

1439

NW 64954 Docld:34528780 Page 17

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## Page 18

NY 109-43

Movement in New York, and who 1s President of the

Comite Ortodoxo de Nueva York.

I-3 advised that

there was a rumor circulating among cuban

revolutionaries in New York City, that BARRON

was keeping some of the money which was being

collected in the New York area for himself and

hence was not trusted by other Cubans.

T-3 advised that PABLO DIAZ GONZALEZ

was

the

an emissary of FIDEL CASTRO, and was one of

original eighty-two men who

had left Mexico

with CASIRO and landed in Oriente Province on

December 2, 1956. I-3 advised that he was familiar

with the name of ROBERT CORENEVSKY and identified

CORENEVSKY as a friend of ARNALDO BARRON and as an

Individual who had trained Cubans in the use of

weapons in the State of Connecticut some time

during the summer of 1957.

On January 31, 1958, JOSE MANUEL

PATRICIO GARCIA VALDES advised

SA MAURICE H.

LAUZIERE that on or about

December 8, 1956, he flew to Miami, Florida, and

then to Ciudad Trujillo, Dominican Republic, to

train in military warfare with other Cubans.

GARCIA stated that he was told about this training

by JOSE ANTONIO LOPEZ MACHIN, whom he met in some

bar, which he could not recall, on the west side

around 7ist Street, New York City. He stated that

told of the training by MACHIN.

He stated that he

paid his own fare to and from

the Dominican

Republic. He advised that he remained in the

Cuban training camp in the Dominican Republic for

four months where he received training in the use

of the United States colt, Brazilian rifle and

Thompson submachine guns.

He stated that he met

other Cubans there and advised that the following

Cubans were at the Cuban training in the Dominican

Republic when he was there:

- 17. -

1440

NW 64954 Docld:34528780 Page 18

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## Page 19

NY 109-43

MANUEL MEJIAS ANDRINO

TOMAS PRIETO RATON

DANILO EUSEBIO MENDEZ FERNANDO

' JOSE ANTONIO LOPEZ MACHIN

RAFAEL BOLIVAR FUENTES

MARCOS DELIO HERNANDEZ

ROGELIO ROIG ESCOBAR

LUIS ROLANDO TORRES RAMOS

SERGIO TEUTELO Y CASTILIO

RAUL, VENTA Y DE MAZO.

VALDES stated that he did not know of

anyone whose passage was paid for by either JUAN

ORTA or any other Cuban.

He stated that he did

not know of anyone who recruited these Cubans

to go to the Dominican Republic to train in

military warfare.

He advised that the individual

in charge of the camp was POLYCARPO SOLER CRUZ

and the tutor was an individual named PEREZ

PEREZ. VALDES also advised that he was interviewed

by Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS),

Miami, Florida, upon his return from the Dominican

Republic, and was warned by INS that he could be

VAIDES stated that he

did not know at the time

that he had violated

any law of the United States.

He stated that in-

asmuch as he knows it is illegal at the present

time he would never do it again.

VAIDES also

stated that at the present time, he does not

area nor does he contemplate joining any such

done du an organization in the ten tort

organization in the near future.

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V. FEDERAL GRAND JURY, NEW YORK CITY

Departmental Attorneys

advised on january 3,

that the Department

of Justice was seeling to obtain an indicument

against CARLOS PRIO SCARRAS and others through

a Grand Jury which would begin hearing witnesses

on January 7, 1950. Mr, Still stated that an

indictment against PPIO would be sought for

violation of

Title 18, United States Code, Sections

960 and 371.

DANTEI, E. DUNNING, United States Customs

Agent,

New York City, telephonically advised the

New York Office on February 13, 1958, that the

Federal Grand Jury, Southern District of New York,

nad returned an indicunent on the morning of

February 13, 1950, for violation of Sections 960

and 371, Title 10, United States Code, against

CARLOS PRIO SOCARRAS, ENRIQUE HENRIQUEZ, DANIEL

VASQUEZ, GUIDO EUSTAMENCE, JUAN ORIA, LUIS SILVA,

JOSE PABLO TRIARTE, JULIU PRIETO and LUIS CHAVIANO.

The February 14, 1959, issue of the "New

York Tines

on page one, carried an article

entitles,

"U. S. Indicts

Prio as Cuban Plotter."

This article

stated that CARLOS PRIO, the exiled

former President of cuba and eight other cubans

were indicted in New York City for conspiring to

set up a well-financed military expedition to

attack Cuba. Dr. PRIO and the others were charged

ith conspiring to violate the neutrailty laws o1

the United

States.

A federal Grand Jury said tha

they had "conspired to begin and set, on foot, and

to provide and prepare the means for, and to furnish

money for, and take

part in, military expeditions and

enterprises to be carried on

from the United States

against the Republic of Cuba."

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This article stated that at the request

of the United States Astorney, PAUL W. WILIIAMS,

Federal Judge EDWARD WEENFELD issued

bench warrants

for the arrest of all the defendants.

This article also quoted Mr. WILLIAM

HOMF KINS,

Special Assistant to the Attorney

General, Unived States Lepartment of Justice, as

stating

that the allegea conspiraiors had recruited

hundreds of persons in the United States for the

military

campaigns.

Some of those recruited

were to be sent to cuba to commit sandrea and

others to assassinate officials of the Cuban

Government.

This article also stated that part of the

conspiracy included she estavlisiment of military

training camps in the United States, the Dominican

Republic, Mexico and Haiti.

The plot, accoraing

to this rens article,

called for large purchases

of arms and other military equigment, some of

which has already been seized.

Ine February 16, 1958, 7th Blue Final

edition of

"New York posü"

entitled, "Neutral In Favor up satista i editorial

editorial stated that the indictment of CARLOS

PRIO and eight: of his associates for allegedly

planning a military attack on the LatIsta regime

from United States territory may well have

legal validity.

This editorial stated that what is

legally defensible is not always morally right.

This editorial said that in applying the

Neutrality

Act, in this case, we are in effect

being neutral

in favor of BATISTA. The United States

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NY 109-43

Department has more than once deplored the price

of such neutralism in the

fight for freedom.

This editorial goes on to state that by

becoming enemies of BATISTA's enemies: we forfeit

the trust of Latin American demociats.

This article

states dictatorships of the right will be as

pleased as dictatorships of the left, and that

the blow that the United States has struck against

freedom will make the tyrants in Moscow as happy

as the despot in ravana.

This editorial desired to know if there

were a leftist government in Cuba and BATISTA was

round to be plotting against it in Florida, would

Neutrality Act have been invoked

by the United

States with such efficiency and dispatch?

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