Maheu, Robert Re Castro Operation
Content
APPROVED FOR RELEASE 1992 CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM FOR iy Dirbctor ~_=. ~..Tt Z",
24 June
1966
MEMORANDUM SUBJECT
of Central t.t A
Intelligence
1 Z
This
memorandum
is
for
information
only
In August Richard Mr M Bissell 1960 approached of Security to determine if the Office Sheffield Edwards Colonel had assets that may assist mission in a sensitive requiring The mission action was(''e:`` s target gangster-type Fidel Castro Because
f
of its extreme only a small group sensitivity was made and gave his to the project The DCI was briefed privy was briefed WH Division Colonel J C King Chief approval from but all details concealed were any of the deliberately TSD and Cormmo JMWAVE Certain officials partici personnel of the in the initial but were not witting pated stages planning of the mission purpose on briefed Robert A Maheu was contacted generally an en the project to ascertain if he could and requested develop accom toward tree into the gangster as the first elements step the desired plishing goal Roselli that he had met one Johnny advised He only knew several Las Vegas while visiting that but was given to understand clients casually through and controlled was a high-ranking of the "syndicate member of the ice-making Maheu reasoned machines on the Strip he undoubtedly if Roselli was in fact a member of the clan interests connections into the Cuban leading gambling Mr Maheu occasions
on him he all that had
l v# A CLASSIFIED BYQ ,33 EXEMPT FRali CENTRAL CAION DECLASS~1 SCHEDULE 01 CATEGORY 'E,.s'l.W-bN one or more) S3(1) II AUTO3:A DECLASSIFIED ON deftiA *6 Can rt tit era impossiLleinsert date or event)
D +r ('l Etnat
000'12(
rn
Maheu was asked to approach who knew Maheu Roselli a personal relations executive and foreign domestic handling and tell him that he had recently "been retained accounts by a client who represented several intern'a'tional firms business which were in Cuba as a result losses financial suffering heavy of Castro's action convinced that Castro's removal They were was the answer to their and were to pay a price problem willing of $150 COO for its successful It was to be made accomplishment clear to Roselli that th U S Government was not and should not become of this operation :ware as The pitch was made to Roselli on 14 September 1960 at the Hilton Plaza New York His initial reaction was Hotel City to _ void getting involved Maheu's he but persuasion through to introduce him to a friend Sam Gold who knew the agreed "Cuban crowd Roselli made it clear he did not want any money for his p =.rt and believed SArn would feel the same Neither way of these individuals wwtlf ver paid out of Agency funds the week of 25 September Maheu was introduced During to Sam who was staying at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel I a _;._L } :m_eression-orSarn-vas that of a hard uncouth indi vidu3hwho looked and-acted like common -run-of-thy=mill hooeleh burn his living accommodations b lied However at the-hotel .:s did_the-fact that Maheu Sam was under this learned periodic surveillance the FBI) It was several his meeting weeks after by with Sam and Joe who was identified to him as a courier operating between Havana and Miami that he saw photographs of both of these individuals in the Sunday "Parade supplemental They were identified as Momo Salvatore Giancana and Santos Trafficant Both were on the list of the Attorney General's respectively ten most-wanted men The former was described as the Chicago chieftain of the Cosa Nostra and successor to Al Capone and the the Cosa Nostra boss of Cuban latter Maheu called operations this office this information immediately upon ascertaining In discussing the possible methods of accomplishing this mission Sam suggested that they not resort to firearms but if he could be furnished writh some that could pill type of potent .CLASSIFIED BY0.4 /> As EXEMPT F.'. ._ r ..~ DECLAS ATION )CIIEDULE C,s N CATEGORY c.r.ia one or more) S$(I).~ .AUT.~ t :ii _ I.ECLAS;.IFIED ON ess Impossibleinsert dots or event)
7
E
a,;-;1.ii aa r I
be a much be placed in Castro's more food or drink it would that he had a prospective effective Sam indicated operation who had in the person a Cuban official nominee of Juan Orta been receiving from the gambling kickback interests payments who still had access to Castro and was in a financial bind and Cornelius TSD `was consulted chief Roosevelt a pill that had the Triechler Dr to develop assigned Raymond or of rapid and little elements lethal content solubility high no traceability after Six of these items Were produced and out for their checked effectiveness Dr Edward M being by turned three were Gunn pills ultimately 9ver to Sara for the TSD nor Dr on the ultimate mission Neither Gunn w1 briefed use of the pills to Orta several After weeks pills of reported attempts got cold feet and asked apparently of the assignment who made another He suggested candidate several without success attempts delivered the Orta 1Z Joe
out
Joe then indicated that Dr one of the Verona Anthony had become dis officers Exile in the Cuban Junta principal affected with the apparent of the Junta and ineffectual progress was willing to handle the mission his own resources through at the oppor was approached and jumped Verona of getting in an independent He was involved tunity operation told that the private did not want the project interests-backing the U S Government to know of their the CIA ana particularly far as this Cffice he has never involvement knows (So divulged his participation to the Agency in the project ) Dr as a prerequisite He asked $10 000 for organizational expenses of communications equipment Dr to the deal and requested that $1 he be given 000 worth
as was never Verona's fully exploited potential the project was canceled the Bay of Pigs after episode shortly was advised that the offer was withdrawn and the pills Verona were retrieved F705"'"/ BY_0433W CLASSIFIED F:.O'! C `;!'r'.L DECLASS ION EXEMPT N CATEGORY C SCHEDULr c;rcI one or .ors) SBt1} Q lr ON DECLASSIFIED AU;L ...;_s Gitoaft co U oleos impossibleinsert date or mat) 3
Cr.''Otn
16 a request potential
was Of significant interest levied by Sam upon Mahe flap .3 At the height concern of the project
which involved an incident and now shapes up as a
negotiations
Sam
expressed
NiftaMlIfigglaePaaagaga
to put a bug in''Mallabroom tent ofialiliallaalagIlOtilallONSIMiMeeMOOL
am asked Maheu the ex to determine IsAaheu ---. g6 to Ve'aa--i a handle the and pi-'e 4p
take-care-of-the-mattehiMi-elf-r-In--or-der-to .ii'ahau-contacted-.EdwarDubois vent 1jais him-to and-asked Florida investigator job pi''staBarg violia.ky1isLwat.aa=t clan involved-in the the process arrested for questioning office
a bucl-in-thel-oorn....the -ithicIr-ob phone the techni-b in was discovered assignment and taken to the Sheriff's
Aiter-lae-4aile'dto-a-r-e-et-h -#-tee called Maheu~O nthoie..by...telepi2ene.1-:h.e h him tat and informed Miami K Hotel call was This he had been detained by the police of the Sheriff's made in the presence personnel
an of Justice the Department Subsequently Maheu to prosecute its intention nounced along the On 7 February 0tvith the technician 1962 the Attorney General of Security Director briefed c5n the circumstances Robert up leading Kennedy At our re in the wiretap involvement to Ivlaheu's was dropped prosecution 4uest CLASSIFIE3 il:1 BY Eg .EX PT f'.^"' (1 5CJIEDUL', i .5:.'t 0 e,t4h (u
DECLSAFICA'TION A CATEGORY .rcle one or snore) ECLASSIEEO ON
4 a al O.+so rnl'0'79 '"rtg'tIRE
_ s maposs;Lleinsert date or (trout)
Two articles in the Chicago press appeared one on 16 August and one on 20 August 1963 1963 Sam was working that suggested with the Agency Sun-Times The first in the Chicago article appeared and had as its written writer Sandy Smith by staff headline Giancana CIA Sought Help for Cuba Spying was in touch It relates that the Agency reportedly them that he assist with Sam in 1959 and requested out of Cuba It also men in obtaining intelligence which the article tioned the Las Vegas wiretap claimed was handled investigative by a "Florida It further went on to state that organization of this organization the upon inquiry they stated was placed of the Central Intelli at the request tap in the article The other g erica Agency appeared Columnist authored Chicago Daily News Tony by March and commented that during Weitzel 1962 Sam confronted an FBI Agent who was shadowing leave me him and said "Why don't you fellows I'm one of you I alone Sam allegedly stated that con after rise a CIA operative in Cuba Castro's him and wanted to know if Sam could do any tacted for the Government little island on the turbulent thing S ,m said he had friends but no clout on both sides That was it Roselli was introduced to James of this P O'Connell who was identified to him as an employee of Robert Office A Associates Over the several months of close Maheu contact be tween these two individuals to speculate as to Roselli began O'Connell's true at one point stated that he was and employer convinced he was employed that the project and was by the CIA the Agency He hastened to state that he was not sponsored by the issue nor would he want confirmation of this and forcing he would not mention this to anyone Sam further else including Sam was never to any Agency introduced while CIA and personnel was never to him mentioned it is Maheu's belief he eventually sus was the power the Agency the operation behind pected /7 SY3G6 CLASSIFIED C FROY. ".L DECLASSIFIG i EXEMPT Sz3t T1~F';CATEGORY OF SCHF.DULE E ( ) (d l one or more) SS(11 ON AUTU~IA:::.: f C .SSIFIED r e* im;.aisibte insert date or eteat) 17
5
ZOINFHENTfAreena
1I~ iui "~~
In May 1962 because of Mr O'Connell's assignment to an overseas it was decided to turn Roselli over to post Mr William who was at that time Task Force W Harvey Chief was introduced as William It is not known Walker Harvey whether Roselli ever became aware of Harvey's true name
18
Howard Director
J Osborn of Security
9 ')" 9Y463344 CLAssiWiED DECLAS FROM CL EXEMPT iIad'nON =XE ONCATEGORY OF SCHEDULE E V II -circleone or non) a 2} MI) ON i iCA GEC1ASSIFIED AUTOTA .'L~o CoN Ei sleet ha.( ess impossible insert data or sweat) s.v
6
ir~`r
24 June
1966
MEMORANDUM SUBJECT
of Central t.t A
Intelligence
1 Z
This
memorandum
is
for
information
only
In August Richard Mr M Bissell 1960 approached of Security to determine if the Office Sheffield Edwards Colonel had assets that may assist mission in a sensitive requiring The mission action was(''e:`` s target gangster-type Fidel Castro Because
f
of its extreme only a small group sensitivity was made and gave his to the project The DCI was briefed privy was briefed WH Division Colonel J C King Chief approval from but all details concealed were any of the deliberately TSD and Cormmo JMWAVE Certain officials partici personnel of the in the initial but were not witting pated stages planning of the mission purpose on briefed Robert A Maheu was contacted generally an en the project to ascertain if he could and requested develop accom toward tree into the gangster as the first elements step the desired plishing goal Roselli that he had met one Johnny advised He only knew several Las Vegas while visiting that but was given to understand clients casually through and controlled was a high-ranking of the "syndicate member of the ice-making Maheu reasoned machines on the Strip he undoubtedly if Roselli was in fact a member of the clan interests connections into the Cuban leading gambling Mr Maheu occasions
on him he all that had
l v# A CLASSIFIED BYQ ,33 EXEMPT FRali CENTRAL CAION DECLASS~1 SCHEDULE 01 CATEGORY 'E,.s'l.W-bN one or more) S3(1) II AUTO3:A DECLASSIFIED ON deftiA *6 Can rt tit era impossiLleinsert date or event)
D +r ('l Etnat
000'12(
rn
Maheu was asked to approach who knew Maheu Roselli a personal relations executive and foreign domestic handling and tell him that he had recently "been retained accounts by a client who represented several intern'a'tional firms business which were in Cuba as a result losses financial suffering heavy of Castro's action convinced that Castro's removal They were was the answer to their and were to pay a price problem willing of $150 COO for its successful It was to be made accomplishment clear to Roselli that th U S Government was not and should not become of this operation :ware as The pitch was made to Roselli on 14 September 1960 at the Hilton Plaza New York His initial reaction was Hotel City to _ void getting involved Maheu's he but persuasion through to introduce him to a friend Sam Gold who knew the agreed "Cuban crowd Roselli made it clear he did not want any money for his p =.rt and believed SArn would feel the same Neither way of these individuals wwtlf ver paid out of Agency funds the week of 25 September Maheu was introduced During to Sam who was staying at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel I a _;._L } :m_eression-orSarn-vas that of a hard uncouth indi vidu3hwho looked and-acted like common -run-of-thy=mill hooeleh burn his living accommodations b lied However at the-hotel .:s did_the-fact that Maheu Sam was under this learned periodic surveillance the FBI) It was several his meeting weeks after by with Sam and Joe who was identified to him as a courier operating between Havana and Miami that he saw photographs of both of these individuals in the Sunday "Parade supplemental They were identified as Momo Salvatore Giancana and Santos Trafficant Both were on the list of the Attorney General's respectively ten most-wanted men The former was described as the Chicago chieftain of the Cosa Nostra and successor to Al Capone and the the Cosa Nostra boss of Cuban latter Maheu called operations this office this information immediately upon ascertaining In discussing the possible methods of accomplishing this mission Sam suggested that they not resort to firearms but if he could be furnished writh some that could pill type of potent .CLASSIFIED BY0.4 /> As EXEMPT F.'. ._ r ..~ DECLAS ATION )CIIEDULE C,s N CATEGORY c.r.ia one or more) S$(I).~ .AUT.~ t :ii _ I.ECLAS;.IFIED ON ess Impossibleinsert dots or event)
7
E
a,;-;1.ii aa r I
be a much be placed in Castro's more food or drink it would that he had a prospective effective Sam indicated operation who had in the person a Cuban official nominee of Juan Orta been receiving from the gambling kickback interests payments who still had access to Castro and was in a financial bind and Cornelius TSD `was consulted chief Roosevelt a pill that had the Triechler Dr to develop assigned Raymond or of rapid and little elements lethal content solubility high no traceability after Six of these items Were produced and out for their checked effectiveness Dr Edward M being by turned three were Gunn pills ultimately 9ver to Sara for the TSD nor Dr on the ultimate mission Neither Gunn w1 briefed use of the pills to Orta several After weeks pills of reported attempts got cold feet and asked apparently of the assignment who made another He suggested candidate several without success attempts delivered the Orta 1Z Joe
out
Joe then indicated that Dr one of the Verona Anthony had become dis officers Exile in the Cuban Junta principal affected with the apparent of the Junta and ineffectual progress was willing to handle the mission his own resources through at the oppor was approached and jumped Verona of getting in an independent He was involved tunity operation told that the private did not want the project interests-backing the U S Government to know of their the CIA ana particularly far as this Cffice he has never involvement knows (So divulged his participation to the Agency in the project ) Dr as a prerequisite He asked $10 000 for organizational expenses of communications equipment Dr to the deal and requested that $1 he be given 000 worth
as was never Verona's fully exploited potential the project was canceled the Bay of Pigs after episode shortly was advised that the offer was withdrawn and the pills Verona were retrieved F705"'"/ BY_0433W CLASSIFIED F:.O'! C `;!'r'.L DECLASS ION EXEMPT N CATEGORY C SCHEDULr c;rcI one or .ors) SBt1} Q lr ON DECLASSIFIED AU;L ...;_s Gitoaft co U oleos impossibleinsert date or mat) 3
Cr.''Otn
16 a request potential
was Of significant interest levied by Sam upon Mahe flap .3 At the height concern of the project
which involved an incident and now shapes up as a
negotiations
Sam
expressed
NiftaMlIfigglaePaaagaga
to put a bug in''Mallabroom tent ofialiliallaalagIlOtilallONSIMiMeeMOOL
am asked Maheu the ex to determine IsAaheu ---. g6 to Ve'aa--i a handle the and pi-'e 4p
take-care-of-the-mattehiMi-elf-r-In--or-der-to .ii'ahau-contacted-.EdwarDubois vent 1jais him-to and-asked Florida investigator job pi''staBarg violia.ky1isLwat.aa=t clan involved-in the the process arrested for questioning office
a bucl-in-thel-oorn....the -ithicIr-ob phone the techni-b in was discovered assignment and taken to the Sheriff's
Aiter-lae-4aile'dto-a-r-e-et-h -#-tee called Maheu~O nthoie..by...telepi2ene.1-:h.e h him tat and informed Miami K Hotel call was This he had been detained by the police of the Sheriff's made in the presence personnel
an of Justice the Department Subsequently Maheu to prosecute its intention nounced along the On 7 February 0tvith the technician 1962 the Attorney General of Security Director briefed c5n the circumstances Robert up leading Kennedy At our re in the wiretap involvement to Ivlaheu's was dropped prosecution 4uest CLASSIFIE3 il:1 BY Eg .EX PT f'.^"' (1 5CJIEDUL', i .5:.'t 0 e,t4h (u
DECLSAFICA'TION A CATEGORY .rcle one or snore) ECLASSIEEO ON
4 a al O.+so rnl'0'79 '"rtg'tIRE
_ s maposs;Lleinsert date or (trout)
Two articles in the Chicago press appeared one on 16 August and one on 20 August 1963 1963 Sam was working that suggested with the Agency Sun-Times The first in the Chicago article appeared and had as its written writer Sandy Smith by staff headline Giancana CIA Sought Help for Cuba Spying was in touch It relates that the Agency reportedly them that he assist with Sam in 1959 and requested out of Cuba It also men in obtaining intelligence which the article tioned the Las Vegas wiretap claimed was handled investigative by a "Florida It further went on to state that organization of this organization the upon inquiry they stated was placed of the Central Intelli at the request tap in the article The other g erica Agency appeared Columnist authored Chicago Daily News Tony by March and commented that during Weitzel 1962 Sam confronted an FBI Agent who was shadowing leave me him and said "Why don't you fellows I'm one of you I alone Sam allegedly stated that con after rise a CIA operative in Cuba Castro's him and wanted to know if Sam could do any tacted for the Government little island on the turbulent thing S ,m said he had friends but no clout on both sides That was it Roselli was introduced to James of this P O'Connell who was identified to him as an employee of Robert Office A Associates Over the several months of close Maheu contact be tween these two individuals to speculate as to Roselli began O'Connell's true at one point stated that he was and employer convinced he was employed that the project and was by the CIA the Agency He hastened to state that he was not sponsored by the issue nor would he want confirmation of this and forcing he would not mention this to anyone Sam further else including Sam was never to any Agency introduced while CIA and personnel was never to him mentioned it is Maheu's belief he eventually sus was the power the Agency the operation behind pected /7 SY3G6 CLASSIFIED C FROY. ".L DECLASSIFIG i EXEMPT Sz3t T1~F';CATEGORY OF SCHF.DULE E ( ) (d l one or more) SS(11 ON AUTU~IA:::.: f C .SSIFIED r e* im;.aisibte insert date or eteat) 17
5
ZOINFHENTfAreena
1I~ iui "~~
In May 1962 because of Mr O'Connell's assignment to an overseas it was decided to turn Roselli over to post Mr William who was at that time Task Force W Harvey Chief was introduced as William It is not known Walker Harvey whether Roselli ever became aware of Harvey's true name
18
Howard Director
J Osborn of Security
9 ')" 9Y463344 CLAssiWiED DECLAS FROM CL EXEMPT iIad'nON =XE ONCATEGORY OF SCHEDULE E V II -circleone or non) a 2} MI) ON i iCA GEC1ASSIFIED AUTOTA .'L~o CoN Ei sleet ha.( ess impossible insert data or sweat) s.v
6
ir~`r
