[2]jeune [2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992,
[3]i ; wy y , tH
[5]23 June 1976
[7]MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, Security Analysis Group
[9]SUBJECT : Manuel L. DE ARMAS
[10]SF#591 865
[12]1. Reference is made to the attached cable traffic which
[13]sets forth the "defection" of the Subject to Cuba circa April
[14]1976, In substance, DE ARMAS apparently gave a press conference
[15]in Havana on 21 April 1976 in which he claimed to be an ex-CIA
[16]agent who had been recruited by a fnu BLACKENHOUSE (no Office
[17]of Security traces) in 1969. DE ARMAS also claimed to have been
[18]Stationed in New York City in 1971 where he maintained contact
[19]with BLACKENHOUSE and Richard TOMLEY (probably identifiable :
[20]with Peter L. B. TOMLEY, Washington Area Recruiting Office). x
[22]2. In the cited press conference, DE ARMAS made many an
[23]allegations concerning purported CIA operations, such as
[25]assassination plots and a plan to rupture relations between
[26]Venezuela and Cuba. Details of these allegations are set
[28]forth in the attached cable traffic and are not treated in
[29]instant memorandum. However, interest in DE ARMAS' allegations
[30]concerning alleged CIA operations concerns the identities of
[31]individuals that he claimed to have been Agency operatives and
[32]assets; details regarding these individuals are covered in the
[33]latter portion of instant memorandum.
[35]3. Agency.interest in DE ARMAS was originally predicated
[36]upon the receipt of a letter written by DE ARMAS on 12 September
[37]1972 in which he related details concerning his anti-CASTRO
[38]activities through his membership in a group called ABDALA,
[40]The letter also contained a request for employment with the
[41]Agency. As a result of DE ARMAS? letter, WH Division requested
[42]a Special Inquiry by the Office of Security for the purpose of
[43]establishing DE ARMAS' identity, which was completed in October
[44]1972. In May 1973 Office of Personnel opened a file on DE ARMAS
[45]and apparently went through the normal routine of shopping his
[46]file. Interest in DE ARMAS terminated when TOMLEY sent DE ARMAS
[47]a letter advising him that the Agency had nothing currently
[48]available. Then on 22 January 1973 DE ARMAS wrote TOMLEY
[49]thanking the latter for interest following a telephone call
[51]E2 IMPDET. .
[52]CL BY 007472
[56]as
[59]ne a @
[61]a
[63]DE ARMAS made to TOMLEY in which DE ARMAS wanted to know once
[64]and forever if there were any openings for him. DE ARMAS!
[65]Security file reflected no subsequent activity except for the
[66]attached cable traffic following his "defection."
[70]. 4, Regarding the personalities mentioned by DE ARMAS
[72]in his Havana press conference, it appears that several
[73]individuais may be identical to former WH Division assets, as
[74]shown beisw. It should be noted that DE ARMAS did not identify ar
[75]any bona fide Agency staff employees or agents nor does it
[76]appear that he identified any past or current operations. It
[77]seems likely that DE ARMAS was provided a list of known or
[78]Suspected Agency assets by the DGI as part of Cuba's. ongoing
[79]anti-CIA, anti-U. S. Government campaign designed to offset
[80]adverse criticism to Cuba's military assistance to Angola.
[82]Set forth below are those individuals alleged to have been
[83]connected with Agency operations by DE ARMAS; results.of Office
[84]of Security indices searches and file reviews follow each name
[85]where a possible identification could be made.
[87]wee
[91]NAME GIVEN BY DE ARMAS OS FILE, IF ANY, AND COMMENTS
[93]Bob DYNES _ No Office of Security traces :
[94](aka: DINUS, DAYNES) regarding all variations. »
[96]Robert Bud MILES (alleged No Office of Security traces. .
[98]to have been the supplier
[99]of explosives used in the
[100]mY murder of Rolando MASFERRER)
[102]Lazaro ALVAREZ Possibly identifiable with
[103]Lazaro Gustavo ARECES ALVAREZ,
[104]SF#753 905, on whom a POA was
[105]requested by WH Division :
[106](JMATE) in June 1964 for use SG
[107]as a PM/Maritime asset; files :
[108]canceled in October 1964, '
[110]Fred DUNCAN No Office of Security traces;
[111]believed to be a DEA officer
[112]stationed in Caracas.
[114]Doug PHILLIPS No Office of Security traces;
[116]believed to-be a DEA officer
[118]Stationed in Caracas.
[120]* Masre nner Died YA 149s
[121]Whew he tev why we Lewn 2
[123]SECRET
[126]14-0000 .
[128]an
[130]NAME GIVEN BY DE ARMAS
[132]John VALDAVIAN
[133]({aka> BLADABIAN)
[135]A. NASS
[137]Anselmo ALLIEGRO (HIJO)
[139]Justo ALFONSO
[140](aka: "El Gallego")
[141]Ricardo MORALES NAVARRETE
[143]Armando RUIZ
[145]de LEON
[147]MEJIA RICARD
[148]RICART)
[150]used by WH/1/Mexico as a LP
[151]operator from December 1964
[153]OS FILE, IF ANY, AND COMMENTS
[157]No Office of Security traces
[158]regarding all variations.
[160]Probably identifiable with
[161]Donald L. NESS, State Depart-
[162]ment.RSO in Santo Domingo.
[164]~No Office of Security traces.
[166]No Office of Security traces.
[168]No Office of Security traces.
[170]Possibly identifiable with
[171]Armando VALENZUELA RUIZ,
[172]SF#752 358. OA request by
[173]WH/3AColumbia for use as a4
[174]PA in Columbia or PRC;/ not
[175]used due to significant
[176]derogatory information
[177]developed.
[179]Possibly identifiable with
[180]Sergio Aritonio LOPEZ DE LEON,
[181]SF#740 227, who was apparently
[183]to May 1973 in Mexico. 24 ~
[184]Probably identifiable with
[185]Marcio MEJIA RICART, CR to
[186]SF#244 148 (Manuel Moises
[187]LANARCHE SALAS). © In June
[189]1960 latter advised FBI that
[190]RICART was a Venezuelan active
[191]in anti-TRUJILLO activities
[192]and had visited Miami in April
[193]to buy B-26's and weapons for
[194]an attack on- the Dominican
[195]Republic; also advised that
[196]RICART was an instructor at
[197]Caracas University, was asso-
[199]ciated with Director of Economic
[201]1F00000
[205]_ . SE RE F
[210]A
[212]NAME GIVEN BY DE ARMAS OS FILE, IF ANY, AND COMMENTS |
[213]Development in Venezuela and é
[215]. believed RICART may be a B
[216]Communist. 7
[218]Luis DESA SOTO , No Office of Security traces. nal
[219]Felix MARTINEZ SUAREZ Possibly identifiable with ;
[221]Felix Antonio MARTINEZ SUAREZ,
[222]SF#242 302, who was Director
[223]f El Mundo when a POA was 5
[224]granted in April-1961 and up- :
[225]dated in July 1973 for his use :
[226]by WH/3/V as a.Propaganda 2y
[228]\_ Placement Asset.
[230]Salavador ROMANI Possibly identifiable with
[231]Salvador Garcia ROMANI-ORUE
[232]SF#223 776; on whom an OA
[233]was granted in September 1960 24
[234]for use by WH/4/Cuba as a P
[235]Agent in Caracas; files can-
[237]eled in January 1967. On
[238]PRQ listed one Manuel ARTIME,
[239]not further identified, as a
[240]relative/friend/correspondent
[241]in U. S.
[243]5. The possible identification (by either DE ARMAS or the
[244]DGI) of those WH Division assets reflected above suggests that
[245]their names were either known or suspected as CIA assets and were
[246]thrown in with those individuals not identified above in an os
[247]effort to legitimatize DE ARMAS’ claims to have worked for the oa
[248]CIA. It should be noted that of those individuals listed above
[249]on whom a security file exists, none appear to have any current *%
[250]association with this Agency and, as far as can be determined, “
[251]no actual Agency operations were either exposed or threatened. %
[253]6. The above is provided for your information; no further
[254]action in this case appears necessary,
[256]Michael E. Schneeberger
[257]Security Analysis Group
[259]ET