JFK Case: ROLANDO MASFERRER TRIAL.

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00549106
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: January 4, 2022
• Case Number: F-2020-01423
• Publication Date: November 1, 1967

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Approved for Release: 2021/11/29 C00549106
OGC 67-2059
1 November 1967
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Rolando Masferrer Trial
1. This memorandum is for information.
2. During the past year we have spent a good deal of time
working with the Department of Justice and the U. S. Attorney in
Miami on possible problems in connection with the trial of Rolando
Masferrer which begins on 6 November 1967. Masferrer was
arrested by Bureau of Customs officials for violation of the
Neutrality Act wh en he and a number of other Cubans and some
Haitians were about to embark on an expedition against Haiti.
An indictment was obtained shortly thereafter against Masferrer
and certain selected members of his band. Neither we nor Justice
was informed of the arrest ahead of time, but we raised a question
with the Departments of State and Justice as to whether there
should be an indictment. State's strong desire for prosecution
of this particular group prevailed over our worries.
3. We see several areas of possible trouble for us. From
the start, Masferrer has indicated that he would claim that the
Central Intelligence Agency knew about and endorsed the expedition.
In fact, practically everyone in Florida, including CIA knew about
the expedition, but our Station made every effort to keep away from
it and any Cubans and Haitians associated with it. Our association
with Masferrer started in the late 1940s but was cut off completely
in the early 1950s. Certain members of the expedition, however,
had had more recent contacts with the Agency.
4. The second area of concern arises from the fact that
certain individuals associated, directly or indirectly, with
Masferrer have also cropped up in the Garrison investigation
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in New Orleans. We cannot predict any specific problems here
except that information developed in Miami may well be grist
to Garrison's mill.
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5. Another point involves onelpavid Cabezawho has
done fairly extensive work for us and may be called as a witness.
He would probably be willing to talk about his activities for us
if such testimony were admissible in evidence. Hopefully the
Government lawyers can prevent this.
6. The defense has stated it will call as a witness
Cesario Diosado. He is a Bureau. of Customs official who became
so involved in working with us that for the past few years we
have been reimbursing Customs for his salary and he has actually
been under our direction. He participated in the arrest of
Masferrer and the others. It is possible his relationship with
us will come out during the trial.
7. All of these points have been discussed in detail with
the Department of Justice in the hope that it might drop the
indictment. It is under pressure from two points, however.
The Department of State very much wants to get a conviction under
the Neutrality Act, particularly after the failure of the B-26 case
in Buffalo last year. Obviously, the Masferrer case looks like
an ideal one to prosecute from its point of view. Secondly,
CBS worked with Masferrer's group and apparently filmed all
the preparations. It has been cooperating with Justice and has
supplied its film to the U. S Attorney. Since this apparently
provides convincing information of a gross violation of the Neutrality
Act, Justice feels there is no logical explanation it can be given for
dropping the indictment. As our worries are purely speculative
and we cannot predict with any certainty that we will be involved,
I do not believe we have sufficient ammunition to contest Justice's
position. Justice has spent a great deal of time studying our
problems and certainly will make every effort to control the
situation insofar as we are concerned.
8. One of my lawyers, Mr. John K. Greaney. will be
in Miami working with the U. S. Attorney and his staff throughout
the trial.
S/
cc: DDCI
DDP General Counsel
CI SF.C.P.
\pi subject-KENNEDY ASSASSINATION-GARRISON
40-0GC subject-MASFERRER, ROLANDO
CHRONO JKG Signer
LAWRENCE R. HOUSTON
Approved for Release: 2021/11/29 C00549106