</s>104-10122-10289 CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM RELEASE IN FULL 1999 1 9 NOV 1970 MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence SUBJECT : ROSELLI, Johnny 1. This memorandum is for information only. 2. In August 1960, Mr. Richard M. Bissell approached Colonel Sheffield Edwards to determine the Office of Security had assets that may assist in a sensitive mission requiring gangster-type action. The mission target target Fidel Castro. 3. Because of its extreme sensitivity, only a small group was made proxy to the project. The DCI was briefly and gave his approval. Colonel J. C. King, Chief, WH Division, was gave his but all details were deliberately concealed from any of the JMWAVE officials. Certain TSAD and Commo personnel partici- pated in the initial planning stages, but were not writing of the purpose of the mission. 4. Robert A. Maheu was contacted, briefed generally on the project, A. Requested to ascertain if he could develop an. entire into the gangster elements as the first step toward accom- placing the desired goal. 5. Mr. Mahen advised that he had met one Johnny Rossi on several occasions while visiting Las Vegas. He only knew him casually through clients, but was given to understand that he was a high-through client's member of the "syndicate" and controlled all of the ice-icing machines on the Strip. Mahee reasoned that, if Roselli was in fact a member of this clan, he undoubutedly had connections leading into the Cuban gambling interests. JFK ACT 9-29-99 RELEAS 00044

Summary  
This memorandum details a CIA covert operation in 1960 aimed at targeting Fidel Castro through gangster networks. Richard M. Bissell approached Colonel Sheffield Edwards to identify assets capable of facilitating the mission, which involved leveraging gangster-type actions. Robert A. Maheu was tasked with contacting Johnny Roselli, a Las Vegas-based individual linked to Cuban gambling interests, to recruit him for the operation. Roselli initially avoided involvement but was persuaded to introduce Sam Gold, who had connections to the "Cuban crowd." The plan involved using lethal pills rather than firearms, with Juan Orta as a potential intermediary. However, the project was canceled after the Bay of Pigs incident, and Dr. Anthony Verona’s involvement was abandoned. In 1962, Robert F. Kennedy (as Attorney General) was briefed on Maheu’s wiretap activities, leading to the withdrawal of prosecution. Roselli faced deportation proceedings in 1970, with no Agency assistance provided.  

Key People  
- Richard M. Bissell: CIA official initiating the operation.  
- Colonel Sheffield Edwards: Contacted for asset identification.  
- Robert A. Maheu: Liaison for recruiting gangster elements.  
- Johnny Roselli: Las Vegas-based individual linked to Cuban gambling interests.  
- Sam Gold: Connected to the "Cuban crowd."  
- Juan Orta: Proposed intermediary for the mission.  
- Dr. Anthony Verona: Exiled Cuban official considered for the mission.  
- Robert F. Kennedy: Attorney General briefed on Maheu’s wiretap case.  
- Howard J. Oborn: Director of Security, final decision-maker on Roselli’s case.  

Key Locations  
- Las Vegas: Roselli’s base and initial contact point.  
- New York City: Meeting between Maheu and Roselli at the Hilton Plaza Hotel.  
- Miami Beach: Introduction to Sam Gold at the Fontainebleau Hotel.  
- Havana/Miami: Joe’s courier operations between Cuba and the U.S.  

Key Events  
- August 1960: Initiation of the mission targeting Castro via gangster networks.  
- September 1960: Meeting with Roselli in New York City to discuss the plan.  
- September–October 1960: Attempts to recruit Orta and subsequent abandonment of the mission after the Bay of Pigs incident.  
- February 1962: Robert F. Kennedy briefed on Maheu’s wiretap activities, leading to prosecution withdrawal.  
- November 1970: Roselli’s deportation proceedings and Agency decision not to assist him.  

Key Organizations  
- CIA (Central Intelligence Agency): Overseen the operation and its cancellation.  
- Office of Security: Involved in managing the mission and subsequent legal matters.  
- FBI: Provided information on Roselli’s criminal history.  
- Cuban Exile Junta: Mentioned as a potential network for the mission.

RFK Declassified Files

00344430_memo_for_dci_re_roselli_104-10116-10003.pdf

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