</s>104-10095-10291 ACT RELEAS APPROVED FOR RELEASE 1993 1 9 NOV 1970 CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence SUBJECT : ROSELL, Johnny 1. This memorandum is for information only. 2. In August 1960, Mr. Richard M. Bissell approached Colonel Sheffield Edwards to determine if the Office of Security had assets that may assist to determine it the Office Of Security gangster-type action. The mission target was Fidel Castro. 3. Because of its extreme sensitivity, only a small group was made to the project. The DCI was briefed and gave his approval. Colonel J. C. King, Chief, WH Division, was briefed, but approval. Colonel C. J. King. Chief, WHO Division, Was briefed, JMWAVE details were deliberately concealed from any of the patented 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, and requested to ascertain if he could develop an entree into the gangster elements as the first step toward accom- pishing into the desired goal. 5. Mr. Mahee advised that he had met one Johnny Roselli on several occasions while visiting Las Vegas. He only knew him casually through clients, but given to understand that he was a high-ranking member of the "syndicate" and controlled all of the ice-making machines on the Strip. Mahei reasoned that, if Roselli was in fact a member of a clan, he undoubtedly had connections leading into the Cuban gambling intereste.

**Key Individuals:**

* John F. Kennedy (JFK)
* Richard M. Bissell
* Colonel Sheffield Edwards
* Johnny Roselli
* Robert A. Maheu
* Sam Giancana
* Santos Trafficante
* Juan Orta
* Dr. Anthony Verona
* Dan Rowan
* Phyllis McGuire

**Key Events and Activities:**

* August 1960: Richard M. Bissell approaches Colonel Sheffield Edwards to determine if the Office of Security has assets to assist in determining whether gangster-type action can be used against Fidel Castro.
* September 14, 1960: Robert A. Maheu is asked to approach Johnny Roselli and tell him that he has been retained by a client who represents several international business firms suffering heavy financial losses in Cuba as a result of Castro's actions.
* September 25, 1960: Maheu introduces Sam Giancana to Roselli at the Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami Beach.
* October 1960: Maheu delivers pills to Juan Orta, who attempts several times to assassinate Fidel Castro but ultimately gets cold feet and asks out of the assignment.
* November 1967: Mr. William Harvey takes over as Case Officer, and it is not known whether Roselli was used operationally from that point on.
* December 2, 1968: Roselli, along with four other individuals, is convicted of conspiracy to cheat members of the Friars Club of $400,000 in a rigged gin game.

**Investigations and Findings:**

* The Office of Security requests TSD to produce six pills of high lethal content.
* Dr. Verona's potential was never fully exploited as the project was canceled shortly after the Bay of Pigs episode.
* An incident involving a request by Sam Giancana to Maheu to tap Dan Rowan's room is mentioned, but it is not clear what happened in this regard.

**Connections to JFK and Related Investigations:**

* The assassination of John F. Kennedy (JFK) is not directly related to the events described in this document.
* However, the document mentions that Robert A. Maheu was involved in a wiretap incident with Dan Rowan, which was discussed with Attorney General Robert Kennedy on February 7, 1962.

**Declassification and Release:**

* The document was declassified and released on November 9, 1970.

RFK Declassified Files

00365285_memo_from_dci_re_roselli_104-10104-10405.pdf

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