</s>104-10303-10010 JFK ACTI 09-30-9-9 DO/04 Soc. RELEASE CITES CITY CA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM RELEASE IN FULL 1998. SUBJECT: Johnny Roselli 1. In August 1960, Mr. Richard M. Bissell approved Colonel Sheffield Edwards to determine if the Office of Security had assets that may assist in a sensitive mission requiring gangster-type action. The mission target was Fidel Castro. 2. Because of its extreme sensitivity, only a small group was made privy to the extreme sensitivity. The DCI was briefed and gave his approval. Colonel J. King, Chief, who was briefed, but all details were dedicated to the mission. My personal personnel participated Certain TSA and Communications personnel participated in the initial planning stages, but were not writing of the purpose of the mission." 3. Robert A. Maheu, a cleared source of the Office of Security, was contacted, briefed generally on the project, and requested to ascertain if he could developed and requested the desired goal. step toward accomplishing the desired goals. 4. Mr. Mahey advised that he had met one Johnny Rosselli on several occasions while visiting Las Vegas. He only knew him casually through clients, but was given to understand that he was a high-ranking member of the on the Strip, controlled all of the following machines of the Strip and the clan, and if he had made it in the fact a member of this clan, the undoubtedly had connections leading into the Cuban gambling interests. 5. Mahew was asked to approach Rosselli, who knew Maheu as a personal relations executive handling domestic and foreign accounts, and tell him that he has recently been foreign by a firm, which represents general inter- national business as a result of Castro's suffering after- losses in Cuba as a firm which was affected by the were convinced that Castro's removal was the answer to their E2 IMPDET CL BY 00988 Q0012 SECRET

Johnny Roselli, a high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit, was involved with the CIA in attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro. In 1960, Robert Maheu, a cleared source of the Office of Security, was contacted and briefed on the project, which aimed to remove Castro through gangster-type action. Maheu was asked to approach Roselli, who knew him casually, and tell him that a firm representing international business was willing to pay $150,000 for Castro's removal.

The pitch was made to Roselli on September 14, 1960, at the Hilton Plaza Hotel in New York City. Roselli agreed to introduce Maheu to a friend, Sam Giancana, who was identified as a courier operating between Havana and Miami. Giancana suggested using firearms but was furnished with pills of high lethal content instead.

The project was canceled after the Bay of Pigs invasion, and the pills were retrieved. However, Roselli continued to be involved in attempts to assassinate Castro, including a 1962 attempt that was rejected by Kennedy. In 1970, Maheu called James O'Connell, Roselli's first Case Officer, and informed him that Roselli faced deportation.

The CIA had been aware of Roselli's involvement with the Agency since the 1950s and had used him for various operations, including a 1963 attempt to assassinate Castro using a poison. The CIA also knew about Roselli's connections to organized crime figures, including Giancana and Santos Trafficante.

In 1971, Jack Anderson wrote two columns detailing the CIA's involvement with Roselli in attempts to assassinate Castro. The last known residence of Roselli was the Federal Penitentiary in Seattle, Washington.

Key individuals involved:

* Johnny Roselli: high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit
* Robert Maheu: cleared source of the Office of Security
* Sam Giancana: courier operating between Havana and Miami
* Fidel Castro: leader of Cuba
* James O'Connell: Case Officer for Roselli
* Jack Anderson: journalist who wrote about CIA's involvement with Roselli

Key events:

* 1960: Robert Maheu is contacted and briefed on the project to remove Castro through gangster-type action.
* September 14, 1960: The pitch is made to Roselli at the Hilton Plaza Hotel in New York City.
* 1962: A attempt to assassinate Castro using a poison is rejected by Kennedy.
* 1970: Maheu calls James O'Connell and informs him that Roselli faces deportation.
* 1971: Jack Anderson writes two columns detailing the CIA's involvement with Roselli in attempts to assassinate Castro.

RFK Declassified Files

00367932_subject_johnny_roselli_104-10310-10199.pdf

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