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2506 PRISONER DELEGATION MEETING
(Miami, May 1961)

[Reference: Dade County OCB file #153]


CI 153-D

DATE: May 22, 1961

TO:  THOMAS J. KELLY, Metropolitan Sheriff

FROM: LT. FRANK CHAPEL, Supervisor, Criminal Intelligence

SUBJECT:  CUBAN COUNTER - REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITIES -
                     ULISES CARBO et al


At approximately 8: a.m. on May 20, 1961, Agent A.L. TARABOCHIA was advised by a reliable source that a number of Cuban nationals recently captured in the aftermath of the unsuccessful invasion of Cuba were being returned to Miami.  The prisoners were to negotiate the ransom of tractors demanded by FIDEL CASTRO for the release of the 1,200 prisoners held in captivity since the end of April.

The writer immediately notified Lt. KAPPEL and the Duty Sergeant at the airport since it was foreseeable that a large crowd of Cubans would gather to meet the prisoners.

At 12:15 p.m., Agent TARABOCHIA was notified by Sgt. J. KOGAN that the prisoners were to arrive on P.A.A. Flight #442 at 1:30 p.m. and that there was a considerable number of Cubans waiting the arrival of the flight.

Upon arrival, the writer contacted Lt. STOUT and together they proceeded to the United States Immigration Office to receive instructions on the procedure to follow.

Mr. L. GIDDEL, Travel Control Officer of I.N.S. revealed that the prisoners identified as follows,

[Photo of Delegation not in report]

  (1) ULISES CARBO, Hq. Co.
  (2) MIRTO COLLAZO VALDES, Hq. Co.
  (3) Captain LUIS MORSE DELGADO, Navy
  (4) JUAN JOSE PERUYERO, 3rd Bn.
  (5) WALDO CASTROVERDE, 1st Bn., Paratroop
  (6) HUGO SUEIROS, 2nd Bn.
  (7) CEFERINO ALVAREZ CASTRELLON, 4th Armored Bn.
  (8) GUSTAVO GARCIA MONTES, Heavy Weapons Bn.
  (9) REINALDO PICO RAMON, 6th Bn.
(10) FELIX ELOY PEREZ TAMAYO, 5th Bn.

were to give a press conference in the VIP room of the airport and then proceed to the DuPont Plaza Hotel where they were to meet with the representatives of the Revolutionary Council.

At 1:38 p.m., P.A.A. Flight #422 arrived at Miami and the ten prisoners alighted last, clad in camouflage combat uniforms.  After a brief interrogation by Mr. GIDDEL, the prisoners were taken to the parking apron where five United States Border Patrol cars waited to take t hem to the Du Pont Plaza Hotel.

The press conference was canceled when it became evident that it would be impossible to take the prisoners through the waiting crowd estimated at approximately 500.  Just before boarding the Border Patrol cars, the prisoners were allowed to pose for the press photographers.  Immediately afterwards, the group left for the Hotel where it arrived at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Upon arrival at the Hotel, it was learned that the Manager, ROBERT E. PAGE, requested that a Negro male among the prisoners be removed from the premises because of a policy of the Hotel.  When it was pointed out that such action could be exploited by the communist press, Mr. PAGE'S only remark was, "I only work here".

Mr. WILLIAM PAWLEY, former United States Ambassador to Brazil made arrangements for the group to be billeted at the Fontainebleau Hotel on Miami Beach.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., the prisoners in the Border Patrol cars with a Miami Police motorcycle escort proceeded to the Fontainebleau where, upon arrival, the group was taken to the fourth floor and, at their request, refused to see anyone including their relatives.

After being assigned to their rooms, the prisoners met with the representatives of the Cuban Revolutionary Council for approximately 90 minutes under the constant supervision of two C.I.A. agents and the I.N.S. inspectors.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. GIDDEL requested that the writer escort the group to 1034 Michigan Avenue where they were to meet with Dr. JOSE MIRO CARDONA, President of the Revolutionary Council.  Dr. MIRO was confined to bed with a pulmonary congestion but, due to the exceptional circumstances, received permission from his doctors to receive the delegation of prisoners.

At this point, the writer was joined by Agent J. M. Mc KAY because of the number of persons gathered at the residence of Dr. MIRO.

The meeting ended at 8:01 p.m. and the group returned to the Fontainebleau Hotel where a press conference was arranged.  At approximately 8:30 p.m., Mr. GIDDEL advised the writer that there were no other activities planned and, due to the fact that most of the prisoners were to visit their homes, there was no need for additional security measures.  Agents TARABOCHIA and Mc KAY then secured at approximately 8:40 p.m.

During his contacts with the prisoners, Agent TARABOCHIA has obtained additional information relative to the abortive invasion of April 17, 1961.  This information will be included in a separate report to follow.

Respectfully submitted,

A.L. TARABOCHIA
Intelligence Agent

LT. FRANK KAPPEL, Supervisor
Criminal Intelligence

ALT/ rcw


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