FRANK STURGIS
Agent of Cuban Government 1959
[Reference: NARA RIF # 124-10302-10238]
Legal Attache, Havana (2-15)
April 7, 1959
Director, FBI (2-1499)
FRANK FIORINI, aka
Frank Anthony Sturgis
IS - CUBA
DECLASSIFIED BY: 5668SLD EH
ON 4-10-95
Enclosed for each of the offices receiving this communication is a copy
of a letter dated 4-7-59 captioned "Cuban Revolutionary
Activities." The subject is the source of the information
contained in this communication.
For your additional, the subject was interviewed on 3-31-59 at the
Bureau by Bureau representatives. At that time he exhibited a
letter from the Director of Inspections of the National Lottery
Institute, Havana, Cuba, which appointed him Chief Inspector for all
gambling casinos and cabarets in Havana. The subject described
himself as a Captain in the Rebel Army and exhibited a document which
he described as a credential of his rank. He furnished his local
address as the Mayflower Hotel and indicated he planned to return to
Havana by way of Miami on 4-1-59. He gave his Havana address as
the Inspector General's Office, Camp "Tte Brihuega," Cuidad Militar,
Havana. He advised that his father resides at 326 Bank Street,
Norfolk, Virginia.
Fiorini stated that he had served with Castro's forces for the past two
years. He stated that he had been engaged in the raising of funds
and arms in Miami, Mexico, and in other countries of Latin America and
that he had been engaged in the fighting in the mountain provinces of
Cuba. Upon the victory of Castro's forces, Fiorini was appointed
to the position of the Chief Inspector of the gambling casinos and as
Captain of the Cuban Air Force. His duties with the U. S. Air
Attache, Havana, and the Cuban Air Force. In connection with this
position, he had, within the past week, presented his credentials to
the American Air Attache, colonel Nichols (phonetic). During the
course of his conversation with
Enclosure
1-Norfolk (97-13) (Enclosure)
2-Miami (2-192) (Enclosure)
1-Foreign Liaison Unit (route through for review)
VHN:1mc (8)
Colonel Nichols, he mentioned that he was concerned regarding the
present status of his American citizenship. The subject explained
that while he had been involved with the Cuban Rebels for the past few
years, he cherished his American citizenship and intended to protect it
at all costs. He was referred in this connection to the Legal
Attache, James Haverty. Fiorini indicated he planned to recontact
Haverty upon his return. The subject was not advised that the
Legal Attache was an FBI representative.
With reference to his appearance at the Bureau, the subject stated that
recently there was held in Havana a Ministers Conference, attended by
the heads of state of the Cuban Government. Fiorinis military
superior, Commandante Pedro Luis Diaz Lanz, Chief of the Cuban Air
Force, was in attendance at this meeting. According to the
subject, Diaz Lanz became concerned during this meeting and afterward
at the degree of control which communists in the Cuban Government were
able to exercise upon the policy making functions of the
Government. Diaz Lanz discussed this with his brother, Marcos
Diaz Lanz, who is the Inspector General of the Cuban Air Force and, as
such, is the Number Two Man in that organization. The subject
described the Diaz Lanz brothers as sincere and ardent
anticommunists. He stated that as part of his duties as liaison
representative with the American Embassy, he had attempted to arrange
social gatherings between the Embassy staff and the Ambassador and the
Cuban Air Force officials. His efforts in this regard had been
thwarted in view of the strong anti-American feelings rampant in
Havana. Fiorini attributes this anti-American to communist
infiltration of all phases of the Cuban Government. He advised
that the Diaz Lanz brothers are acutely aware of the situation.
He suggested to them that contacts be made and maintained with the
American Embassy in Havana in order to secure leadership or advice in
fighting communism in the Cuban Government. Not only was this
suggestion turned down, but all attempts at social contact between Air
Force officials and the American Embassy were expressly
forbidden. In fact, a dinner engagement arranged between the
American Ambassador and the Diaz Lanz brothers was called off upon
orders from higher authorities. As an example of communist power
in the Government, Fiorini described a recent incident in which an
unnamed Cuban Air Force officer had publicly made an anticommunist
statement. Pressure was brought to bear upon the Commander of the
Air Force by Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who was able to immediately have
this Air Force officer removed from the service.
As a result of the above incident and the growing communist threat in
Cuba, the subject was sent by the Diaz Lanz brothers to the U. S.
specifically to seek an interview with the Director. The main
purpose of the visit was to further acquaint the Director with the
growing power of the communists in their country, and to state
affirmatively their own anticommunist feelings and beliefs. At
the same time, they desired to offer to the U. S. their services in the
fight against communism in Cuba. The subject emphasized that his
visit to the Bureau was strictly unofficial and only known to the Diaz
Lanz brothers. The subject noted that this visit was without the
approval of Fidel Castro and that if the visit became known to Castro,
Castro would probably take serious action against all of them. In
addition, the subject transmitted the desire of the Diaz Lanz brothers
for FBI aid in the fight against communism in Cuba. It was
tactfully explained to the subject that any requests for such
assistance would have to be made officially and emanate from the Cuban
Government and that the Bureau could not offer advice as to how
communism should be fought in Cuba. For his own part, the subject
offered to serve as an "agent" for the U. S. Government in the battle
against communism. The subject noted that his position as an American
citizen was unique in that he held a high position, had fought the
Batista Government with Castro, and presently enjoyed the trust and
confidence of the Castro Government. The subject was also advised
that while the Bureau has no jurisdiction overseas, his offer of
cooperation would be made a matter of record and any information he
desired to volunteer would be accepted.
The subject indicated a desire to furnish further information to the
Bureau concerning communism in Cuba and the plans of the other
revolutionists to invade various Caribbean countries, which he stated
he would either transmit by letter to the Bureau or furnish the Legal
Attache on his next visit to him.
The subject indicated that the Cuban Government was extremely anxious
to have an FBI identification check made of the gamblers in Cuba and he
believed that such a request would be officially made through the
Embassy. He added that regulations concerning the gambling
industry in Havana were chaotic at the present time. He stated
that while he had been appointed Chief Inspector of the gambling
casinos, he had only a rudimentary knowledge of gambling, particularly
as it is applied in casinos. Fiorini noted that the ruse used in
making his trip was an ostensible trip to Miami for the purpose of
purchasing military clothing for the Cuban Air Force. At the time
of his visit to the Bureau, Cuban officials in Havana were of the
belief that he was visiting relatives in Norfolk, Virginia.
The subject stated that he has been one of the officials personally
contacted by representatives of the various revolutionary groups in
Havana. He stated that he is presently assisting in the
organization of a general staff which includes General Ramirez, a
Dominican, and a Colonel Gomez, a Nicaraguan, the ultimate purpose of
which is the overthrow of the Nicaraguan Government. The subject
advised that he took the position on the general staff so that he would
be in a position to furnish information to the U. S. Government.
He stated that he had been asked to accept this position by Dr. Enrique
Henriquez, brother-in-law of former Cuban President Carlos Prio
Socarras, who was presently in Cuba. The subject indicated he
would be most willing to continue his work on the general staff
planning invasions if he could be of use to the U. S. Government.
He was advised that this was a decision that he himself would have to
make.
Havana is requested to submit its comments and recommendations in this
matter as to the development of Fiorini as a possible source.
There is no objection to Havana accepting any information the subject
may volunteer. However, caution should be exercised in dealing
with the subject in view of his position with the Cuban Government and
his background.
Miami, the office of origin in this matter, will, upon the completion
of the outstanding leads, place this case in a closed status and so
advise the Bureau.
End of Page
Copyright 1998-2008
Cuban Information Archives. All Rights Reserved.
