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Cryptonym: AMJAG-7

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Definition:
Max Lesnick, aka Max Lesnik
Status:
Documented
Sources:

104-10163-10170: Folder on Max Lesnick

1/2/51 report: Lesnik was a youth leader with Ortodoxo in 1951 and allied with Juventud Socialista during this period. "The PSP (Partido Socialista Popular) high command maintains continued interest to a very high degree in the Junventud Socialista organization. One of the principal tasks of the communist party is to maintain the direction of a strong communist youth movement which will respond only to the ideological foundation of the communist party...Many of the present members of the PSP were formerly members of the Juventud Comunista, the former Juventud Socialista..." (at p. 47) "(Lesnik) was an active communist propagandist at the University."

180-10145-10316: 180-10145-10316

1/26/61 arrival by Lesnick in Key West, requesting political asylum. (Date of info 11/63).

104-10310-10020: FILE: DDCI DOCUMENTS

05/22/61, Dispatch from Chief of Base, JMWAVE to Chief, WH Division: Subject: Operational/JMATE/AMOT Operational Report: Page 2: ..."WAVE/KUDESK also plan to continue to support and direct such agents as AMJAG-7 (political within AMBUD), AMCLATTER-5 (military matters independently and/or AMBUD in the WAVE area), AMOT-4 and AMOT-16 (controlled penetrations within AMOT and AMFAST and for general independent reporting on anti- and pro-Castro activities in the WAVE area), AMPACK-1 (probably) (general political matters) and AMPUTEE-1 (general Cuban matters as well as retaining as a future technical asset for telephone tappings)..."

104-10274-10424: CABLE: SUBJ REF FORMERLY AMWAIL AND NOW ASSIGNED CRYPT

08/16/63, Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline KEYWAY PBRUMEN: "1. SUBJ Ref formerly AMWAIL-9 and now assigned AMJAG-8 crypt. AMJAG-8 recruited and handled by Zamka/David Morales in Habana. SUBJ was arrested in Aug 60 while attempting assist several persons escape Cuba one of whom turned out to be 'Chivato' and who notified G-2 of his activities. Subject's arrest not due to any mission assigned to him by Habana Station, but was his own personal doings. Several attempts made by Zamka/David Morales through AMJAG-7 obtain his release but efforts futile. Zamka assisted wife and child obtain U.S. visas. 2. SUBJ former chief legal dept (unintelligible) which handled legal business for GOC with American firm building the Hanabanilla Dam project in Escambray mountains. SUBJ's partner was IDEN whom Zamka also in contact with and assisted him leave Cuba at propitious time. 3. During time used by Zamka he proved to be very cooperative and provided many leads as well as timely info. He considered intelligent and very pro-U.S. His security at that time considered good. So far as known SUBJ never revealed to G-2 his association with Zamka or HBFINCH while detained by GOC."

104-10173-10170: FOLDER ON MAX LESNICK

8/19/65 memo: "IDEN A told AMRAZZ-1 on 7 Aug 65 that AMJAG-7 (201-209258) had recently said that conflicting reports (nature and medium not specified) issued by (CIA) and (DIA) re Dominican crisis resulted in downgrading (CIA), and since crisis it rumored (not specified by whom) (ODBEAT, crypt for DIA) would be substituted any moment for (CIA) in handling (Cuba) problem. IDEN A added he sure AMJAG-3 employed by CIA and assumed he got info from his (CIA) contact. (WAVE comment: In both daily radio Russian program (IDEN B) and newspaper (IDEN C) he runs, IDEN A has consistently followed anti-(CIA) line set by AMBANG-1 including hints that (CIA) being eased out of (Cuban) ops. In meet with AMRAZZ-1, IDEN A presumably used AMJAG-7 name who highly respected (in) order (to) lend credence to rumor and threw AMJAG-7-(CIA) tie for more weight. AMJAG-7 considered very discreet, believed not known in the exile community as having any (CIA) ties..."

124-90152-10064: No Title

4/30/74 memo by officers R. J. Diaz and R. Gonzalez, Criminal Activist Unit in Dade County, Florida: "Continuing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the homicide of Jose E. de la Torriente which occurred on Wednesday, April 24, 1974 in Dade County, Florida...(C.I. TIS 0052) stated that many of the incidents which are occurring lately seem to be a repetition of the activities of Orlando Bosch and his associates circa 1968...(in a 1968 communique, "Ernesto" aka Bosch) denounced Dr. Enrique Huertas, Jose E. de la Torriente and Manuel Artime as being thieves, stealing from the Cuban exiles...according to the C.I. and federal sources, in 1972, Max Lesnik had a plan to kill Fidel Castro in Chile while Castro was visiting that country. Lesnik needed two men for his plan so he approached Diego Medina of Alpha 66 and asked him for two men. Medina produced Dominguez who had just gotten out of jail who wanted to do anything and Dominguez suggested Rodriguez, who was allegedly a fugitive at the time. Lesnik supplied Dominguez and Rodriguez with false press papers and made the necessary arrangements in Chile through Antonio Veciana. Veciana was a member of El Segundo Frente Nacional de la Escambray Alpha-66 and a very close associate of Lesnik. Lesnik told another source that Veciana is my right hand. Veciana is presently serving a long term sentence for distribution of narcotics...Given the background of Dominguez in prior attempts to assassinate political figures and his definite association with Bosch and Lesnik (who have been named by other sources as having been involved in the Torriente homicide 'behind the scenes') it is this writer's opinion that Dominguez should be looked at a suspect in the Torriente case."

Contributors:
Bill Simpich

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