Cryptonym: AMOT-72
A dispatch from Stanley R. Zamka (David Morales) on June 20, 1961, stated that AMOT-72 had talked to Johnny Sabariego, who told the former he was receiving naval navigation instruction, and was sleeping at the Frente Revolucionario Democratico (FRD)'s barracks.
104-10165-10350: REPORT ON THE ACT HELD AT THE BAYFRONT PARK
03/26/61: CIA report: "Background: Agents C-43, C-49, C-61, C-62, C-63, C-66, C-67, and C-71 were commissioned to mix with the crowd which attended the act (demonstration) held this afternoon at the Bayfront Park Auditorium. Report:...The newspaper man known as Joalo introduced Norman Diaz, also a newspaperman, who was the sole speaker and organizer of the (demonstration)...among others, the following persons attended...Panchio Batista, Rolando Masferrer Rojo, Dr. Jose I. Rivero, Dr. Jose Ignacio Rasco, Dr. Jose Manuel Hernandez, Dr. Luis Conte Aguero, Dr. Arsenio Gonzalez, Dr. and Mrs. Radio Cremata, Dr. Gustavo Cuervo Rubio, Dr. Amadeo Lopez Castro, and Dr. Rafael Guas Inclan...approximately 5 to 7,000 persons attended the (demonstration)...(a photograph of Plinio Prieto Ruiz/AMPANIC-5, murdered leader of the Escambray, was distributed to the participants)."
104-10260-10206: DISPATCH: SUBJECT - "17TH OF APRIL" MOVEMENT
06/01/61: Dispatch from Chief of Base, JMWAVE to Chief, WHD: ..."3. AMOT-72 reported the following information on subject movement: On 13 May a meeting was held in the building occupied by the FORD for the purpose of creating a new Revolutionary Group named '17th of April Revolutionary Group' in honor of the heroes of the Army of Liberation who died in Cochinos Bay on the 17th of April. This organization will be presided over by a 'Military Junta' and not by one leader only, and the Junta will include both members of the Rebel Army and (part unintelligible). Comandante Iglesias...Comandante Diaz Lanz - Rebel Army. General Barquin - (unintelligible) Army. Comandante Pons - (unintelligible) Navy. Raul Gonzalez - Rebel Army. Speeches were made by Pons...According to A-72, Comandante Diaz Lanz does not hold a very steady position in the organization because he considers himself a 'leader' rather than a 'soldier.' Comandante Pons spoke eloquently and set forth logical viewpoints which were well accepted by the personnel participating in the 13 May meeting. A-72 has been invited to attend the 19 May meeting and become a member of the organization. According to A-72, in the evening of 13 May the Cuban Radio announced that the first 'secret meeting' of the 17th of April Group was in progress. Members of the group suspect that Aldo Vera and two other unnamed ex-Rebel Army officers, leaked the information to the Cuban Government."
06/07/61: Report #26: Time: 11:30 p.m. Subject: Purchase-Sale of a "Torpedo Retract" vessel: (Note: next to "C-49" at top of page is the handwritten "AMOT-72" in brackets): "Source: Bill White, whose background was already mentioned in a previous report. 1. Regarding the purchase-sale of the above mentioned craft, the following information has been obtained: The purchase was made by a company under the name 'Cuban Indian Fruit Co' without giving the address of the company or of any person. It has been confirmed that this company is non-existent, and that the name given was a false name. The persons who participated in the purchase of this craft in representation of the above mentioned 'company' were believed to be Cuban exiles. A few days ago (no exact date available) the ship which was anchored in Miami River between 33rd and 37th NW Avenues, was transferred to Port Everglades at Fort Lauderdale, where it is now moored. It is significant, and should be noted, that ex-Colonel Orlando Piedra has his home in Fort Lauderdale, although he is not residing there now due to his son's studies. Piedra was Chief of the Bureau of Investigations during the Batista regime and he is believed to be very wealthy. Piedra's younger brother was a pilot in the Liberation Air Force and was killed during the Playa Giron invasion." (Handwritten notes at bottom of page: "File naval matters." "Indexing Manson (note: probably Al Cox) maritime SPJ PM security."
6/8/61: Report #28 from C-49 (AMOT-72), 11:30 pm. Statement is repeated in Morales' report of 6/20/61, below.
104-10235-10223: DISPATCH-CUBAN EXILE NAVAL MATTERS
06/20/61: Dispatch from Chief of Base, JMWAVE to Chief, WHD: Pages 3-4: ..."21. The following information was unwittingly furnished to AMOT-72 on 8 June 1961 by Sabariego (fnu) who sleeps in the AMIRON (Frente Revolucionario Democratico - FRD) barracks house located at 1313 Northwest 8th Avenue, Miami, Florida. Sabariego is of Turkish descent, was born in Camaguey Province, Cuba and his father and other relatives are presently in Camaguey Province, Cuba. Two years ago Sabariego went to the University of North Carolina where he studied mechanical engineering. At the time of the Playa Giron invasion, Sabariego left the university to join the Liberation Army, but by that time the fight was over. Sabariego has been living at the AMIRON barracks, and AMOT-72 had a short conversation with him during which he told AMOT-72 that he was receiving naval navigation instruction and that he only went to the barracks to sleep. On 8 June AMOT-72 again saw Sabariego and allowed him to make a telephone call from his house. Sabariego spoke to a person whom he called 'Jorge' and addressed with great respect, using the Spanish formal 'you' (usted). Jorge told Sabariego that he was very disappointed because the Americans had denied them support, that the lessons which they were giving had been terminated, and that they had agreed to give Jorge a PT boat. However, after having an interview with Renato Diaz, Jorge was told that they had no money to purchase the ship and that the money would have to be obtained from wealthy people who wanted to cooperate with the exiles. Sabariego told Jorge that he and the group under his command had held an interview with Jose Manuel Aleman, Jr., and that Aleman had promised to give them some money; that they must collect $7,000.00...After finishing the conversation, Sabariego told AMOT-72 that he was now 'stuck' and that he could not return to Cuba...Stanley R. Zamka (David Morales)."