</s>204-10122-104411 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 23 June 1976 MENORANDUM FOR: Chief, Security Analysis Group SUBJECT : Manuel L. DE ARMAS SF#591 865 1. Reference is made to the attached cable traffic which sets forth the "defection" of the Subject to Cuba circa April in substance. DE ARMAS apparently gave a press conference 1976. In the substance, DE ARMAs appear to be in which he claimed to be an ex-CIA in Havana, Cuba in April 1976 in which the subject was claimed to an office agent who had had the April 1976 to which the claim to be on an office of Security traces) in 1969. DEARMS also claimed to have been stationed in New York City in 1971 where he remained intact. with BLACKENHOUSE and Richard TOMLEY (probably identified) been with Peter L. TOMLEY, Washington Area Recruiting Office). allergations in the cited press conference, DE ARMS made many allergation in concentrated press operations, DEARMAS made many assassination plots and planned CIA operations, such as Venezuela and Cuba. Details of these allegations are set forth in the attached Cable traffic and are not treated in in the attached CIA operation. The interest in DE ARMA's allegations concerning alleged CIA operations are not in individuals that claimed to he have been Agency agencies and assets; details regarding these individuals are covered in the later portion of instant memorandum. 3. Agency interest in De ARMAS was originally predicted upon the receipt of a letter written by DE ARNAS on 12 September 1972 in the receipt a letter sent by DE ARMASS on anti-CASTRO activities through his membership concerning his anti-CASTRO The letter also contained a request for employment with the Agency. As a result of DE ARMOS' letter, WH Division requested The letter was also contained in a request of employment with an office agencies. As the result of De ARMAS' letter was written for the purpose of establishing DE ARMES' identity, which employment for the purposes of 1972. In May 1973 Office of Personnel opened a file on DE ARMAS file. Apparently went through the normal routine for shopping his a letter advising him that the Agency had TOMLEY sent DE ARMMS a letter to the Agency when TOMLEY sent de ARMAS available. Then on 22 January 1973 DE ARMANS wrote TOMLEY thinking the latter for interest following a telephone call SECRET E2 IMPDET CL BY 007472

Summary:  
The document details the CIA's interest in Manuel L. De Armas, an individual who allegedly defected to Cuba in April 1976 and claimed to have been a former CIA agent. De Armas reportedly held a press conference in Havana where he made allegations about CIA operations, including assassination plots involving Venezuela and Cuba. He also stated he had worked in New York City in 1971 and was associated with individuals such as Blackenhouse and Richard Tomley (possibly linked to the Washington Area Recruiting Office). The CIA's Security Analysis Group reviewed De Armas' claims, noting his letter of September 12, 1972, requesting employment and anti-Castro activities. A security file was opened on De Armas in May 1973, with no subsequent activity recorded except for the attached cable traffic following his alleged defection. The document also lists several individuals named by De Armas, some of whom may have been former CIA assets based on existing security files.  

Key People:  
- Manuel L. De Armas (alleged defector and former CIA agent)  
- Richard Tomley (possibly linked to Washington Area Recruiting Office)  
- Blackenhouse (individual associated with De Armas)  
- Donald L. Ness (State Department RSO in Santo Domingo, possibly identified as A. NASS)  
- Felix Antonio Martinez Suarez (SFH24 302, former Director of El Mundo)  
- Salvador Garcia Romant-Orue (SFH23776, former CIA asset in Caracas)  

Key Locations:  
- Havana, Cuba (site of De Armas' press conference)  
- New York City (alleged 1971 stationing)  
- Caracas, Venezuela (linked to individuals mentioned by De Armas)  
- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (location associated with Donald L. Ness)  

Key Events:  
- De Armas' alleged defection and press conference in Havana, April 1976  
- CIA's review of De Armas' 1972 letter requesting employment and anti-Castro activities  
- Security file opened on De Armas in May 1973  
- Alleged CIA operations involving Venezuela and Cuba, including assassination plots  

Key Organizations:  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- Washington Area Recruiting Office  
- State Department (via Donald L. Ness)  
- Directorate of Operations (DGIs) in Cuba  
- Office of Security (CIA internal unit conducting file reviews)

JFK Declassified Files

104-10122-10411.pdf

Document Summary

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