Home/ Resources / Projects / CIA Cryptonyms / bigram: AM / cryptonym: AMDESK-1

Cryptonym: AMDESK-1

Return to Main Crypts Page

Definition:
Ricardo Anibal Morales Navarrete, aka Monkey Morales. Sabotage leader of the AMDESK team during 1963-1964, described as "not a CIA sponsored project". Went on to an infamous career in right-wing terrorism before his violent death in 1982.
Status:
Documented
Discussion:
104-10071-10235: In early 1960, Morales was a member of the DIER (Department of Investigations of the Revolutionary Army) - Cuban army intelligence.

104-10177-10312: His brother (or brother-in-law) was Hector Magdalena Cornillot Llano, 201-287840. Both of them were members of Cuban Power in 1968. Ricardo was charged with one of the bombings in 1968 associated with Cuban Power. Also see 104-10177-10316: CIA not interested in Hector Cornillot, even though he was also to be arrested as an accessory to the bombing. Ricardo Morales was also a former member of G-2 in Cuba. Also 124-90065-10043 - pp. 8-9 - Manuel Penabaz says that he saw Francisco Rodriguez Tamayo and Ricardo Morales in Venezuela, Morales said that Cornillot and other Cuban Power members were responsible for the Miami bombings, and that he can help the FBI solve these bombings.

See 124-10218-10070, p. 7: In late 1974, Morales was summoned from Miami to Venezuela by Orlando Garcia Vasquez/WKTANGO-1 to serve as his deputy. Vasquez was a confidant of Venezuelan president Carlos Andres Perez. The FBI maintained regular official contacts with these two men.
Sources:

104-10177-10230: DRAFT CABLE BIO OF RICARDO MORALES NAVARETTE.

Undated chrono summary, 1960-1972: Draft cable to Withheld: Slugline WNINTEL RYBAT KMSTONE MHSPIKE: REF: (REDACTION)31409, (IN 097618): "1. Ricardo Morales Navarette (201-0285923) was born 14 June 1939 in Havana, Cuba. In October 1960 he took refuge in the Brazilian Embassy in Havana and on 29 November 1960 he entered the U. S. at Miami as a Cuban refugee. He is self-admitted former G-2 agent. Morales was first spotted and recruited in Miami in January 1964 to be used as a radio operator and member of paramilitary infiltration team. He was successfully polygraphed on 10 February 1964. He was paid a salary of $200 per month effective 1 May 1964. He was terminated on 26 August 1964 and was never used in a BKHERALD (CIA) sponsored mission. He had received training in Miami, as well as ISOMETRIC and MKCOSMOS. He volunteered and signed up for a paramilitary action in the Congo in September 1964. Although he received training toward the Congo mission, he never served. Morales was apparently turned over to the FBI in 1968 by Miami Station. In October 1972, (REDACTION) registered Morales with Miami Station as their source. 2. The following may be passed to JAGUAR (MI-5) if (REDACTION) believes would be of interest..."

104-10177-10336 DISPATCH: TYPIC/OPERATIONAL PRQ PART 1- RICARDO ANIBAL MORALES NAVARRETE

201-285923 is identified as Ricardo Anibal Morales Navarette. Described as 5 foot, 9 inches, 165 pounds, and ruddy.

104-10177-10336 DISPATCH: TYPIC/OPERATIONAL PRQ PART 1- RICARDO ANIBAL MORALES NAVARRETE

Reported to be a member of Cubanos Libres (also see 124-90094-10036, p. 10 - revealing that he was spying on Cubanos Libres; to have joined Comandos L on 7/25/63; and to be either a former or present member of Castro's intelligence service G-2 "trying to penetrate revolutionary groups". Also see 104-10177-10318, 09/04/64: Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Deputy Chief, WH/SA: Page 3: "Agent Service Record: 1. Agent's cryptonym or pseudonym: AMDESK/1, 201-285923. 2. Project identification: AMHOUSE. 3. Agent recruited by: Kenneth R. Sakovich. 4. Capacity in which agent served: Sab Team Leader - AMDESK Team. Subject was never used in a KUBARK (CIA) sponsored mission. 5. Rate of pay: $200.00 per month. 6. Other commitments: Standard JMWAVE MOC. 7. Agent dismissed by: Alexander D. Ratwick. 8. Reason for dismissal: Security violation - Subject made several attempts to find out about a JMWAVE/PM Operation going as far as contacting wives of agents already committed on Operations. 9. Security risks: Subject is only witting to JMWAVE training methods and local training sites. 10. Is agent recommended for re-use: No, Subject is too 'wise' and not too clever for his own good. Subject makes a good clubhouse lawyer. 11. Manner of dismissal: Amicable, Subject was warned to stay away from known operational contacts (of KUBARK interest) working with AMHOUSE. 12. Letter of termination signed: No." Probably signed by Joseph P. Langan.

124-10218-10001: No Title

10/2/68 memo by SAs George E. Davis and Benjamin Grogan re interview with Ricardo Morales re the shelling of the Polanica by Tony Prieto and Barbaro Balan: "Morales told (Orlando Bosch/AMDITTO-23) that he had received some information that a Texas millionaire named HUNT (note: Probably H.L. Hunt or another family member) had come to Miami and given $15,000 to some Cuban group in order to keep on with the bombings. Bosch's comment was that Morales was the second person who told him about this." A tape recording transcript of Morales' story is provided beginning on page 41.

104-10177-10309: CABLE: FYI: DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS ADVISED AMDESK/1

October 1968: AMDESK-1 (201-285923) is identified as FBI informant and will be prosecution witness against Orlando Bosch and other Cuban Power defendants for shelling a Polish ship in a Cuban harbor. For more, see: http://maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=74134&search=%22ortiz_faez%22#relPageId=17&tab=page (On 9/14/68, FBI informant Morales informed that the previous night Bosch told him that the bombing was effected by "my men in Puerto Rico"...report adds that "it is noted Morales previously furnished Bosch 300 pounds of simulated dynamite with Bureau approval.")

1993.07.22.11:49:55:500620 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA PROSECUTION OF CUBAN POWER MEMBERS HECTOR M. C

Morales was the principal prosecution witness at the trial of Orlando Bosch (AMDITTO-23) in Miami in 1968.

180-10145-10345: No title

Biographic file for Luis Posada/AMCLEVE-15 states that in Sept. 1972 Morales told Posada that "he is affiliated with LNERGO (FBI)."

Joseph Trento, Prelude to Terror, p. 80

CHILBOM was the FBI's investigation into the assassination of former Chilean ambassador Orlando Letelier in 1976.

104-10178-10002: POSADA, LUIS CLEMENTE.

Circa October 1976: "Of interest is that much of the Caracas end of investigation of the airliner bombing and reporting is controlled by WKTANGO-1 group. Ricardo Morales Navarette is WKTANGO-1 deputy and has been serving as confidential informant for Legatt...WKTANGO-1 and Morales Navarette have also been included in Orlando Bosch (AMDITTO-23)/WKSCARLET-3 (Luis Posada) group...WKTANGO-1 and Morales Navarette are both considered trusted people who have been cooperative and instrumental in CORU successes and other activities..."

124-10371-10193 ADMIN FOLDER-S2: HSCA ADMINISTRATIVE FOLDER, SSC-I 1/10/77 INQUIRY, R#6013, JOHN ROBERT KLINNER, MAX LESNICK, ISRAEL ROMERO, RICARDO MORALES NAVARETTE, ALDO SERAFIN

January 1977, memo to Mr. Gallagher: "MM-1550-KS, Bufile 134-10154, is identical with one Ricardo Morales, complete name Ricardo Anibal Morales Navarette, Key Source - Cuban...MM-1550-KS was operated as a paid source by the Miami division (of the FBI)...Navarette is currently residing in Venezuela. The file contains information re Navarette's possible involvement in the crash of a Cubana (airliner) and CHILBOM." of the Miami division of the FBI, paid and identified as MM1550-KS. Testified as a witness for the FBI against "anti-Castro Cuban terrorists". Cites his possible involvement in the crash of the Cubana airliner and CHILBOMB.

UPI article, "Mercenary, Informant Morales Dies of Bullet Wound", 12/23/82

In a sworn statement in 1980, Morales admitted that he provided explosives to anti-Castro terrorists who killed 73 people aboard a Cubana Airlines commercial airliner by blowing up in mid-air in October 1976. In December 1982, Morales was killed in a bar by a bullet to the brain. Police said it was likely that Morales knew the shooter. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19821223&id=K-ohAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T2gEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6830,4767688&hl=en

Contributors:
Bill Simpich

© Mary Ferrell Foundation. All Rights Reserved. |Site Map |MFF Policies |Contact Us