Cryptonym: AMTOBY-13
A cable in November of 1963 described AMTOBY-13 as "a prominent exile activist who formerly participated in yachting activities in the Habana area..." This was the exact same description of AMSEED-3 (see AMSEED-3 crypt) in a CIA document in November of 1964. It described AMSEED-3 (Dionisio Pastrana Moreno) as "a prominent exile activist who formerly participated in yachting activities in the Habana area."
A cable in November of 1965 also described AMTOBY-13 as "a prominent émigré activist who was formerly a Havana yachtsman. He is a prominent figure on émigré activists affairs." His reporting was also described as being generally reliable.
A memo in February of 1963 stated that Francisco Ilias was one of those suggested for participation in the next stages of Operation "Leonardo." The memo mentioned that he was an ex-Militia Captain. This was possibly Francisco Illas Gonzalez.
AMTOBY-13 was exposed to AMRUG-5 (Victor Paneque Batista) and AMSTALK-1 (Miguel Angel Diaz Isalgue) as an indigenous agent personnel.
1993.08.02.15:00:58:620028: LETTER CONCERNING MAJOR DUQUE PRESS STATEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
07/15/61: Letter from Captain Edwin P. Lemay to Paul Bethel, USIA Office, Miami, Florida: Page 5: "Arriving date to Miami: JUNE 27th, 1961. Major Jose Antonio Sierra Diaz, Cuban citizen, Passport No. A 12 416 669. Birthdate: 12/28/35, Birthplace: Cuba, Address in Miami: 303 S.W. 31 Road, Miami, Florida. Francisco De La Caridad Illas Gonzalez, Member of the underground, Cuban citizen, Passport No. A 12 418 668, Birthdate: 9/3/26, Birthplace: Havana, Cuba. Address in Miami: 303 S.W. 31 Road, Miami, Florida. They together stole a boat a Veradero Beach, Matanzas Province, Cuba, on the 25th, of June 1961, and escaped from Cuba. They were rescued at sea by Captain of the S.S.'DELAWARE SUN.' Removed at sea from 'DELAWARE SUN' to a Coast Guard Vessel. U.S. Coast Guard took them to Miami, Florida. They are now under Parole."
104-10103-10107: MEMO FOR THE RECORD RE MEETING ON 6 FEBRUARY 1963.
02/07/63: Memo for the record from Albert C. Davies: Subject: Meeting with AMCAPE-1, 6 February 1963: Attachment: Operation "Leonardo": Page 10: ..."The following men are suggested for participation in the next stages of 'Leonardo'; ...(8) Francisco Ilias, ex-Militia Captain..."
104-10193-10301: INFORMATION REPORT: POSSIBLE INFILTRATION OF LAS VILLAS PROVINCE BY CUBAN REFUGEES
11/27/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: "SUPDATA: AMTOBY-13 from AMHICK-2 from a crew member on the shrimp boat...SOURCE: A prominent exile activist who formerly participated in yachting activities in the Habana area, from a close associate of a person involved." - - - Pages 3-4: "1. During the night of 20 November 1963, a 20 to 22 foot speed boat departed from the north side of Key Biscayne (Florida). It was headed for a rendezvous off Key Largo with a Cuban (sic) fishing boat and was then to proceed to an infiltration point on the north coast of Las Villas, Cuba. The fishing boat was based in a shrimp fishery located on the southern coast of Key Largo. 2. The people involved in this operation were Manuel Pedro (Gutierrez) Cardenas (Faint handwriting: 201-320034), Emilio (Perez) Fernandez (Faint handwriting: 201-200269) and Luis (Aguilar) Perez (Faint handwriting). The latter two presumably were to be infiltrees. Two crew members, known only by nickname, were Comacho and Vascoy. 3. Field Comment: Vascoy could possibly be Jose (Bascoy) Barrios..."
104-10077-10000: CABLE: RE EQUIPMENT AND INFORMATION ON A VESSEL
12/13/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE AMHICK: "A. AMHICK. B. Infiltrees: Three. AMHICK-1, AMHICK-2, AMDITTO-17. AMTOBY-13 will remain aboard parent craft. Cargo: 250 lbs radio equipment, survival equipment. Weapons and ammunition..."
02/19/64: Memorandum from Miami to Director of the FBI: "On February 18, 1964, Mr. Wallace Shanley, Assistant United States Customs Agent in Charge, advised that on February 16, 1964, a group of men were observed near the Jack Tarr Motel, Marathon, Florida. This group of Cubans had in their possession a 1956 Cadillac, a 1960 Dodge station wagon, and a 1955 Chevrolet. The Chevrolet was towing a trailer containing a 17 foot Lanny Craft motorboat. This motorboat contained Registration Number FL3862F and was registered to Audrey Tamayo, 3600 Southwest 17th Terrace, Apartment 2, Miami, Florida. The following Cubans were in the vicinity of this boat and the above-mentioned automobiles: Francisco Illas Gonzalez, 527 Northwest 19th Avenue, Miami, Florida; Luis Salgado Garcia, 639 - 14th Street, Hialeah, Florida; Jose Lopez Gonzalez, 1015 Southwest 10th Street, Miami, Florida; Enrique Carmona Lopez, 989 Southwest 3rd Street, Miami, Florida. Illas Gonzalez advised he drove the 1960 Dodge station wagon to Marathon, Florida, and that he is a member of Comandos L, an anti-Fidel Castro organization. Illas said the purpose of the trip was to make delivery of arms and ammunition in the small 17 foot boat to a larger boat. He denied any knowledge of the present whereabouts or identity of the larger boat. The 17 foot motorboat was seized by United States Customs Agents on February 16, 1964, along with medical supplies, sails, camouflage net, one hundred gallons of gasoline, a .57 millimeter recoilless rifle, five rounds of ammunition, twenty clips of ammunition, field glasses, and miscellaneous articles of military uniforms and equipment. Mr. Shanley advised that although the above-listed material has been seized by United States Customs, no arrests were made."
104-10274-10283: CABLE: HAVE UNDERTAKEN SYSTEMATIC CANVASS EXILE
06/08/64: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline RYBAT TYPIC ROTIE AMBANG: Page 3: ..."K. AMTOBY-13 repeat AMTOBY-13: Ray is laughing stock. Those who had hopes now feel he only ambitious politician not willing do what he promised..."
10/04/64: Cable: COUNTRY: Cuba. PLACE & DATE ACQ.: United States, Miami (3 October 1964): "1. On 28 September 1964, Carlos Zarraga Martinez, who recently resigned from the Junta Revolucionaria (JURE, Cuban Revolutionary Junta), approached Jose Garcia Valdez, and offered the latter $100.00 to take a boat out of the Miami River and sail her to Tavernier where he was to embark some individuals who were planning to effect a raid near Juan Francisco on the northern coast of Las Villas Province. 2. September 5 was designated the date when Francisco de la Caridad Illas Gonzalez, Roberto Neprera Tito, aka Tico Herrera, and several other unidentified individuals were to rendezvous with the vessel at Marion's Motel at Tavernier..."
104-10267-10027: DISPATCH: TERMINATION OF AMRUG-5
10/01/65: Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Chief, WH: Page 4: "DAMAGE REPORT: NAME: AMRUG-5 (Victor Paneque Batista)...Indigenous Agent Personnel Exposed: AMTOBY-13..."
11/16/65: Cable from JMWAVE to IW: "SUPDATA:...Paras 6 and 7 AMTOBY-13 from Francisco Illas, member Comandos L and 15 year friend of A-13 on 16 Nov..." - - - Page 3 of Intelligence Information Cable: "5. Source for paras 6 and 7: A prominent émigré activist who was formerly a Havana yachtsman. He is a prominent figure on émigré activists affairs. Source's reporting on local Cuban émigré affairs has been generally reliable. This information was obtained from a close friend of long standing who is also a member of Comandos L. 6. The 'Angelina' was definitely not involved in the 14 November raid on Havana. The raid was carried out by two vessels which departed from the Miami area at an undetermined date, and which had returned to the Miami area as of 16 November. One of the vessels was a 22 footer powered by twin 210 horsepower Chrysler engines, and had aboard her Cuesta as one of her crew. The other vessel belonged to RECE. The weapons carried by the strike boats included 20-mm cannon and 50 caliber machine guns all of Finnish manufacture, and some FAL rifles. 7. The primary plan for this raid originated sometime in August 1965 and provided that one vessel would attack the 18th Precinct Police Station and the Hotel Nacional in Havana and the second boat would attack the residence of Osvaldo Dorticos Torrado. (Source Comment: There were apparently some changes in this primary plan, however the reasons for this change are not known)..."
104-10172-10379: CABLE: OLD HANDS AT STATION CONFIRM JMMOVE WAS THE ONLY
12/30/67: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Page 5: ..."G. Victor Manuel (Paneque) Batista (201-286382) - Station has not had contact with Subject since his termination. Query to AMTOBY-13 re his present whereabouts revealed AMTOBY-13 heard Subject had gone to New York City or Union City in early 1966 and then on to Boston where went to work in unidentified factory. Subject's 201-file shows his close connection with MDC but reflects no info re his MDC activities at Lacombe training camp. Driver's license issued to: Victor Paneque, 542 NW 31 Street, Miami, Florida; DOB 18 September 18; white; male; five feet seven inches tall; 165 pounds; blue eyes; brown hair; occupation, factory worker. Pretext call to 31 Street residence."
104-10225-10009: DISPATCH: TERMINATION OF AMSTALK-1
03/08/68: Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Chief, WH Station: Page 3: "DAMAGE REPORT: NAME: AMSTALK-1 (formerly AMICE-14)...Indigenous Agent Personnel Exposed...AMTOBY-13."