</s>FBI NEW ORLS FBI LOS ANG. -104:4IPM URGENT 4-24-68 DPK TO DIRECTOR (444-38861), ATLANTA (44-2386), BIRMINGHAM (44+1740), HOUSTON, MEMPHIS (44)-1987), AND NEW ORLEANS FROM LOS ANGELES (44-'15747) MURKIN RE LOUIS LOAX - CHARLES STEDN. PACIFIC TLEPHONE COMPANY, LOS ANGLES, TODAY ADVISED IN STRICTEST CONFIDENCE THEY HAD BEEN REQUESTED BY JAMES B. POTTER, JR ., MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL, LOSS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, TO FURNISH SUBSCRIBER TO TELEPHONIC NUMBERS THAT LOUISA LOMAX MIGHT SECURE IN ATTEMPTING TO TRACE A LONG DISTANCE TELEPONE CALL AT THE SUBJECT OF THIS CASE MADE SOMEWHERE NEAR HOUSTON, TEXAS, DURING THE TRIP SUBJECT MADE STEIN IN MID-DECEMBER SIXTY SEVEN. ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY'S INFORMATION, LOMAK WILL ATTEMPT TO GET CHARLES STEIN TO ACCOMPANY HIM IN AN ATTEMPE TO LOCATE A. PHONE BOOTH WHERE SUBJECT ALLEGEDLY MADE CALL DIRING THIS TRIP TO "NEW ORLEAN'S FROM LOSANGELES. COMPANY ADVISES THAT POTTERN'S POLITICAL STATURE PLACES THEM IN AN EMBARRASSING SITUATION, BUT THAT IF REQUESTESED, THEY MIGHT POSSIBLEY GRANT THE REQUEST HALLED END PAGE ONE VODEXED FULL-NEW UNLANS. 1571-10693-991 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents detail FBI investigations into potential connections between individuals associated with James Earl Ray and activities related to Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). In December 1967, Charles Stein accompanied Ray on a trip to New Orleans, where he reported phone calls made near Houston, Texas, at a gas station on Interstate 1,0. The FBI sought telephone records to trace these calls but faced challenges due to time elapsed and lack of direct evidence. Louis Lomax, a journalist, offered financial incentives for information leading to Ray’s associates, including Marie Martin (Ray’s former partner) and Rita Stein (Stein’s relative). Interviews with witnesses suggested Ray may have made a second trip to New Orleans around Valentine's Day 1968. The FBI also requested records from phone companies in Houston and sought details about potential associates, such as a contractor or engineer in New Orleans. Later documents reference James Earl Ray in the context of a 1961 Chevrolet with Texas license plates, though no direct link to MLK is established. Administrative records from April 1968 include FBI memoranda on informant contacts related to gambling operations in New Orleans and West Bank areas, with informants identifying James Earl Ray but providing no connection to MLK or his assassination.  

Key People:  
- **Louis Lomax**: Journalist and TV personality involved in tracking Ray’s activities.  
- **Charles Stein**: Accompanied Ray on a 1967 trip to New Orleans; provided details about phone calls made during the trip.  
- **Marie Martin**: Former partner of Ray, interviewed for information about his movements and associations.  
- **Rita Stein**: Relative of Charles Stein; mentioned as having knowledge of Ray’s second trip to New Orleans.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Central figure in the investigation, noted in context of a 1961 Chevrolet with Texas license plates.  
- **E.M. Ray**: Allegedly connected to a trip to an unknown location.  
- **Mrs. Lorraine Callaway**: Recalled Charles Stein’s visit in February 1968.  
- **Marian de Grasse**: Daughter of Maria Martin, recipient of clothing delivered by Charles Stein.  
- **Bubba Laine**: Linked to gambling operations at the High Roller Stag Bar in Gretna.  
- **Norman "COO" Martinez**: Associated with Billionaire Lounge betting activities.  
- **CEMO Brothers**: Operating small lounges in the West Bank area.  

Key Locations:  
- **Houston, Texas**: Site of a gas station where Ray allegedly made a phone call during his 1967 trip.  
- **New Orleans, Louisiana**: Key location for Ray’s travel and associations; mentions of Industrial Canal, Chef Menteur Highway, and the St. Francis Hotel.  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Home to Louis Lomax and Rita Stein; where some investigative efforts were coordinated.  
- **Gretna, Louisiana**: Location of High Roller Stag Bar linked to Bubba Laine’s gambling operations.  
- **West Bank area**: General reference to gambling operations and informant contacts.  
- **Cameron Parish, Louisiana**: Mentioned in administrative records.  
- **Allen Parish, Louisiana**: Referenced in case file entries.  
- **Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana**: Included in procedural documentation.  

Key Events:  
- **Phone Call Investigation**: FBI sought records of calls made by Ray during his 1967 trip to New Orleans, focusing on a call near Houston at approximately 9 PM.  
- **Interviews with Witnesses**: Marie Martin and Rita Stein provided details about Ray’s movements, including potential second trips to New Orleans in early 1968.  
- **Clothing Deliveries**: Charles Stein delivered clothing to Marian de Grasse (daughter of Maria Martin) in February 1968.  
- **Informant Contacts**: FBI memoranda from April 1968 detail informant interactions regarding James Earl Ray and gambling operations in New Orleans.  
- **Vehicle Investigation**: Notes on a 1961 Chevrolet with Texas license plates linked to James Earl Ray.  
- **FBI File Searches**: Administrative records include case file references, personnel notes, and investigative leads from 1968.  

Key Organizations:  
- **FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)**: Conducted investigations across multiple offices, including Los Angeles, New Orleans, Memphis, Birmingham, and Atlanta; managed case files and informant operations.  
- **Louisiana State Police (LSP)**: Mentioned in procedural documentation.  
- **Local sheriff’s offices**: Cameron Parish, Allen Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish.  
- **Baton Rouge Police Department (Criminal Records Section)**: Referenced in administrative records.  
- **Gambling Networks**: Operations at High Roller Stag Bar, Billionaire Lounge, and small lounges in the West Bank area.

MLK Declassified Files

157-no-10673_hs1-852666771_123-05-part_1_of_3.pdf

Document Summary

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