</s>F.D. 248 (REV. 4:13-60) U. S. Department of Justice (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILE) 15-3231 FEDERAL BUREAU DO NOT DESTROY - PENDING LITIGATION of INVESTIGATION Volume Number: Serial Number: 44-38861 Bureau File Number DO NOT DESTROY - PENDING LITTIGATION RIT-4497 28 dia. 1355 Dee dep. 10 Vol. dispursed 4/4/80. See also Nos. DO NOT DESTROY - PRESERVE FOR SELECT 3 COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS C 19-48207 Labradet 4/5/6l 2013 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents primarily focus on FBI investigations into James Earl Ray’s activities during and after the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., as well as broader post office burglary networks. Key elements include Ray’s alleged connections to stolen postal money orders, his movements in Florida and Alabama around the time of the assassination, and links to criminal associates like Louis Curtis and William Knight. The FBI coordinated with Postal Inspectors Wayne R. Richie and Rudell to track suspects, using telegrams and composite photos for identification. Some documents reference a 1968 Chevrolet linked to Robert D. Weir in Tampa and mention a Memphis gun dealer (Eric Stanko) potentially connected to Ray. Fragmented sections include OCR errors, unclear connections, and references to unrelated cases like Lee Harvey Oswald’s investigation. The text reflects late-1960s FBI efforts to verify Ray’s identity and movements, though many details remain ambiguous due to incomplete or garbled records.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Central figure in MLK’s assassination (April 4, 1968); linked to post office crimes and alleged travel to Memphis, Tennessee.  
- **Louis Curtis**: Criminal associate of Ray; possibly involved in postal thefts.  
- **William Knight**: Burglar incarcerated in Tampa; provided information on post office burglaries.  
- **Robert D. Weir**: Suspected of driving a stolen car near Montgomery, Alabama.  
- **Wayne R. Richie** and **Rudell**: Postal inspectors aiding FBI investigations.  
- **Eric Stanko**: Memphis gun dealer potentially connected to Ray’s alleged activities.  

Key Locations  
- **Tampa, Florida**: Home to William Knight and Robert D. Weir; linked to post office crimes.  
- **Montgomery, Alabama**: Mentioned as a location where Weir’s wife reported his car sightings.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of MLK’s assassination; referenced in connection to Ray’s alleged gun purchase.  
- **Washington, D.C.** and **Kansas City**: Geographic scope of FBI investigations and interagency coordination.  

Key Events  
- **MLK Assassination (April 4, 1968)**: Central event tied to James Earl Ray’s alleged involvement; FBI tracked his movements and connections.  
- **Post Office Burglaries**: Stolen postal money orders and stamps linked to suspects like Curtis, Knight, and Weir.  
- **FBI Coordination**: Use of telegrams, composite photos, and interagency collaboration (e.g., Postal Inspectors) to track suspects.  
- **Gun Dealer Connections**: Mention of Eric Stanko in Memphis as a potential link to Ray’s alleged activities.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into Ray’s movements, post office crimes, and criminal networks.  
- **U.S. Postal Service**: Involved through inspectors like Wayne R. Richie and Rudell aiding FBI efforts.  
- **Auto Delivery Companies**: Mentioned in context of driver blacklists and vehicle tracking.  

Notes on Document Condition  
- Some sections contain OCR errors or fragmented text, making details ambiguous (e.g., unclear connections to Lee Harvey Oswald).  
- Administrative forms (e.g., PD-71, FD-350) and teletype codes (e.g., "44-2386," "157-323/299") are present but lack contextual clarity.  
- References to "several men in a conspiracy" or "driver blacklist" suggest broader investigative themes, though not substantiated in the text.

MLK Declassified Files

157-tp-3231_629182_175-03-part_1_of_8.pdf

Document Summary

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