</s>Ray, James Earl Mo Penn X-122 Annual Review, Leavenworth dated 10/56 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary:  
The documents detail records related to James Earl Ray's incarceration at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary and other Missouri prisons between 1960 and 1968. They include prison administrative files, financial transactions, psychiatric evaluations, cell assignments, and inmate interactions. Key entries reference Ray’s alleged associations with criminal activities, including robberies, drug smuggling, and connections to individuals linked to organized crime. Notable mentions include Ray discussing a "Businessmen's Association offering $100,000 for killing of King," expressing dislike for Negroes, and being described by inmates as someone who "talked of killing King if price were right." Other records note his financial dealings, prison labor, and interactions with guards and fellow inmates. Some documents reference his alleged ties to individuals like Leo Harold Parker, FNU Craig, and Cooley’s organization, which are linked to criminal networks. Ray was also involved in smuggling activities, including transporting appliances to Mexico and using a Chevrolet for travel.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (subject of records)  
- Leo Harold Parker  
- FNU Craig  
- Cooley’s organization  
- John Kenneth Hurtt  
- Jimmy Carpenter  
- Neal Abey  
- Negro guard Turner  
- Inmate Dowda  
- Jerome Carpenter  
- Carl Drake  
- Walter Rife  

Key Locations:  
- Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary (MO)  
- Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)  
- Campeche, Mexico  
- Brownsville, Texas  
- Acapulco, Mexico  
- St. Louis, MO  
- Pickwick Hotel (possibly in Illinois)  

Key Events:  
- Ray’s alleged involvement in robberies and drug smuggling  
- Discussion of a $100,000 reward for assassinating Martin Luther King Jr.  
- Prison riots (1966)  
- Ray’s escape from prison (April 1967)  
- Financial transactions via money orders  
- Inmate interactions involving drugs, gambling, and racial tensions  
- Psychiatric evaluations and parole considerations  

Key Organizations:  
- Businessmen's Association (allegedly offered reward for King’s assassination)  
- Cooley’s organization (enforcement/protection group)  
- Indian barber inmate network  
- Prison labor programs  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) handwriting analysis  
- Department of Corrections records

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-43418_bulky_1_sec_002_ser_1_only-part_07_of_63.pdf

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