</s>NR 002 SF PLAIN 11116AM URGENE FEBRUARY 26, 1976, 25 102 DIRECTOR (44-58-S61) WEMPIIS (44+58-67) ALANIA (44)-3869) FROM: EL PASO (44~982D) NORMINS. REATLANTA MILL TO EL FABO, FEDRUARY 17, 1976. COMPOSITE PHOTOGRAPH OF HALPH C (NU) RECEIVED AT MIDLAND RESIDEMI AGENCY, FEBRUNARY 23, 1976 .. ARTIST'S CONCEPTION OF HALPHA C MUD DISPLAYED IN STRREAD OF PHOTOGRAPHS TO CLAUDE POWELL, JR ., FEBURARY 26. 1976. POWELL UNABLE 10 IDEMIELY ANY &Y OF PHOTOORAPHS AS BEING INDIVIVUAL WHO APPROACHED, AND HIS BROTHER IN PETER S BAR IN ALANIA, GEORGIA, 10 ASSASSIMATE MARTIN LUFEN M. M.S. POWELL AGAIN BLATED THE MOULD NOT RECOGNIZE. THE INDIVIDUAL IF THE WERE EVER TO MELT MIN AGAIN. 10-32 FOLLOWS. C4-2396-2423 END.126-9 SEARCHED MEDXED FBI ALLANIA FC CLAR SERIALIZED FILED FEB 25 1976 FBI-ATLANA 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14178

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigative activities in 1976 related to potential connections between individuals associated with Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) and alleged assassination plots or security concerns. Initial inquiries focused on LEON POWELL and CLAUDE POWELL, JR., who were reportedly approached by an individual offering $75,000 for MLK’s assassination but declined the contract. Polygraph examinations of both men indicated they were truthful. The FBI sought to verify their accounts by contacting BILL LOWERY (Lowery Music Company) and investigating RAY GODFREY, a musician linked to Pete's Bar in Alania, Georgia, where the Powells allegedly met an individual named RALPH (LINU). Efforts also included military and psychological record checks for both Powell brothers. Additional records from March 1976 mention Lee Carroll Godfrey’s interactions with CLAUDE POWELL, JR., describing MLK’s arrest during a demonstration in Reidsville, Georgia. The FBI attempted to locate Powell in Atlanta but found no immediate results. LEON POWELL’s military service history, including multiple court-martial convictions (1953–1955), was reviewed. VA claims related to Lee Carroll Godfrey and his brother Arnold were noted, with references to their incarceration at Redsville, Georgia’s state penitentiary. A separate 1976 investigation involved Tommy identifying RALPH SMITH as someone he had not seen recently, while LAVENE COOK was linked to RALPH SMITH via her association with the Office lounge in Marietta, Georgia. William Lowery confirmed professional dealings with RAY GODFREY (R.A. GODFRY) but denied knowledge of his associates or RALPH SMITH.  

Key People  
- **LEON POWELL** (brother of CLAUDE POWELL, JR.; Army veteran with multiple court-martial convictions)  
- **CLAUDE POWELL, JR.** (subject of FBI inquiries; described as a "drunk" and allegedly avoiding law enforcement cooperation)  
- **BILL LOWERY** (musician associated with Lowery Music Company; contacted by FBI for information on RAY GODFREY)  
- **RAY GODFREY** (musician linked to Pete's Bar in Alania, Georgia; real name R.A. GODFRY)  
- **LEE CARROLL GODFREY** (incarcerated at Redsville, Georgia’s state penitentiary; reported interactions with MLK during a demonstration)  
- **ARNOLD RODFRAY** (brother of Lee Carroll Godfrey; described as a drunk)  
- **RALPH (LINU)** (individual allegedly approached by the Powells for an assassination plot against MLK)  
- **RALPH SMITH** (linked to LAVENE COOK and identified by Tommy in Fannin County, Georgia)  
- **LAVENE COOK** (divorced woman in Marietta, Georgia; frequented the Office lounge and associated with RALPH SMITH)  
- **JACKIE POWELL** (wife of CLAUDE POWELL, JR.; reported MLK assassination offer to her husband)  

Key Locations  
- **Alania, Georgia** (Pete's Bar; location of alleged encounter between Powells and RALPH (LINU))  
- **Atlanta, Georgia** (FBI office; Powell’s residence; Bill Bailey's Lounge)  
- **Reidsville, Georgia** (site of MLK Jr.’s alleged arrest during a demonstration)  
- **Redsville, Georgia** (state penitentiary where Lee Carroll Godfrey was incarcerated)  
- **Marietta, Georgia** (location of LAVENE COOK and the Office lounge; Fannin County, Georgia)  
- **Cobb County, Georgia** (telephone directory checks for LAVENE or LAVERNE COOK)  

Key Events  
- **March 2, 1976**: FBI contacted Lee Carroll Godfrey regarding his brother Arnold Ray Godfrey and their interactions with CLAUDE POWELL, JR., including MLK’s alleged arrest during a demonstration.  
- **February–March 1976**: FBI efforts to locate CLAUDE POWELL, JR., including reviewing military records for LEON POWELL and VA claims related to Lee Carroll Godfrey.  
- **1953–1955**: LEON POWELL’s multiple court-martial convictions for AWOL and disciplinary violations.  
- **February 23, 1976**: FBI showed composite photographs of RALPH (last name unknown) to Tommy and Lee Carroll Godfrey for identification; Tommy identified RALPH SMITH as someone he had not seen recently.  
- **Telephone directory checks** in Marietta and Cobb County for LAVENE or LAVERNE COOK yielded no results.  
- **1976**: FBI used FD-302 forms (photographic identification) to show Powell images of individuals, including Travis Merle Phillips and Billy Gene Shafer, but he could not identify any as the person who approached him.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into Powell, Godfrey, and MLK-related matters; used FD-302 forms for photographic identification.  
- **United States Army**: LEON POWELL’s military service records reviewed.  
- **Veterans Administration (VA)**: Processed LEON POWELL’s VA claim file in 1976 and Lee Carroll Godfrey’s military service claims.  
- **Southern Bell Telephone Directory**: Used for directory checks in Marietta and Cobb County.

MLK Declassified Files

44-at-2386_hs1-852715321_164-04-part_2_of_8.pdf

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