</s>AT 44-2386 BRB:b:bjc 2 He stated while at Leavenworth Prison, RAY'S associate and co-defendant did nothing but lift weights and attempt to improve his physique. He described this co-dependent as being a white male, age 36, at that time, 5'10" to 6', 180 pounds, and well built. 15 y 46 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into James Earl Ray’s alleged associations with Raymond Louis Curtis and other individuals during their incarceration at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary (1962–1963) and subsequent prison transfers. Curtis described Ray’s involvement in stolen postal money orders, travelers’ checks, and criminal activities such as crooked poker games. During their time together, Ray allegedly discussed plans to collect a bounty on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, referencing potential collaboration with criminal elements and diversionary tactics. FBI laboratory analysis of items recovered from a 1966 Mustang linked to the investigation included fibers, soil samples, and other physical evidence examined in 1968. Additional records include latent fingerprint comparisons linking Ray to maps and objects associated with his activities, as well as interviews with Jimmie Delton Garner regarding interactions with Eric S. Gali, a figure connected to Ray’s alleged movements in Atlanta. Testimonies from Lewis Raymond Dowda describe Ray’s prison drug use, associations with Black Muslims, and potential involvement in planning MLK’s assassination through a "contract" for his murder. The documents also reference Ray’s financial transactions, escape attempts, and connections to individuals like Benjamin O. Goodin and Neil Abby, who allegedly facilitated drug distribution at Missouri State Prison.  

Key People  
- **Raymond Louis Curtis**: Incarcerated with James Earl Ray; described Ray’s criminal activities and alleged plans to target Dr. King.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Central figure; linked to stolen postal money orders, criminal associations, and potential involvement in MLK’s assassination.  
- **Jimmie Delton Garner**: Interviewed regarding interactions with Eric S. Gali, who may have been associated with Ray’s activities in Atlanta.  
- **Eric S. Gali**: Allegedly connected to Ray through a rooming house in Atlanta; referenced in discussions about a white Mustang.  
- **Lewis Raymond Dowda**: Provided testimony about Ray’s prison drug use, associations with Black Muslims, and alleged assassination plot.  
- **Benjamin O. Goodin**: Civilian kitchen supervisor at Missouri State Prison; linked to Ray’s drug supply chain.  
- **Neil Abby**: Prison cook accused of facilitating drug distribution; described as a close associate of Ray.  
- **Harold Schafers**: Guard at Missouri State Prison who supplied Ray with methamphetamine.  

Key Locations  
- **Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary** (Kansas): Site of Curtis’s incarceration with James Earl Ray.  
- **Jackson County Jail** (Missouri): Mentioned in connection to Ray’s activities and prison transfers.  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Linked to rifle and soil samples recovered from a 1966 Mustang.  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Center of FBI investigations; referenced in map markings, rooming house interactions, and Ray’s alleged movements.  
- **Missouri State Prison**: Site of Ray’s incarceration, where drug distribution and conflicts occurred.  
- **Quincy, Illinois**: Associated with payroll jobs allegedly operated by Ray.  

Key Events  
- **Prison associations**: Curtis’s incarceration with Ray at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary (1962–1963) and subsequent transfers to Jackson County Jail and Menard Prison.  
- **Criminal activities**: Ray’s alleged involvement in stolen postal money orders, travelers’ checks, and burglary operations from Quincy, Illinois.  
- **Assassination plot references**: Curtis and Dowda described discussions about a bounty on Dr. King’s life and a "contract" for his murder.  
- **FBI forensic analysis**: Examination of latent fingerprints on maps (Q174-Q200), soil samples from Memphis, and fibers from trousers linked to Ray.  
- **Drug distribution in prison**: Alleged smuggling of amphetamines into Missouri State Prison via Goodin and Abby.  
- **Escape attempts**: Ray’s failed escape attempt from Missouri State Prison in 1967.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted forensic analysis, fingerprint comparisons, and interviews related to the investigation.  
- **Black Muslims**: Mentioned as a group with whom Ray allegedly associated during incarceration.  
- **Missouri State Prison administration**: Involved in drug control measures and inmate conflicts.  
- **Piedmont Laundry** (Atlanta): Referenced in laundry services and interactions tied to Ray’s activities.  
- **John Birch Society**: Noted in recovered materials linked to Ray’s alleged associations.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_12-05-part_2_of_3.pdf

Document Summary

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