</s>1.7D .- 245 (REV. 413-60) H. S. Department of Justice (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILED DO NOT DESTROY FEDERAL BUREAU Do NOT STRIP of INVESTIGATION ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS UNCLASSIFIED ENTIRE FILE RE REFEREEED Number HERE IN UNCLASSIFIED DATE 3/22/20/BY FOR HISTORICAL DO NOT DESTROY FOR HISTORYICAL DECLASSIFICATION PRESERVE FOR SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSINATION See also No. DO NOT-DESTROY - PENDING LiTIGATION 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents consist of FBI investigative memoranda from April 1968 detailing the agency’s efforts to track James Earl Ray, a suspect in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and his alleged connections to organized crime networks. The investigation spans multiple jurisdictions including Kansas City, Missouri; St. Louis; Atlanta; New Orleans; Chicago; Illinois; and Georgia. Key focus areas include Ray’s associates such as Raymond Louis Curtis, "Coin" (FNU), and potential ties to the Italian Syndicate and a New Orleans fence linked to burglaries. The FBI conducted record checks, informant interviews, and surveillance of stolen goods, airline travel, and car sales during relevant periods. Administrative notes reference U.S. Savings Bonds and standard FBI procedures like indexing and serializing records. Some sections contain garbled text or unclear formatting, possibly due to form numbers like "1-221 (Rev. 6-2043)" and references to internal case management. The documents also mention Elmo Rife, a suspect with charges of forgery and theft, and Walter Terry Riffe, who provided information on Willard J. Mc Bride, a suspect in forged check distribution. Border patrol instructions to monitor entries into Mexico and Canada suggest cross-border criminal activity concerns.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspect in MLK Jr.’s assassination; under investigation for alleged ties to organized crime.  
- **Raymond Louis Curtis**: Incarcerated in Georgia, provided details about Ray’s past associations.  
- **"Coin" (FNU)**: New Orleans fence linked to burglaries and payroll jobs.  
- **Elmo Rife**: Suspect with multiple charges including forgery of postal money orders.  
- **Walter Terry Riffe**: Arrested in March 1968 for forging postal money orders; provided information on Willard J. Mc Bride.  
- **Willard J. Mc Bride**: Suspected distributor of forged checks and money orders.  

Key Locations  
- Kansas City, Missouri (Quaff’s Bar, Harold Smith sightings)  
- St. Louis  
- Atlanta  
- New Orleans  
- Chicago  
- Illinois  
- Georgia (Raymond Louis Curtis incarcerated)  
- Mexico and Canada (border patrol surveillance instructions)  

Key Events  
- FBI investigation into James Earl Ray’s associations with organized crime networks.  
- Informant reports of sightings resembling Ray, including Harold Smith at Quaff’s Bar and Paul M. Smith’s restaurant observation.  
- Record checks on employment, bartending licenses, and parolee files (e.g., Missouri State Employment Agency).  
- Surveillance efforts targeting stolen goods, airline travel, and car sales during relevant periods.  
- Coordination with Narcotic Investigative Agencies for "Wanted Flyer" distribution.  
- Tracking of Elmo Rife’s movements and associations, including arrests in Quincy, Illinois; Hannibal, Missouri; and Decatur, Illinois.  
- Administrative procedures involving fingerprinting, case numbers (e.g., Leavenworth #1553), and form management.  

Key Organizations  
- **FBI**: Conducted multi-jurisdictional investigation, maintained informants, and coordinated with other agencies.  
- **Narcotic Investigative Agencies**: Involved in distributing "Wanted Flyers" for suspect tracking.  
- **U.S. Savings Bonds**: Mentioned as part of administrative records (payroll savings plans).

MLK Declassified Files

44-kc-760_404058_169-04-part_1_of_3.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search