</s>OPTIONAL FORM NO. 19 RAY FINE EDITION. RAY FNE EDITION. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum - TO RA'S, SPRINGFIELD, TOPEKA, WICHITA, WICHTA and DATE: 5/8/68 JOPLIN. (44-760) SAC P SUBJECT: MURKIN Enclosed herewith are three copies of two additional photographs of JAMES EARL RAY. For your information on a news release with the photo- graph of RAY as it appeared on the wanted flyer was mailed to approximately 550 newspapers in the area covered by Kansas City Office, on 5/7/68/ By teletype dated, 5/17/68, the Bureau has instructed that these two additional photographs also, also, the release has instructed media in this area and 550 copies are being mailed to the newspapers this area are and 550 copels are being sent to the enclosed be distributed to the television stations that the ones to give us greater coverage. The photograph of RAV in the dark glasses and sport shirt was taken during the year of 1967, in Mexico. The other photograph was taken in either January 1968 or February 1968, in California. 2 - Springfield (Enc. 6) 2 - Topeka 2 - Wichita 2 - Joplin 2 - Kansas City RIBH-SSA RIB-SAA RI-766.770 SEARCHED INDEXED SERIALIZED, MAY 10/1963 BI - KANSAS CITYA Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 141476

Summary  
The document contains FBI communications from 1968 regarding investigations into John Paul Veltanti (variously spelled Velanti, Veleinti) and his associates, including James W. Brown and Jimmy Raye. Veltanti was a former inmate at Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP), where he was involved in alleged prison-related activities, including disputes with other inmates and financial transactions. The FBI sought to verify connections between Veltanti and Raymond "Ray" Cooley, an inmate described as a former MSP prisoner with ties to gambling and possible involvement in an oil company robbery in Atlanta. Veltanti denied knowledge of plans to assassinate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but the FBI noted his past derogatory remarks about President Kennedy, which may have influenced his actions. The investigation also included efforts to locate Veltanti’s wife, Bettye Pritchard, and assess his parole status. Additional sections detail unrelated FBI inquiries into Eric Stavro Galt (a fictional alias linked to James Earl Ray) and characters from Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, which were part of a broader effort to track aliases or code names used in the case.  

Key People  
- **John Paul Veltanti** (various spellings: Velanti, Veleinti): Former MSP inmate with alleged ties to prison disputes, financial transactions, and potential involvement in an Atlanta oil company robbery.  
- **James W. Brown**: Interviewed by FBI; claimed Veltanti had a brother named Jimmy Raye, who was involved in gambling at MSP.  
- **Jimmy Raye** (various spellings: Ray, Rye): Allegedly associated with Veltanti and described as a gambler and former MSP inmate.  
- **Raymond "Ray" Cooley**: Inmate at MSP; described by Veltanti as a former associate involved in gambling and possibly linked to an Atlanta oil company robbery.  
- **Bettye Pritchard** (nee Velanti): Veltanti’s wife, sought for interviews regarding her connections to him and potential involvement in criminal activities.  

Key Locations  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)**: Site of Veltanti’s incarceration; key location for prison-related investigations.  
- **St. Louis, Missouri**: Home to MSP and a focal point for FBI inquiries into Veltanti’s associates.  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Mentioned in connection with an alleged oil company robbery involving Ray and Veltanti.  
- **New Orleans, Louisiana**: Part of broader FBI efforts to locate individuals and verify connections.  

Key Events  
- **Prison disputes at MSP**: Veltanti was involved in conflicts with other inmates, including a fight outside the Catholic chapel following President Kennedy’s assassination.  
- **Alleged oil company robbery in Atlanta**: Investigated as part of Veltanti’s potential criminal history; linked to Jimmy Raye and Raymond Cooley.  
- **Financial transactions**: Veltanti denied sending large sums of money from prison, though records suggested otherwise, raising questions about his parole status and credibility.  
- **Alias investigation**: FBI explored the possibility that James Earl Ray (suspected in MLK’s assassination) used the alias Eric Stavro Galt, referencing characters from Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted multiple investigations into Veltanti, his associates, and potential aliases linked to the MLK assassination case.  
- **Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP)**: Central location for inmate records and prison-related activities under investigation.  
- **Local law enforcement agencies**: Including police departments in St. Louis, Memphis, and other cities, assisting with background checks and interviews.

MLK Declassified Files

44-kc-760_404058_170-03-part_3_of_5.pdf

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