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This document contains a series of coded FBI communications from late 1968, focusing on investigations into **James Earl Ray**, the accused assassin of Martin Luther King Jr., and related individuals. Key details include:  

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### **Key Individuals and Aliases:**  
- **James Earl Ray**: Suspected of assassinating MLK in 1968. The FBI reports he fled to Canada under aliases:  
  - **Paul Bridgman** (April 8, 1968 – May 1968)  
  - **Ramon George Sneyd** (May 1968; later used a Canadian passport under this name)  
- **Ramon George Sneyd**: A Canadian citizen employed by the Toronto Police Department. His identity and birthdate were allegedly used by Ray to obtain a passport.  
- **Robert Lawrence Russell**: A suspect interviewed in San Francisco who provided inconsistent, unreliable statements about his encounters with Ray and others. The FBI deemed him untrustworthy.  

---

### **Geographic and Temporal Context:**  
- **Canada (Toronto)**: Ray is believed to have resided there from April 8, 1968, under the alias Ramon George Sneyd.  
- **Airline Records**: Investigations into flight records were limited to April 5–8, 1968, due to Ray’s presence in Canada after that date.  
- **Passport Details**: A passport number **T9093X4** was flagged for internal FBI use only, linked to Sneyd.  

---

### **FBI Actions and Requests:**  
1. **Border Checks**: U.S. border authorities were instructed to monitor individuals using the name **Ramon George Sneyd**, particularly with a Canadian passport.  
2. **Driver’s License Records**: The FBI requested review of driver’s license records under the alias "Sneyd" but later discontinued this effort due to lack of evidence linking him to King’s assassination.  
3. **Interagency Collaboration**: The FBI sought information from other agencies (e.g., New York, Philadelphia) on Russell and Sneyd, emphasizing the need for secrecy around passport details.  

---

### **Security Alerts:**  
- The document repeatedly warns that **James Earl Ray** should be considered **armed and dangerous**, with potential connections to the assassination.  
- Border offices were urged to verify identities of individuals using the name **Sneyd** entering U.S. territory.  

---

### **Reliability Concerns:**  
- **Robert Russell’s Statements**: His accounts about meeting Ray in New Orleans and his vague, contradictory testimony raised skepticism about his credibility.  
- The FBI requested further verification of Russell’s reliability before re-interviewing him.  

---

### **Contextual Notes:**  
- The document reflects the FBI’s efforts to track Ray post-assassination, including his alleged flight to Canada and use of false identities.  
- It highlights the agency’s reliance on interagency cooperation, border checks, and passport tracking during this period.  

---

**Key People:**  
- James Earl Ray  
- Ramon George Sneyd  
- Paul Bridgman  
- Robert Lawrence Russell  

**Key Locations:**  
- Toronto (Canada)  
- San Francisco (U.S.)  
- New York (U.S.)  
- Philadelphia (U.S.)  

**Key Events:**  
- FBI surveillance of James Earl Ray’s movements post-assassination  
- Investigation into passport and flight records linked to Ramon George Sneyd  
- Border checks for individuals using the alias "Sneyd"  
- Interagency collaboration on suspect tracking  

**Key Organizations:**  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Toronto Police Department  
- U.S. border authorities  
- New York, Philadelphia agencies

MLK Declassified Files

44-ny-1609_sec_005_ser_601-620-part_1_of_6.pdf

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