</s>44-561 Younite Number 18 CLASSIFICATION NO. Seriala -P9 SERIALS 18 18-5972 Do NOT DESIGN DO NOT DESION PENNY LILATION DO NOT DETROY DO NO. DESIGN FBI - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER FBI - SPRINGFIELD SI-0044-0001B-SI SIL-00444-0001IB-SI Class / Case # Sub Vol. Serial # Serial # INVESTIGATION Banned File Number # -. .- Serial # 0044 561 18 689 8/08/4449057 859 RRP00RCAP HISTORICAL ARCHIVES HISTOCAL OF NATIONAL ARCHIVES See the No. No. 1/4/20/2022 2026 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14178

Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigative efforts from July 1968 focusing on Harold Richard Covington, a subject linked to a 1967 bank robbery in Alton, Illinois. Covington, who had no known vehicle registration or driver’s license records in 1967, was sought by multiple law enforcement agencies after being associated with the crime. Investigations included interviews with associates like Willie Lee and Pamela Schneider, who provided statements about Covington’s lack of clothing similar to that recovered from the robbery and his absence of firearms or significant funds. Efforts to identify Joe Heintz (phonetic) remained unsuccessful. The FBI coordinated with local law enforcement in Chicago, Memphis, St. Louis, and Springfield, Illinois, to track Covington’s movements and update case files. Additional records reviewed included Covington’s driver’s license from Springfield, Illinois, which noted issuance dates, physical descriptions, suspension details, and a New Mexico traffic citation. The investigation also involved administrative tasks such as cost data requests for distributing circular letters and inquiries into individuals like Jerry Ray, Rito Lopez, Richard Earl Jackson, J.J. Lovely, and others.  

Key People  
- Harold Richard Covington: Subject of investigation; no vehicle registration or driver’s license records found in 1967.  
- Willie Lee: Associate of John McClintoch and Covington; reportedly separated from his wife and without a fixed address.  
- Pamela Schneider: Ex-wife of John McClintoch; stated Covington did not own clothing linked to the Bank of Alton robbery and had no known access to firearms or significant funds.  
- Joe Heintz (phonetic): Individual sought for identification; efforts to locate him remained unproductive.  
- Jerry Ray: Arrested in Memphis, Tennessee, in June 1968 for being drunk.  
- Rito Lopez: Associated with Covington’s license application.  
- Richard Earl Jackson: Addressed in Illinois.  
- J.J. Lovely: Illinois resident.  
- Gene Zimmermann: Manager of Alton Credit Bureau.  
- Marie Dickinson: Supervisor of Driver License Section, Springfield, Illinois.  

Key Locations  
- Alton, Illinois: Town where Covington was believed to reside during 1967; site of the Bank of Alton robbery.  
- Springfield, Illinois: FBI SAC office handling the case and reviewing driver’s license records.  
- Chicago, Memphis, St. Louis: Cities receiving mail copies of investigative updates.  
- New Mexico (specifically Grants and East Alton): Locations referenced in Covington’s traffic citation.  

Key Events  
- Investigation into Harold Richard Covington’s whereabouts and potential ties to bank robbery activities.  
- Interviews with Pamela Schneider and Willie Lee regarding Covington’s associations and possessions.  
- Coordination between FBI and local law enforcement agencies to track Covington and update case files.  
- Ongoing efforts to identify Joe Heintz (phonetic) and locate witnesses.  
- Review of Harold Richard Covington’s driver’s license records, including suspension and traffic citation details.  
- Jerry Ray’s arrest in Memphis for being drunk (June 1968).  
- Request for cost data on distributing circular letters to cities including Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Memphis, and Springfield.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Conducted the investigation, coordinated with SAC offices, and disseminated updates.  
- Local law enforcement agencies: Including Madison County, Illinois; Alton Police Department; and departments in Chicago, Memphis, and St. Louis.  
- Southwest Bell Telephone Co.: Provided phone number information.  
- Secretary of State, Driver License Section (Springfield, Illinois): Reviewed Covington’s driver’s license records.

MLK Declassified Files

44-si-561_sec_018_ser_698-859-part_01_of_10.pdf

Document Summary

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