skepticism to say the least on the part part the on least the say to skepticism

of the American public and by talking talking by and public American the of

aquaintance and ex-Watergate burgier burgier ex-Watergate and aquaintance light on her character, her personality personality her character, her on light she told the media that her long-time long-time her that media the told she

This revelation has been met with with met been has revelation This of the President, John F. Kennedy. Kennedy. F. John President, the of

spy left out in the cold. cold. the in out left spy to Marita we were were we Marita to

affairs with Fidel Castro and and Castro Fidel with affairs the news media as a femme fatale- femme a as media news the

Mata Hari type person. person. type Hari Mata

Because of these links to polictical polictical to links these of Because

community. After working for yearrs yearrs for working After community.

the far left, she has been portrayed by by portrayed been has she left, far the history in the American Intelligence Intelligence American the in history

tions used her and that now she is a a is she now that and her used tions

vice, the the vice,

participated in the 1963 assassination assassination 1963 the in participated

Venezuelan President Jiminez. Jiminez. President Venezuelan

ment she claims that there organisza- there that claims she ment heavyweights both on the far right and and right far the on both heavyweights

friend Sturgis admitted to her that he he that her to admitted Sturgis friend

for the CIA, the FBI, the Secret Ser- Secret the FBI, the CIA, the for

She's perhaps best known for her her for known best perhaps She's

Marita recently made waves when when waves made recently Marita Marita Lorentz has had had has Lorentz Marita

Yes, We Have Have We Yes,

No Havanas Havanas No

Marita Lorentz Tells Why She Did It It Did She Why Tells Lorentz Marita

By A.J. Weberman and and Weberman A.J. By

IRS IRS

and the Treasury Depart- Treasury the and

4

able to shed some some shed to able

a a

Gabrielle Schang Schang Gabrielle

long • • long

.person who would be able to do such a a such do to able be would who .person

load of weapons to take to an island in in island an to take to weapons of load

the Bahamas and we had two Cuban Cuban two had we and Bahamas the

my gun-running days he was was he days gun-running my

was my troop commander and during during and commander troop my was navigating a boat at one time with a a with time one at boat a navigating

thing? thing?

remember, incidents that showed showed that incidents remember,

that he was a cool, cold blooded type type blooded cold cool, a was he that

be able to—something you can can you to—something able be

cruelty—for something that you will will you that something cruelty—for

ticipated in it. it. in ticipated

man who is capable fo murder? murder? fo capable is who man

under Fidel Castro. He was. was. He Castro. Fidel under

him as. And he was in the Air Force Force Air the in was he And as. him

Frank Sturgis? Sturgis? Frank

and her integray. integray. her and

Well combat, combat training, he he training, combat combat, Well

Can you cite any examples of the the of examples any cite you Can

Capable of murdering a President? President? a murdering of Capable

He admitted to me he did. He par- He did. he me to admitted He

In your opinion, is Frank Sturgis a a Sturgis Frank is opinion, your In

Yes. Yes.

His...real name, what is his real... real... his is what name, His...real

Frank Fiorini at that time I knew knew I time that at Fiorini Frank

Marita, how long did have known known have did long how Marita,

I've known Frank since 1959. 1959. since Frank known I've

you you

that you have? have? you that

straight, straight." And I turned the the turned I And straight." straight,

wheel but he would'nt let me. me. let would'nt he but wheel

Alamonita...help me. me. Alamonita...help

them? them?

those cries of those two boys. boys. two those of cries those

me. And all these years I've heard heard I've years these all And me.

overboard? overboard?

overboard. overboard.

couldn't help cover the weapons. So So weapons. the cover help couldn't

Frank got annoyed and they went went they and annoyed got Frank

No light, no radio contact, no no contact, radio no light, No

nothing. And they were just, they they just, were they And nothing.

became ill because we were in a squall. squall. a in were we because ill became with plastic. Then these two boys boys two these Then plastic. with

was helping. He was covering the guns guns the covering was He helping. was

boys with us. I was navigating, Fr navigating, was I us. with boys

There's also certain curiosity on the the on curiosity certain also There's

So that's the firsthand impression impression firsthand the that's So Yes. Yes.

"Keep the boat going straight, straight, going boat the "Keep

Of course. course. Of

What did Frank Sturgis say to you? you? to say Sturgis Frank did What

They cried my code name, name, code my cried They

You wanted to help? help? to wanted You

They were crying out for you to help help to you for out crying were They

And you believe that he threw them them threw he that believe you And I tried to turn the boat, he stopped stopped he boat, the turn to tried I

page 20/YIPsier Times Times 20/YIPsier page

- ank ank part of the public about how Sturgis meeeting such a... became so close to Castro. How did he The first time? win Castro's confidence? His job was Yes, the first time. Head of Security was it not? I was with Fidel in the Havana Riviera Hotel. Fidel was closing down the gambling casinos. And I was there Yes, and he was in charge of the in uniform with Fidel and Frank edged gambling casinos in 1959. but 1 came over to me and said, "I'm with the to Cuba, the first time I met Fidel, U.S. Government." I was very Febuary 28, 1959, and he had been suspicious but he tried *to strike up a there years before • in the Sierra conversation. I said "Stay away from Miestra. me, Fidel is jealous. Don't talk to Frank Sturgis? me." You know, and he said, "I'm Fighting alongside Fidel. with the Embassy, can I help you?" What's the story about now Castro Did he think you were a prisoner in came to trust this man? the Havana Hilton or something? 1 really don't know that. That seems I guess so, he wanted to recruit me I to be...well...but he was high in the guess at that time. Air Force and I assume, and I think at Is that what eventually happened? one point Frank told me that he was Yes. bringing in guns to Fidel while he was Did he recruit you? in the Sierra Miestra. Yes. Can I tell you what I've read and you can tell me whether or not you heard Maybe we should find out the story the same thing or anything like that. I of how you met and fell in love with Fidel Castro and how you were even- PAM by Abu rerbuth tually recruited by Sturgis and how you changed your allegiance. My father is commander of an ocean liner, the M.S. Berlin, and we were going on a cruise to the West In- dies. Havana was the last stop. And Fidel, as he told me later standing on the balcony of the Havana Hilton, he saw the ship in the harbor and he took a launch and he boarded the passenger liner in the harbor, with about 35 men and I met him on board. Your father was a. German, is that right? Yes. How old were you at the time?

18, just 18. A little about your own background. Is it true that you are a second generation spy? I mean, were your father and mother involved in in- telligence work? My father and mother both worked for this government. Is it in fact an accident that you Marita Lorentz (left) and Gabrielle Schang (right) on Cable TV. . became involved immediately in the top level of spying instead of working your way up the ladder? You've never heard he gained the trust and con- been irained or anything. fidence of Fidel Castro by executing at No, I wasn't trained. I fell in love, least 50 people.. in 1959, and then one thing led to That's true, I was told by Frank. It another and 1 joined the anti-Castro was part of his job while he was in the underground. mountains. Well Why did you decide to join the You don't think he was just brag- anti-Castro underground if you were ging about these things after your ex- in love with Fidel Castro? What hap- periences with him? pened? No, no. I was pregnant. How did you meet Frank Sturgis? By Castro? What were the circumstances of your Yes. by Fidel. and Fidel had left Havana and I was alone in the Hilton that—for him to do anything like that. and I was drugged and the child And he proved it to me afterwards. forceably was aborted. How? You were how many months The phone calls right after I was in pregnant? the United States, by calling me. Close to 7 months. I see. Who do you think is responsible for Sending me, send me telegrams to that forced abortion? call him back, and you know. Not Fidel, the people around Fidel. Now you mentioned a man named So the people around Fidel disap- Alex Rourke. Who is he briefly? Alex Rourke is the son of a New proved of your relationship? York judge—son in law of Sherman Because I was not Cuban, I was an Billingsly, who was very close with-the outsider, and Fidel was too close to FBI. He was a—he's a good person. me. Very good . person and he is now You became very ill after this forced presumed deceased. abortion, correct? A lot of people around you, people Yes. you've known from 1959 and onward You were shipped to New York by are now dead, are they not? Fidel to a hospital? Yes. Frank Fiorini intervened then with Were you ever asked to kill Castro Camilo Cienfuegos, Second in Com- by the FBI or the CIA through Sturgis mand, and arranged for my escape or anyone else? from Cuba, because I was left to die.. Both agencies. And I guess I do owe him my life, They did ask you to kill Castro? Frank Fiorini, Sturgis. Yes. Really. continued on p.20 In 1959, and then I came to New York and to Roosevelt Hospital and was immediately recruited. How did they go about this Did you ever accept that recruiting? assignment? Well they... I—went in once, I took out papers, First of all to which agency... these papers proved to be valuable At the time both. documents. Aerial photographic views both what? of Cuba. Prospective missile sites. The FBI and CIA to... second time I was asked to kill Fidel. I How did they go about recruiting was driven to Miami with a load of you? guns from New York and trained for 1 was recovering and I was to go to three weeks in a safe house by Frank the office, the FBI office, so I did. Ferrini Sturgis. With Alex Rourke, Frank Fiorini, and Trained, finally you were trained as I went to the FBI office and they said an agent. that I was the only one who could get 1 was- con fined. back into Cuba. I was t member of the What did that make you eligible 26th of July, 1 had toe keys to the for? To be an assassin or what? Havana Hilton and they asked me to Well, to-intensive training I guess re-enter Cuba to take whatever for three weeks and to poison Fidel. documents I could and come back out. There has been some speculation Did you accept the asignment? about this poisoning in the press and After much time and-1 agreed. stories about... Cubana Airlines was stilling running Well he's still alive... and...... poison in cold cream. What I Was it because he thought Fidel had want to find out is what made you betrayed you? change your mind about killing Fidel. At the time I was continually told it You did at one point have some was Fidel. I know now differently. poison pills on you didn't you? Fidel is not that type of a person. I was given diline phetamine [?1 to Not responsible for you... stay awake. I was given botulism toxin ...having the abortion. in capsule form which when I saw the No. outline from the plane of Cuba I What do you mean Fidel wasn't that panicked a little because I knew we'd type of person? What type of person have to go through G – 2 at the Jose was Fidel? Marti Airport and I put them in my Fidel would not hurt me physically. cold cream and in a blue suitcase. And There was no reason to. Fidel by the time 1 got to the Hilton they wasn't— isn't brutal. He was nice, he had melted but Fidel was happy I was kind, he was genuine, he taught came back and it just left my mind me a lot. We got along well and there completely, the training went to waste. was certainly no reason to do It was—it's not in me to kill anybody. No. You'd been trained as an assassin but you are nut, you have never killed anyone? No. About your third big assignment: The General—what is his name? Marcos Perez Jimenez He's known as a dictator of sorts of Venezuela. He was a dictator of Venezuela. Would you describe your first meeting with this gentleman? The same people, Alexander Rouk and Frank Fiorini—Sturgis, wanted me to get close to him to gather infor- mation. He was supporting the Cuban cause. And I met the dear boy. Where did you meet him? In Miami while he was in exile. He was in jail? No in exile. I thought... Later during the extradition he serv- ed nine months. They put you in a jail cell next to him and that's how you were-and you were told to sidle up to this guy... reports, I could be wrong, that you are That was much later in Venezuela, on welfare right now? when I went to Venezuela—political Yes, it's amazing. prison. Well, this man is vey wealthy, didn't What did they say to you specificly he make any arrangement to take care when they say they want you to of his child? become intimate with a man? I was given $300.000 by the General No, they just say gather informa- for my daughter. After he was ex- tion. But one thing led to the other tradicted back to Venezuela for steal- and he chased me pretty good so bet- ing $13.5 million, his lawyer, David ween red wine and hanging up my W.. Walters, refused to give me any Castro uniform I got involved and 1 more money from my trust fund. This had a charming daughter, Monica. one trust fund. How old is she now? On what grounds? She's now 15 years old. On the ground that he claims I Now, was this a CIA or FBI breached a clause in revealing who thw assignment? anonymous donor was, even though This was CIA. paternity's esablished. And Mr. The General's a very rich man is he Walters by the way is now President not? Carter's personal envoy to the vatican. Yes, it is reported he's worth $600 not to mention that Mr. Walters tried million. to have me killed in Miami in 1963. Do you think in your opinion, or in How do you know he tried to have your knowledge. actual knowledge, you killed? that it is a possibility that the neral Because he was working together supplied some of the money for the with State's Attorney Richard Gurs- very poor anti–Castro Forces? _ tein, and they hired one man, Frank Russo from Chicago, who who rented Yes he did, yes he did. a red Plymouth. Did he do this knowingly? 1 was hiding out in a motel and this man, Frank Russo, Yes of course. He did this knowingly. About how tried to run me down. And I was much money? holding the baby in my arms. I rolled over, we were both hurt. But I got the I don't know. He would buy sup- license plate. The license plate was plies. He would give funds. 1 also checked out by Detective George Zolla heard he sponsored an armed camp in of the Miami Beach Police and it New Orleans which Lee Harvey checked back directly to Daid W. Oswald attended. An armed camp. What is that? Walters and State Attorney Richard Gurstein said that this man was in his Where you go... employ. Military camp, training. It's quite mind-boggling... While still on the subject of General What bothers me is that he is now Jirninez, I understand, from news President Carter's Personal envoy to Oswald. the Vatican. I was told that I was in the way. I said Well the Vatican is a notoriously "Fine, I'll go home". And Frank corrupt place, isn't it? That is astoun- drove me to the airport and I flew ding though. Most people... back ti Miami. I stayed there for a That's the truth. while, and picked up my daughter and will be intertested to hear that, went to Fort Lee, home to my mother. that's for sure. You had said earlier Since you don't know the exact that you had met Lee harvey Oswald. dates of this journey, do you believe How well did you know him? you may have been present at a dress In 1963, when I was running from rehearsal or the actual... Mr. Walters crude tactics in Miami I I don't know—I wonder...... assassination of Kennedy? I felt I was a pawn you see. I believe that when they took me that we were going to hit an armory. That ran back to the only people I knew when—my purpose was to be a decoy, that would accept me, Which was sit in the car while they went into the Frank Fiorini and I was accepted back armory. Now this is why I believed in. But 1 had a child so it wasn't quite they took me. the same level...as he trained me to be, But you felt like a palsy–just as Lee but I went along. And I gave my Harvey Osald in this affair? daughter to a maid, Willie Mae Taylor. We were going on a trip and I figured this was a good opportunity to talk to Frank about the disappearance of Alex Rourke, and I was under the impression we were going to hit a U.S. Yes. armory for weapons. Now this trip Did you ever hear Frank was about 10 days or a little over. We Fiorini/Sturgis say that he did not like to Dallas. This was— were going President Kennedy? Did you ever hear This was in 1963. him say anything about President So I went along, left my little girl, it Kennedy at all? was on a weekend with a babysitter After the Bay of Pigs, in which I because 1 had no funds left. Mr. lost some freinsd too, he also claims Walters thought of that. And when we he lost a lot of men. It was common got there I was in the wings. for the people, the Cuban colony in i.Nnto 5, Alice rocblAh Miami to express hate for President Flow many people went on this car Kennedy. trip to Dallas? It was, O.K. Seven. Nothing new. You were the only woman? You see, I don't know that, by first- Yes. hand knowledge at all. Did you know any of the other It was wrong. people? You must know that people are say- Yes, Ozzi. ing now, "Why did this woman, who Oswald. was on the journey so long ago decide Oswald and Dave Patrick, Pedro to wait until now to say anything." So Diaz Lanz, Frank Fiorini, two Cuban I'll let you have a chance now to ex- brothers and Orlandoi Bosch. plain, other than... for reasons of Was there anything unusual about publicity... this? You said that you thought you First of all, Frank has been in cons- were going on a usual hit to... tant touch with me for the 1st two No—usual hard hit...long trip, and years. He has sold articles-blown my the only thing unusual is when they cover... brought in automatic weapons and put In the Star? them in between two beds in a motel Right, and he wanted me to par- that we packed into. I said "Why br- ticipate in several operatyions in New ing weapons when we're going to hit a York, politically, and I refused, I place?" refused, and it's my mother's wish, I see. my mother now is dying. I confided to And then a fellow came to the door, her my doubts, my—in '63 when I I was sitting on the floor eating a came home, and it is her dying wish bologna sandwich and he said, that 1 get information to the proper "Who's she??" Frank opened the people. As it was, everything got out door and I later recognized him as of hand and... Ruby. So if you're cover hadn't been Jack Ruby? blown you don't think that you would Jack Ruby... probably be saying this now? The person who shot Lee Harvey No. And I was threatened a few limes by Frank to say the right tnings to the Committee. You were taught, in your training as a spy... No, because you take a blood oath, Silence. you live by a code, your life is not your Silence exactly. So it has not been own. the easiest thing for you to come for- What's the code, can you say? ward and say anything at all. Now, Silence and secretive and a certain about your life in New York City. Is it way of not being personal. true that you were married to a FBI Are you well paid for this? operative here? I should be. I was married to Louis John Were you paid well? Uratasis, an assignment husband, at I got paid, I got paid but not well. 250 East 87th Street. The Assignment So it is not a high paying job? Building. And... No, and I don't like being called an People knew this was an assign- informant. I am not an informant. I ment, an FBI assignment? was just assigned to operations. An FBI assignment. There is a whole different lingo and What's it like to be an FBI wife. you use differeent words... What did you do while you and he I never worked for or,qnized crime were married? A lot of things. He was super of the building I assume? Building Manager. What did you do in that building? Who lived in the building and what were your assignirn,ents there? We had Satellite bloc countries, many, and... You mean officials from the UN. UN, diplomat missions. They lived in the building? They lived in the building. And how did you spy on them? We had a tenant's list and we were the first ones in that building. We would watch them come in and report back and we were told to do certain things. Look-out and information and all that. Did you ever take pictures of them and all that? They were taken from across the street. Did you socialin with them at all? Yes, in fact I made some very good friends. What other intelligence agencies or narcotics. Now although, it seems a very scary have you worked for? Central Intelligence Agency and position that you're in. The fact that numerous others, not narcotics. you say publicly that you have done What's it like to be a spy? Would intelligence work on the KGB, the you recommend this profession to anti-Castro forces might not like you anyone, would you recommend it, say too much. Sturgis himself might not for your daughter... want to see you alive too long. Are you afraid for your own life? I took an oath, and I broke that continued on p.21 oath because I think the American people have a right to know and I thirlk their agencies need cleaning up a little bit. You're willing to take the conse- quences? Yes.