CIA Inspector General Request for Documents on Activities in or Around Mena, Arkansas

ADMINISTRAT AL USE ONLY (hit6) thit3) APPROVED FOR RELEASECDATE: | oe aa 23-Sep-2009 IG 96-0302 26 February 1996 MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Administration Deputy Director for Intelligence Deputy Director for Operations Deputy Director for Science and Technology Comptroller Director of Congressional Affairs General Counsel Director of Public Affairs Executive Secretariat FROM: ' Frederick P. Hitz Inspector General SUBJECT: : Request for Documents Relating to Possible Agency Knowledge of Certain Activities in or Around Mena, Arkansas 1. In response to a request from the Chairman of the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services, and with the concurrence of the Director of Central Intelligence, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) has initiated an inquiry relating to the following core issues: ¢ Whether CIA, or anyone actingon CIA's behalf, has carried out any activities in Mena, Arkansas, or the area north of Mena, known as Nella, Arkansas, and if so, did CIA brief, or otherwise communicate this information to Arkansas state officials in the 1980s; ° What was the nature and extent of CIA's contact or relationship with Adler Berriman Seal (AKA Barry Seal, A. B. Seal, FNU Billings, Berry Seal, Eric Arthur, Ellis McKenzie, "El Gordo," Joseph Warren Church; DOB: ‘ SSN: and his activities; ¢ Did CIA try to influence or request, directly or indirectly, that the Department of Justice terminate or alter any investigations or prosecutions of money laundering in or around Mena, Arkansas; ADMINISTRA’ RNAL USE ONLY 222) ¥  ADMINIS = ERNAL USE ONLY SUBJECT: Request for Documents Relating to Possible Agency Knowledge of Certain Activities in or Around Mena, Arkansas e What, if any, information does CIA have that indicates it had any contact with certain individuals or businesses, subsequently identified, or of illegal activities (including illicit aircraft modifications) based at, or operating through, the airport at Mena, Arkansas, from 1980 to the present. 2. In connection with the above areas of interest, the Committee has asked if the CIA had any direct or indirect contact or relationship with any of the following persons or entities located in or around Mena, Arkansas, including, but. not limited to: Freddie Lee "Fred" Hampton, Joe Evans, Rich Mountain Aviation, Charles Roulet, Cal Edwards, Global Associates, Fokker Air, Michael Eigleston, Eagle Aviation, Robert Maddern, Glen Conrad, Multitrade International, Junior Goodner, Goodner Aircraft Painting, Southern Cross Aviation, J. V. Brotherton, Brodix, Terry Capehart, Blue Diamond, George Reeb, Reebaire, Rose Upholstery and Earl Covel. - 3. The Committee also inquired as to whether Lar Douglass (L. D.) Brown (DOB: a ; SSN: ever applied for CIA employment and, if so, e result of that application. 4. The Committee further inquired whether CIA customarily communicates with state officials when CIA has activities in that state. Finally, the Committee asked whether CIA briefed or otherwise communicated with Arkansas state government officials or law enforcement authorities about any CIA activities in Arkansas in the late 1980s. 5. In furtherance of OIG's efforts, I request that you provide this Office with all information relating to these questions, as further described below, as soon as possible, but no later than close of business Friday, 15 March 1996. Also, I ask that each addressee establish a directorate focal point for this action and provide the name and contact number of that individual to OIG no later than close of business Friday, 1 March 1996. That individual should be responsible for certifying to this Office that searches conducted pursuant to this request have been complete and all pertinent information has been provided. Please provide this information to OIG's administrative focal point on this matter, 2 ADMINIS -~INTERNAL USE ONLY  ADMINISTRA RNAL USE ONLY SUBJECT: Request for Documents Relating to Possible Agency Knowledge of Certain Activities in or Around Mena, Arkansas 6. Included in this request are: a. Copies of all relevant internal and external documents and information concerning any activities by CIA, or anyone acting on CIA's behalf, in Mena, Arkansas, or the area north of Mena, known as Nella, Arkansas. b. Copies of all relevant internal and external documents and information concerning Agency participation in, or knowledge of, activities in or around the Intermountain Municipal Airport in Mena, Arkansas, or the area north of Mena, known as Nella, Arkansas, from 1980 through the present. This information is to include CIA knowledge of any individuals or businesses that may have been engaged in money laundering, narcotics trafficking, arms smuggling, or other illegal activities (including illicit aircraft modifications) . c. Copies of all relevant internal and external documents and information relating to Adler Berriman Seal (AKA Barry Seal, A. B. Seal, FNU Billings, Berry Seal, Eric Arthur, Ellis McKenzie, "El Gordo," Joseph Church; DOB: SSN: Of particular interest is information, if any, that indicates any relationship between CIA and Seal; any information that Seal provided to CIA regarding Central America, Colombian drug cartels, transshipment points or refining facilities for U.S.-bound drugs, drug smuggling generally, or any other subject; any information indicating whether CIA either directly or indirectly provided or facilitated the provision of money, services, or equipment to Seal or any other person or entity in connection with Seal's activities; any information regarding the use of proceeds from Seal's activities; and information concerning any contact or communication between CIA and other federal agencies about Seal's activities. d. Copies of all relevant internal and external documents and information regarding CIA's knowledge of a Fairchild C-123K military transport aircraft reportedly used by Seal. Information sought regarding this aircraft includes that relating to procurement, servicing, retrofitting, etc. 3 ADMINISTRATIVEs AL USE ONLY  ADMINISTRA AL USE ONLY SUBJECT: Request for Documents Relating to Possible Agency Knowledge of Certain Activities in or Around Mena, Arkansas e. Copies of all relevant internal and external documents and information regarding CIA's knowledge of a Convair C-131A military transport aircraft with U.S. registration number N5575A. £. Copies of all relevant internal and external documents and information regarding Agency efforts, if any, to influence the Department of Justice or any . Other federal agency directly or indirectly in the course of any investigations or prosecutions in or around Mena, Arkansas. g. Copies or all relevant internal and external documents and information relating to the following persons or entities located in or around Mena, Arkansas: é 4 ADMINIST “INTERNAL USE ONLY  ADMINISTRATI AL USE ONLY SUBJECT: Request for Documents Relating to Possible Agency Knowledge of Certain Activities in or Around Mena, Arkansas h. Copies of all relevant internal and external - documents and information relating to Larry Douglass (L. D.) Brown, DOB: SSN: i. Copies of all relevant internal and external documents and information relating to whether CIA | briefed, or otherwise communicated with, Arkansas state government officials or law enforcement authorities about any CIA activities in Arkansas from 1980 to present. 7. This request encompasses all relevant official and soft files, 201 files, memoranda, taskings, notes, letters, correspondence, communications, Lotus Notes and other computer mail messages; cable traffic (including "ops traffic"), briefing books, calendars, and personal notes. It also extends to all categories or material, including all "Rybat, "bigoted," "codeword," "SI, "7" and other anes distribution materiale: 8. Documents and other materials responsive to this request should be produced in their entirety as they appear in the relevant files without redaction or deletions of any kind and delivered to OIG/Investigations Staff, eee Attention: as soon as possib e, but no later than close of business 15 March 1996. Marginalia and associated notes, comments, etc., should remain as they appear on the original documents and materials. If there is any doubt in regard to the relevance of particular documents 5 a wa ADMINISTRATI NAL USE ONLY  ADMINISTRA I, USE ONLY SUBJECT: Request for Documents Relating to Possible Agency Knowledge of Certain Activities in or Around Mena, Arkansas or information, components should err on the side of advising OIG and allowing it an opportunity to determine relevance. 9. I am aware that this tasking may duplicate similar information requests within the last several months by other components. Nonetheless, this is an independent inquiry that requires a full and timely response. If the requisite searches are not completed by the time specified, OIG should be contacted to arrange for delivery of the results as of that date while the searches continue. 10. The IG investigation team may find it necessary to interview Agency officers and others. Please ensure that those called upon to be interviewed are made available on a. timely basis. 11. The requirements identified in this memorandum are continuing. Please ensure that OIG is advised immediately of any new information that may be relevant to this investigation. 12. Finally, individuals who have personal knowledge of the events or activities described above should contact OIG immediately. OIG's principal points of contact for this investigation are and 3 13. Thank you for your cooperation regarding this matter. Frederick P. Hitz ~ cc: DCI DDCI EXDIR : 0 A ADMINISTRATL AL USE ONLY  ADMINISTRA ERNAL USE ONLY SUBJECT: Request for Documents Relating to Possible Agency Knowledge of Certain Activities in or Around Mena, Arkansas : OIG/INV/ (23 Feb 96) Distribution: Original - 1 ea addressee 1 - IG Chrono 1 - INV Chrono 1 - INV Subject File: 96-0036-IG 7 ADMINISTRATL AL USE ONLY