232304Z NOV 78
FM SAN FRANCISCO (9-3277) (P) (SQUAD 10)
TO DIRECTOR FBI IMMEDIATE
LOS ANGELES IMMEDIATE
BT
UNCLAS E F T O
UNSUB: People’s Temple of the Disciples of Christ; James Jones, a.k.a., Jim Jones, Temple Leader; Information Concerning.
Re San Francisco tellcalls to Bureau November 19, 1978.
People’s Temple (PT) and founder Jim Jones during recent months has been subject of considerable newspaper publicity because of allegations that they have held PT members against their will in Guyana. Jones and immediate followers are in Guyana, however, two churches are located in the United States, PT located at 1859 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco and PT located at Hoover and El Alverado, Los Angeles. The latter Temple is reportedly relatively inactive. Estimated number of active members of PT is 1200 to 1500 in Guyana and United States, with approximately 200 in United States.
Tim Stoen, attorney, San Francisco, was allegedly instrumental in leading small group of dissidents to split
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Jones and PT. During recent months Stoen and several others have received threats of bodily harm and have reported this to San Francisco office and local authorities. Type of threats did not fall under federal extortion statute and were basically threats conveyed by one or two individuals to Stoen and others that at some time Jones and his immediate followers would retaliate against the dissidents for leaving PT. USA’s [U.S. Attorney’s] office, San Francisco was fully aware of the above and concurred that matter should be handled by local authorities.
The following is a summary of information received during the past several hours following killing of Congressman Ryan and others in his party in Guyana on November 18, 1978:
[Deleted name], Assistant District Attorney (ADA), San Francisco County, due to threatened retaliation to be taken against dissident members of PT immediately set up command post to coordinate efforts of San Francisco Police Department and Berkeley Police Department regarding notification of possible victims. [Deleted name] estimated that dissident members, estimated to be fifteen to seventeen resided Berkeley or nearby East Bay area,
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and have been contacted by local authorities. Majority are now staying at headquarters office of dissident group, Berkeley, telephone (415) 845-2635 or (415) 848-1773. Dissident group commonly referred to Human Freedom Center and located at 3028 Regent Street, Berkeley, California. [Deleted name] stated that arrangements are being made for other dissident members to be moved to safe houses and that inasmuch as several have been located in Ukiah, Mendocino County, California, local authorities there were notified. Berkeley Police Department SWAT team supporting appropriate protection at above command post. PT located at 1859 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco is under surveillance by San Francisco Police Department due to reports that a number of members locked themselves inside the Temple and they have a cache of weapons in the Temple. Capt. [deleted name] San Francisco Police Department (SF PD) in charge of SFPD command post, telephone [deleted].
USA William Hunter, San Francisco, November 19, 1978, advised he met with Tim Stoen last Thursday just prior to Stoen’s departure with Congressman Ryan and group to Guyana. Hunter
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advised that Stoen was instrumental in arranging for Ryan and associates to travel to Guyana to check on activities of PT and Jim Jones, particularly allegations that members of PT were being held against their will.
[Deleted name] advised that early AM, November 19, 1978, he was personally telephonically contacted by Tim Stoen who was calling from Pegasus Hotel, Room 403, Georgetown, Guyana. Stoen stated that he had been with Congressman Ryan’s group, however, he was among ten individuals that stayed in Georgetown while Ryan and others flew to interior of Guyana to visit PT. Stoen was unable to furnish any information regarding killing of Ryan, et al, and was extremely worried that he and his group were in danger. Stoen subsequently telephonically advised [Deleted name] that United States Embassy had sent an official to the hotel and he was staying with them. Stoen expressed opinion that due to action in Guyana on November 18, 1978 that dissidents in Guyana and United States may be in danger.
[Deleted name] subsequently advised that his office just received information from source, former member PT, that Jones has
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suicide type group to carry out contingency plans if he is ever arrested: 1) dissidents believed responsible for Jones’ arrest would be killed and 2) top United States government officials, not identified, would be kidnapped and held hostage until Jones was released.
[Deleted name] arranging for interview of source and possibly others knowledgeable regarding above by San Francisco agents November 19, 1978.
Information from Bureau regarding Clare Janero [Claire Janaro], reported member of PT and manager Happy Acres Care Home, Redwood Valley, California, reportedly in Guyana, and staff members at home may be involved with PT, furnish local authorities. Al and Jeannie Wills [Mills], PT dissidents located and are staying at dissident headquarters, Berkeley.
Agent [deleted name], US Secret Service (USSS) San Francisco, was immediately advised as above information received.
Close liaison being maintained with pertinent law enforcement agencies and USSS.
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Based on information regarding possible kidnap – conspiracy of unnamed United States government officials, immediate interview with source being conducted to determine full details and whether investigation under CAS-Conspiracy statute warranted.
Bureau and Los Angeles will be kept advised.
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