[Editor’s note: The names of the subjects of this serial were withheld by the FBI, but were revealed by The New York Times on December 5, 1978. As both this serial and the Times article point out, there was no known connection between Peoples Temple, and these four American fugitives from justice living in Guyana during the Temple’s tenure there.
[The deleted information from the memorandum – designated by brackets – which is known to the editor has been indicated by red type.]
United States Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Memorandum
Date: 11/24/78
To: Mr. Moore
From: J. O. Ingram
Subject: RYMUR
During coordination of captioned matter in its earlier stages, FBI HQ received information in the form of unsubstantiated comments from unknown sources that United States fugitives may have been associated with the Peoples Temple settlement in Guyana.
On 11/22/78 review of ticklers maintained by Fugitive Unit, FBI HQ, disclosed four Bureau fugitives who had previously located in Guyana.
IT IS EMPHASIZED THAT THERE IS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THESE FUGITIVES AND THE PEOPLES TEMPLE.
[Albert Louis Bradford] aka
Fugitive:
IO [deleted]
UFAP – Forcible Rape
OO: St. Louis
(Bu 88-45609)
(SL 88-8021)
[Bradford’s] presence in Guyana was last confirmed 12/15/77. He is known to have been employed by the Government of Guyana since at least June, 1974, and is currently employed by the Guyana National Service Center (GNSC), Georgetown, Guyana.
The GNSC is a paramilitary and political organization formed by the Guyana Government to engage in public service, and to promote racial unity and integration in the country.
CONTINUED – OVER
J.O. Ingram Memo to r. Moore
RE: RYMUR
[Herman Benjamin Ferguson] aka
Fugitive:
IO [deleted]
UFAP – Conspiracy to Commit Murder
OO: BQ/MRA
(Bu 88-51831)
(BQ/MRA 88-11593)
[Ferguson’s] presence in Guyana was last confirmed 10/12/76. He is employed by the GNSC (supra), and has attained the rank of Major with that organization. [Ferguson] was convicted 6/15/68 for conspiracy to murder Roy Wilkens, then head of the NAACP, and Whitney Young, then head of the National Urban League. [Ferguson] failed to appear for sentencing 8/27/70.
[Claude Herbert] aka
Fugitive:
IO [deleted]
UFAP – Murder
OO: Los Angeles
(Bu 88-47124)
(LA 88-15989)
[Herbert’s] presence in Guyana was last confirmed 12/30/77. He is active in the Guyana Ministry of Information, Culture and Youth, and collaborates with the GNSC (supra). He is known to have been in Guyana since 1969. In June, 1975, Legat, Caracas learned from official police authorities that Guyana Prime Minister Forbes Burnham has specifically permitted the permanence in Guyana of [Name withheld] whom the Prime Minister described as a “black political refugee” from the United States. In June, 1964, [Claude Herbert] and four accomplices, who are members of US, Inc., a black militant group, allegedly shot and killed two members of the Black Panther Party at a meeting of students at UCLA, Los Angeles, California.
[David Hill] aka
Fugitive:
IO [deleted]
UFAP – Larceny by Trick
OO: Cleveland
(Bu 88-55852)
(CV 4446)
[Hill’s] presence in Guyana was last confirmed 9/10/76. He operates the House of Israel under the name
-2-
J.O. Ingram Memo to Mr. Moore
RE: RYMUR
Rabbi [Edward Washington] in Albertown, Guyana, and resides in Georgetown, Guyana. He is known to have been in Guyana since December, 1974.
Authorities in Guyana have stated no action is contemplated by the Government to effect the departure of these fugitives.
A copy of the respective IO and photographs of the above individuals is attached.
For information.
[9 pages of information about US fugitives in Guyana – non-PT-related – follow]