CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION
INFORMATIVE NOTE
Date: 12/2/86
Re: RYMUR;
MAJOR CASE 16;
00:SAN FRANCISCO
On 11/18/78, Congressman Leo J. Ryan was murdered in Jonestown, Guyana, South America, by followers of cult leader Jim Jones.
On 12/1/86, People’s Temple member Lawrence [Laurence] John Layton, age 40, was convicted by jury trial of Conspiracy and Aiding and Abetting in the 1978 murder of Congressman Ryan (Title 18, US Code (USC), Sections 351 (D) and 351 (a), respectively. The jury also convicted Layton of Conspiracy to Kill an Internationally Protected Person, Deputy Chief of Mission Richard Dwyer, in violation of Title 18, USC, Section 1117 and for Aiding and Abetting in the attempted murder of Dwyer, Title 18, USC, Section 1116.
Layton’s first trial in 1981 ended with a hung jury. He has been free on bail since then. Yesterday, Chief US District Court Judge Robert Peckham remanded Clayton to the custody of the US Marshals Service and scheduled sentencing for 1/23/87. Layton faces a maximum penalty of two life sentences plus two 20-year terms.
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P 010030Z DEC 86
FM SAN FRANCISCO (89A-250) (P) (SQUAD 10)
TO DIRECTOR (89-4286) (PRIORITY)
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UNCLAS
RYMUR, MAJOR CASE 16; OO: SAN FRANCISCO
Re: San Francisco summary teletype dated September 22, 1986.
On December 1, 1986, subject Lawrence John Layton convicted by a jury trial for violation of Title 18, US Code, Section 351 (D) – Conspiracy to Murder a Congressman (Leo J. Ryan); Section 351 (a), 2 – Aiding and Abetting the Murder of a Congressman (Leo J. Ryan); Section 1117 – Conspiracy to Murder an Internationally Protected Person (Deputy Chief of Mission Richard Dwyer); and Section 1116 (A), 2 – Aiding and Abetting the Attempted Murder of an Internationally Protected Person (Deputy Chief of Mission Richard Dwyer).
Layton was remanded to the custody of the US Marshal until
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PAGE TWO SF 89A-250 UNCLAS
sentencing date scheduled for January 23, 1986 [1987]. For information of the Bureau, maximum penalty Count 1, 20 years; Count 2, life imprisonment; Count 3, 20 years; Count 4, life imprisonment.
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