Serial 171

United States Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Memorandum
Date: 11/20/78
To: Mr. Moore
From: [deleted name]

Subject: UNKNOWN SUBJECT;
REPRESENTATIVE LEO RYAN (CALIFORNIA) – VICTIM;
POSSIBLE ASSASSINATION

At 1:25 A.M., 11/20/78, Dr. Steve Pieczenik, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Management, United States Department of State (USDOS), Washington, D. C., advised that the Ambassador covering Guyana South America confirmed that 400 people were found dead at the Peoples Temple, Jonestown, Guyana.

He also had information that a civilian amateur radio operator in the San Francisco area has intercepted and monitored in the past, radio communications between Peoples Temple in San Francisco and Peoples Temple in Guyana. Some of these communications were reportedly encoded. He could not furnish the identity of the radio operator at this time. He had requested National Security Agency (NSA) assistance in this matter however, NSA declined to assist.

At 3:50 A.M., Ashley Hewitt, Director of Office of Caribbean Affairs, USDOS, Washington, D. C., advised that the above amateur radio operator is [deleted name] (address unknown), California, telephone number [deleted].

Mr. Hewitt also advised that he received unconfirmed information that Jones and 11 followers were in custody of the Guyana authorities at Matthews Ridge, Guyana.

[Deleted name and address] Portland, Oregon, who has been in touch with the San Francisco Office, as well as FBI HQ previously regarding this matter, advised at 4:22 A.M., that District Attorney Frietas [Joseph Freitas] in San Francisco had a personal acquaintance with Jim Jones of the Peoples Temple and alleged he had information that [deleted]. He felt Freitas would take no action to obtain a warrant for the police to enter the Peoples Temple at San Francisco as a result of his relationship with Jones.

CONTINUED – OVER

[deleted name] to Mr. Moore memo

RE: UNKNOWN SUBJECT;
REPRESENTATIVE LEO RYAN (CALIFORNIA) – VICTIM;

At 5:00 A.M., SPC [deleted name], San Francisco Office, was furnished the above information. He advised that [deleted name] is under investigation by the San Francisco Office on a political corruption matter. Frietas was not handling this matter for the District Attorney’s Office and San Francisco and that it was being handled by Kevin Ford, Assistant District Attorney in San Francisco.

The Chief of Police, San Francisco Police Department, Charles Gains led his men into the Peoples Temple at 1859 Geary Blvd., San Francisco, at 10:00 P.M., EST, 11/19/78, and was admitted without the issuance of a warrant.

Currently an unknown number of Peoples Temple dissidents are at the Freedom’s Center [Human Freedom Center], 3028 Regent Street, Burkley [Berkeley], California, under the protection of local police SWAT teams.

[Deleted name] advised he would apprise the case agent of the information furnished him and a lead would be set out for the interview of [deleted name] the amateur radio operator.