DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
COMMUNICATION MESSAGE FORM
DATE: 11/20/78
CLASSIFICATION: UNCLAS
PRECEDENCE: IMMEDIATE
FM DIRECTOR FBI
TO FBI SAN FRANCISCO IMMEDIATE
FBI LOS ANGELES IMMEDIATE
FBI BALTIMORE IMMEDIATE
FBI SAN JUAN IMMEDIATE
LEGAL ATTACHÉ CARACAS IMMEDIATE
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UNCLAS
UNSUBS: US CONGRESSMAN LEO RYAN (DECEASED) – VICTIM, PEOPLE’S TEMPLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, DICIPLES [DISCIPLES] OF CHRIST; CONGRESSIONAL ASSASSINATION STATUTE – CONSPIRACY; FOREIGN POLICE COOPERATION.
For information receiving offices this matter is being designated a priority investigation by FBI HQ and surrounds allegations that criminal conspiracy may exist in the United States involving followers of the People’s Temple Christian Church Diciples [Disciples] of Christ, wherein followers have received firearms training and have avowed to retaliate against anyone
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attempting to expose, discredit, or arrest the church’s leader, Jim Jones. It is also alleged that weapons were shipped from the People’s Temple in San Francisco to Guyana and that possible conspirators in the United States may have been directed by coded radio communications from Jonestown to Temples in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
San Francisco is requested to assume origin in this matter and closely coordinate with the Office of the United States Attorney in an attempt to secure search warrants for the People’s Temples in San Francisco and Los Angeles to retrieve any evidence which may show a conspiracy to violate the Congressional Assassination Statute. All leads in this matter are to be handled by telephone and followed by immediate teletype.
Results of interviews with persons evacuated from Guyana conducted by San Juan and Baltimore should be expeditiously furnished to FBI HQ and San Francisco.
This matter is to receive continuous investigative and supervisory attention until resolved. All press inquiries are too referred to the Public Affairs Office, FBI HQ.
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