February 14, 1958.p. 1.
By Edward Ranzal
Dr. Carlos Prio Socarras, exiled former President of Cuba, and eight other Cubans were indicted here yesterday for conspiring to set up a well-financed military expedition to attack Cuba.
Dr. Prio and the others were charged with conspiring to violate the neutrality laws of the United States. A Federal grand jury said they had “conspired to begin and set foot on, and to provide and prepare the means for, and take part in, military expeditions and enterprises to be carried on from the United States against the Republic of Cuba.”
At the request of United States Attorney Paul W. Williams, Federal Judge Edward Weinfeld issued bench warrants for the arrest of all the defendants. Dr. Prio lives in Miami Beach. The others were also reported to be in this country.
The offense carries a maximum penalty upon conviction of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
William F. Tompkins, assistant attorney general in charge of internal security, said the alleged conspirators had recruited hundreds of persons in this country for the military campaign. Some were to be sent to Cuba to commit sabotage and others to assassinate officials of the Cuban Government, he said.
Dr. Prio is an arch foe of Cuba’s President, Fulgencio Batista, who overthrew the Prio regime in 1952. Dr. Prio, who is believed to have more than $50,000,000 in this country, was said to be the principal backer of the projected expedition.
Part of the conspiracy was said to call for the establishment of military training camps in the United States, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Haiti.
The plot, the indictment said, called for large purchases of arms and other military equipment, some of which has been seized.
The conspiracy also assertedly involved the purchase of ships to be sent from the United States with armed men, material and implements of war.
The plan was said to call for the training of pilots and the purchase of military aircraft and armament to bomb and strafe Cuba from bases within the United States and elsewhere.
In 1954 Dr. Prio was indicted with seventeen other persons on charges stemming from the purchase and exportation of arms to Cuba. He did not contest the charges, but pleaded nolo contendere and was fined $9,000.
In Miami yesterday, Dr. Prio said the new indictment “should be a great comfort for dictatorships in Latin America, particularly for Batista, an enemy of all democratic governments.” He continued:
“I know that [President Batista] has continually sent agents to the United States with false information and has furnished the United States Government with false information to try to get the American Government to act against me.
Others indicted were:
Daniel Vasquez y Coejo, also known as Daniel Vasquez, of Miami Beach. He is an unemployed airline pilot
Enrique Cotubanama Henriquez Laranzon, also known as Enrique Henriquez, a naturalized Cuban of Dominican birth. He is Dr. Prio’s brother-in-law.
Juan Agustin de la Carida y Cordova, also known as Juan Orta, former president of the July 26 Club of Miami. The stated aim of this group is to overthrow the Batista regime.
Jose Pablo Elio Iriarte y Diaz, also known as Joe Iriarti, of 565 West 183rd Street. He operates a travel agency.
Guido
Adolfo Gonzalez de Bustamente Luque, also known as Guido Bustamente.
Luis
Alfonso Silva y Tabalda, also known as Luis Silva.
Tulio
Prieto.
Luis
Chaviano.