F-1997-01358 ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT - SPR

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00795923
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: September 12, 2023
• Document Release Date: June 9, 2023
• Case Number: F-2019-01343
• Publication Date: August 26, 1997

Approved for Release: 2023/06/09 C00795923
Mr. Michael Carmichael
Reference: F97-1358
Dear Mr. Carmichael:.
2 6 AUG 1997
This is further to our letter dated 25 June 1997 and
concerns your 20 May 1997 request for records under the
provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Specifically, you requested information on the following
deceased subjects:
"1. Michael Brightman, based in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti;
2. Clemard Charles, a banker and financier operating
in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti;
3. Francois 'Papa Doc' Duvalier, former dictator of
Haiti;
4. Johnny Meyer, former nightclub owner in Hollywood;
5. Aristotle Onassis, prominent billionaire, who
married Jacqueline Kennedy in 1968;
6. Dr. Hjalmar Horace Greeley Schacht, prominent
banker and financier, Chancellor of the Reichsbank
during the Third Reich;
7. Otto Skorzeny, Hilter's favorite commando;
8. Kurt Wolff, General of the Waffen SS, and Commander
of German Forces in Italy;
9. Odessa, a secret organization for the preservation
and prosperity of former members of the SS;
10. Ian Lancaster Fleming, author of the James Bond
novels, and a high-ranking officer in British
intelligence during WWII;
11. Bruce Roberts, author of the so-called 'Gemstone
Files' and former resident of San Francisco;
12. The Gemstone files, written by Bruce Roberts
contents detailed international criminal
operations;
13. Porfirio Rubirosa, international polo player and
socialite."
Regarding items 1-3, 5, 6-10, and 13, I must advise you
that in all requests such as yours, the CIA can neither
confirm nor deny the existence or nonexistence of any CIA
records responsive to your request with the exception of the
enclosed documents. The fact of the existence or
nonexistence of any other records containing such
information�unless, of course, it has been officially
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acknowledged--would be classified for reasons of national
security under Sections 1.5(c) [intelligence sources and
methods] and 1.5(d) [foreign relations] of Executive Order
12598. Further, the Director of Central Intelligence has the
responsibility and authority to protect such information from
unauthorized disclosure in accordance with Subsection
103(c)(5) of the National Security Act of 1947 and Section 6
of the CIA Act of 1949.
Accordingly, these portions of your request are denied
on the basis of FOIA exemptions (b)(1) and (b)(3). By this
action, we are neither confirming nor denying the existence
or nonexistence of such records. An explanation of the FOIA
exemption cited above is enclosed.
The CIA official responsible for this denial is Lee S.
Strickland, Information and Privacy Coordinator. You may
appeal this decision by addressing your appeal to the Agency
Release Panel, in my care. Should you choose to do this,
please explain the basis of your appeal. However, we are
unable to accept any such appeal until the processing of your
request has been completed.
Notwithstanding the above, we searched our computerized
system of previous released records. Enclosed are machine
printouts which pertain to the subjects: Duvalier, Onassis,
Schacht, Skorzeny, Wolff, Ian Fleming, and Porfirio Rubirosa.
This material was originally located as a result of thorough
and diligent searches conducted in our other records systems
on the same subject, on behalf of earlier requesters. You
may review the printouts bearing in mind that there may be
duplicates, check the items you want, return the printouts to
us, and we will reproduce whatever items you choose at a cost
of ten cents a page. Because the page count on the printouts
are not always accurate, please do not send payment in
advance. We will bill you once we provide you with whatever
material you request. Also enclosed is a copy of our
schedule of fees.
Regarding items 4 (Johnny Meyer) and 11 (Bruce Roberts),
to conduct an effective search of our files for information
on an individual, we need the full name, the date and place
of birth, nationality, and citizenship status. Without these
we may be unable to distinguish between individuals with the
same or similar names.
If the person is deceased, we need some evidence of
death, such as a death certificate, an obituary, or press
statement, so that we can be sure there are no privacy
considerations. Although we can search without this
evidence, if we should locate relevant records and did not
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�
have such evidence, we might have to withhold information
that, if released, would be an unwarranted invasion of that
person's privacy. Privacy rights are addressed in the
Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. � 552a) and the FOIA [5 U.S.C.
� 552(b)(6)].
Regarding item 12,. we can conduct a search on the term
"Gemstone Files."
For your information, the FOIA authorizes federal
agencies to collect fees for records services. We are
enclosing, therefore, a fee schedule for your guidance. You
will note that we charge search fees, including computer time
where indices are computerized, and copying costs for
releasable documents.
In accordance with Section (a) of the schedule, search
fees are assessable even if no records are found or, if
found, we determine that they are not releasable. This means
you will be charged even if our search results are negative
or if it is determined that no information is releasable
under the FOIA.
Before we can begin any processing of your request, we
must receive your commitment to pay all fees incurred and
under the conditions stated above. The search fees for each
item in a request are usually about $150. Therefore, search
costs for your particular request could amount to as much as
$450.
We will hold your request in abeyance for 45 days from
the date of this letter pending receipt of the information
requested in paragraphs 5 and 6 above and your fee
commitment.
Lee S. Strickland
Information and Privacy Coordinator
Enclosure
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OIT/MSG/IP&CRD/r---/tab/19 August 1997
Distribution:
Orig -
Adse
IP&CRD Chrono
1 -
IP&CRD/F97-1358
SPR 45 days (BIO,fee commitment)
Partial
Glomar (b)(1),(
)(3)
Deniers:
(b)(3)
1-
(b)(6)
(b)(3)
(b)(6)freedom
12225.doc
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