G. JANUARY 5, 1979, LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY TO HON. CLEMENT I. ZABLOCKI We share your sense of tragedy over the recent events in Guyana, and, in particular, over the untimely death of Congressman kyan. As you may know, various agencies within the Department of the Treasury are involved in inquiries related to the events in Jonestown. In order to facilitate whatever assistance we may be able to pro vide to your Committee Assistant Secretary (Enforce ment and Operations) Richard J. Davis will coordinate Sincerely, Bak Cornell Robert Carswell The Honorable Clement J. Zablocki 1307 2. MGA LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREAS RY PROVIDING INFORMATION AND MATERIALS REQUESTED IN THE STAGE INVESTIGATIVE GROUP 'lueras rende i gropsis of the investigative activities carried out by the 8. Cistoms Service concerning the People's Temple.) に with the Committee's inquiry into events the People's Temple settlement in Jonestown, Steezza 25 the Committee's staff has recently Adrian 25 my staff in order to clarify certhe Committee is interested. These eral shipments to Guyana of guns, money 蕁经 that the enclosed synopsis of the investi 9M2Les armed out by the Customs Service SPORT, N De eocle's Temple before the tragedy in Jonestow 68 The Committee in its endeavors to reach a fuller W INVISIand that the Committee has in its possession the release or publication of any ULLA ONtained in that report since it contains both Vi allautis kust individuals and the identifival sources. re any further questions, please contact me; are your staff contact Mr. McBrien of SYNOPSIS For more than a year, the law enforcement community orthern California has received varieties of unconed information, regarding unorthodox tactics utilized he People's Temple Church to expand their holdings control the activities of their members. Members of Temple were required to relinquish all personal berty to the Temple which in turn provided totally the welfare of its members. Many relatives of >ers objected to this transfer of assets, particuly title to real estate. All earnings from convennal employment were considered the property of the ple. There were numerous allegations that the Temple encouraging welfare fraud in addition to the use of poral punishment by Temple authorities. Many of these es of allegations were also reported in the San Francisco ed media during this period. In February of 1977, an unpaid informant of the ice of Investigations, U.S. Customs Service, offered arrange a meeting between Special Agents and a group former Temple members. It was alleged that the Temple 5 violating statutes related to the illegal export of rearms and negotiable instruments to the Temple's mission Guyana. A meeting was arranged with approximately 12 former mbers. The former members discussed several instances erein they had witnessed the collection of weapons and rrency which they believed had been illegally exported. ey made further allegations regarding welfare frauds, ivil rights violations, Temple association with righting extremists and political influence exercised at arious levels of local, state, and Federal Government. All the former members present were adamant in their elief that such violations had occurred, but the inforation was dated. None were able or willing to provide pecific details sufficient to obtain search or arrest arrants. H. MARCH 21, 1979, LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY PROVIDING INFORMATION AND MATERIALS REQUESTED BY THE STAFF INVESTIGATIVE GROUP (Materials include a synopsis of the investigative activities carried out by the U.S. Customs Service concerning the People's Temple.) Dear Mr. Chairman: In connection with the Committee's inquiry into events relating to the People's Temple settlement in Jonestown, Guyana, Mr. Smeeton of the Committee's staff has recently contacted Mr. McBrien of my staff in order to clarify certain matters in which the Committee is interested. These involve possible illegal shipments to Guyana of guns, money and other materials. We believe that the enclosed synopsis of the investigative activities carried out by the Customs Service concerning the People's Temple before the tragedy in Jonestown will assist the Committee in its endeavors to reach a fuller understanding of that incident. We understand that the Committee has in its possession a Customs Service Report of Investigation dated August 26, 1977, discussing allegations against individuals involved in the People's Temple. Another agency erroneously released the report without our authorization. We request your consulting with us prior to the release or publication of any information contained in that report since it contains both criminal allegations against individuals and the identification of confidential sources. If you have any further questions, please contact me; or you may wish to have your staff contact Mr. McBrien of my office (566-8534). SYNOPSIS For more than a year, the law enforcement community in Northern California has received varieties of unconFirmed information, regarding unorthodox tactics utilized by the People's Temple Church to expand their holdings and control the activities of their members. Members of the Temple were required to relinquish all personal property to the Temple which in turn provided totally For the welfare of its members. Many relatives of nembers objected to this transfer of assets, particularly title to real estate. All earnings from conventional employment were considered the property of the Temple. There were numerous allegations that the Temple was encouraging welfare fraud in addition to the use of corporal punishment by Temple authorities. Many of these types of allegations were also reported in the San Francisco Dased media during this period. In February of 1977, an unpaid informant of the Office of Investigations, U.S. Customs Service, offered to arrange a meeting between Special Agents and a group of former Temple members. It was alleged that the Temple was violating statutes related to the illegal export of firearms and negotiable instruments to the Temple's mission in Guyana. A meeting was arranged with approximately 12 former members. The former members discussed several instances wherein they had witnessed the collection of weapons and currency which they believed had been illegally exported. They made further allegations regarding welfare frauds, civil rights violations, Temple association with rightwing extremists and political influence exercised at various levels of local, state, and Federal Government. All the former members present were adamant in their belief that such violations had occurred, but the information was dated. None were able or willing to provide specific details sufficient to obtain search or arrest warrants. |