Fact Check: The CIA worked with a 'high-ranking' Mafia figure in Las Vegas who 'controlled all of the ice-making machines on the Strip' to poison Cuban leader Fidel Castro in 1960 and 1961.

Fact Check: "The CIA worked with a 'high-ranking' Mafia figure in Las Vegas who 'controlled all of the ice-making machines on the Strip' to poison Cuban leader Fidel Castro in 1960 and 1961."

What We Know

The claim regarding the CIA's collaboration with a Mafia figure to assassinate Fidel Castro is rooted in historical events documented in declassified CIA files. Notably, the CIA did indeed engage with organized crime figures, including Johnny Roselli, a member of the Las Vegas Syndicate, as part of their attempts to eliminate Castro during the early 1960s (source-1, source-4). Roselli was reported to have connections that could facilitate access to other Mafia bosses, which the CIA sought to exploit for their assassination plots (source-2).

The specific claim that Roselli "controlled all of the ice-making machines on the Strip" is a more colorful assertion that appears to stem from the CIA's internal discussions about using Mafia connections to carry out the assassination (source-2). While the CIA's plans included various methods to poison Castro, including the use of contaminated substances, the precise details of the ice-making machines are less clear and may be exaggerated or misinterpreted (source-5).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim is based on multiple declassified documents and credible sources that outline the CIA's collaboration with organized crime figures in attempts to assassinate Castro. The involvement of Johnny Roselli is well-documented, and his connections to the Las Vegas Mafia lend credibility to the assertion that he had significant influence in that area (source-6, source-7).

However, the specific claim about controlling ice-making machines may not be directly substantiated in the available documents. While it is true that the CIA explored various methods to poison Castro, the details surrounding the ice-making machines seem to be more anecdotal and lack robust documentation. This raises questions about the accuracy of that particular aspect of the claim (source-3).

Moreover, while the sources are generally credible, they vary in their level of detail and focus. Some sources provide a broad overview of the CIA's assassination attempts, while others delve into specific plots, which can lead to different interpretations of the same events (source-5, source-8).

Conclusion

The claim that the CIA worked with a high-ranking Mafia figure in Las Vegas to poison Fidel Castro is Partially True. The CIA did collaborate with Mafia figures like Johnny Roselli in attempts to assassinate Castro, which is well-documented. However, the specific assertion regarding control over ice-making machines on the Strip lacks direct evidence and may be an embellishment or misinterpretation of the broader context of the CIA's assassination plots.

Fact Check: The CIA worked with a 'high-ranking' Mafia figure in Las Vegas who 'controlled all of the ice-making machines on the Strip' to poison Cuban leader Fidel Castro in 1960 and 1961.