Sacramento report re Robert Wesley Jones, aka Robert Wesley Rackstraw, UFAP/NSF checks

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Sacramento, California February 3, 1978

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ROBERT WESLEY JONES, Also Known as Robert Wesley Rackstraw, R. L. Boehner, [redacted] Gary Miller

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On January 3, 1978, an authorized complaint was filed by Special Agent [REDACTED] before U. S. Magistrate E. Dean Price, Modesto, California, charging subject as Robert W. Rackstraw, with violation of Title 18, U. S. Code, Section 1073, in that on or about December 9, 1977, he did flee the State of California, to avoid prosecution for the felony of issuing non-sufficient fund checks. Federal warrant issued same date and in hands of U. S. Marshal, Eastern District of California, Sacramento, California. Bail recommended in the amount of $100,000.

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On February 2, 1978, [REDACTED] Stockton, California, Police Department, telephone number 209-944-8323, advised that captioned individual opened a checking account under the false name of R. L. Boehner at the Wells Fargo Bank, Cupertino, California, and on December 4, 1977, wrote a non-sufficient funds check on that account in the amount of $32,400 to 3R Engineering. He also opened a false account at the Crocker National Bank in Downey, California, in the name of Gary Miller, and on December 3, 1977, wrote a non-sufficient funds check (NSF) in the amount of $21,640 payable to 3R Engineering. On

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5-[REDACTED] 2-San Antonio 2-[REDACTED] 2-[REDACTED] 2-Honolulu [REDACTED] 2-[REDACTED] WLL:js 2-Mobile (23)[REDACTED] 2-[REDACTED]

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This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency nor duplicated within your agency.

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sub -733-1 164-81-7806 DB Cooper-15948

ROBERT WESLEY JONES

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December 7, 1977, he deposited both of the above non- sufficient fund checks to his account at the Union Safe Bank, Lockeford, California. On December 8, 1977, he withdrew $25,000 from this account, part of which was in American Express Money Orders bearing serial numbers RG 89-801-260, 270, 280, and 88-942-800.

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[REDACTED] advised that subject similarly made other false check deposits to an account he maintained at the Security Pacific National Bank, North Stockton Branch, 6530 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, California, and on December 8, 1977, he made a withdrawal there of $50,940.00.

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In addition the Stockton Police Department located 150 pounds of high explosives in storage by subject at Stockton and determined that he also had shipped fifty electric blasting caps and a one thousand foot roll of detonator cord to an ex-Army buddy in San Antonio, Texas, [REDACTED] advised [REDACTED] is under investigation there by a task force as subject was a suspect in the theft of high explosives at the Felton Quarry, near Santa Cruz, California, on February 21, 1975, a portion of which were found by the FBI when they arrested [REDACTED] of the New World Liberation Front at Richmond, California, in early 1976.

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[REDACTED] advised that when the explosives were found in Rackstraw's effects at Stockton, California, in mid- January, 1978, they also discovered 25 rifles and handguns and over 3,000 rounds of ammunition. Papers in his effects noted he had been trained as an Army Green Beret and was skilled in guerrilla warfare.

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On February 2, 1978, [REDACTED] [REDACTED] California Highway Patrol, Stockton, California, telephone number [REDACTED] advised he located a Drott Crawler Excavator, valued at about $75,000 when it was stolen in 1976, at San Jose, California, among the equipment operated by subject in Calaveras County, California, and is seeking a warrant for subject's arrest.

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DB Cooper-1549

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2

ROBERT WESLEY JONES

On February 2, 1978, [REDACTED] California, telephone number [REDACTED] advised she and at least one other couple have been swindled out of money they furnished to Bob Rackstraw [REDACTED] They have furnished the details of this fraud to [REDACTED] State of California Consumer Affairs [REDACTED] San Andreas, California, telephone

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By communication dated January 27, 1978, the Dallas Office of the FBI reported they had located captioned individual as currently employed in Iran by Bell Helicopter International. Bell employed him on January 6, 1978, and by January 13, 1978, he was in Iran. He is currently living at the Couroush Hotel, Isfahan, Iran, and has Bell Employee number 5238 as Robert Wesley Rackstraw. His work location is known to the American Embassy, Teheran, Iran, and to the Bell Director of Security in Iran, [REDACTED]

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On February 2, 1978, District Attorney Joseph Baker, San Joaquin County, Stockton, California, advised he is requesting extradition of subject from Iran through the Governor of California. He understands Governor Brown will ask the U. S. State Department to arrange for subject's return to the U. S. He hopes at the time of his arrest in Iran subject will be asked about the location of the stolen assets and the possible involvement of subject in the murder and/or disappearance of his stepfather, Phil Rackstraw.

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Subject is described as follows:

Name Robert Wesley Jones Also known as, Robert Wesley Rackstraw an alias he has used most of his life. Sex Male Race Caucasian Born October 16, 1943, at Cleveland, Ohio, and has falsely used October 16, 1940, at Santa Cruz, California Height 6'1"

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DB Cooper-15950

ROBERT WESLEY JONES

Weight 192 pounds Hair Brown, receding at temples Eyes Green Social Security Account Number 546-54-1279 California driver's license H887157 U. S. Passport Number B1155169

[REDACTED BOX]

[REDACTED BOX]

Occupation Has employee number 5258 for Bell Helicopter International at Isfahan, Iran. Prior Occupations Claimed to be associated with 3R Engineering, Cal Trans or California Trans Copters, Fargo Graphics & Printing, Cal-Motive Engineering, Courtesy Parking, Los Angeles, California. Reportedly is a qualified pilot for helicopters, single and multi-engined aircraft. Relatives Mother, Lucille Rackstraw, deceased. Stepfather, Phil Rackstraw, who formerly was a business partner of subject and whose whereabouts has been unknown for several months prior to date subject fled California

[REDACTED BOX]

4 DB Cooper-15951

ROBERT WESLEY JONES

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Relatives (Cont)

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b6 b7C

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Military records concerning Rackstraw reveal he received a discharge under honorable conditions on June 21, 1971, because of resignation in lieu of elimination because of unfitness or unacceptable conduct. He was a 1st Lieutenant in the U. S. Army at the time of discharge. Examination of his background by the Army showed he had been convicted and placed on probation for burglary on two occasions, April 14, 1958, and December 20, 1957, and had also been arrested for using false identification and destruction of jail property on October 23, 1963, which resulted in his bail forfeiture of $144.00, on November 4, 1963. Rackstraw also falsely claimed college degrees when filling out applications to the Army. He also admitted to the Army that he had been arrested by Military Police on August 4, 1969, for wrongful appropriation of Military property in the taking of a ¼ ton truck in Huloi, Republic of Viet Nam. He received training in weapons, explosives, and hand-to-hand combat while in the Military. In one statement to the Army he wrote, "I can only hope that I will never use the training and education the Army gave me against the Army itself, as I would be a formidable advisary."

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5

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DB Cooper-15952

ROBERT WESLEY JONES

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LEAD:

It is requested that subject be located in Iran and returned to the U. S., along with any cash assets. At time of arrest he should be advised of his rights and questioned concerning his fraudulent activities and the possible murder of his stepfather.

APPROACH WITH CAUTION AS SUBJECT TRAINED IN KARATE AND USE OF FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES.

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DB Cooper-15953

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