United States Customs Service Documents

_________________________________________________________

Department of the Treasury
United States Customs Service

Report of Investigation

To: Resident Agent in Charge Date: 021287
Subject: Finders

This office was contacted by the Tallahassee Police Department on February 5, 1987, who requested assistance in attempting to identify two adult males and six minor children, all taken into custody the previous day. The men, arrested and charged with multiple counts of child abuse, were being very evasive with police in the questions being asked of them pursuant the children and their condition.

This agent contacted SS/A, Bob Harrold, RAC/Reston, Virginia, and requested telephone
numbers and names of police persons in area police departments in an attempt to follow-up on two leads which were a Virginia license number and that the children had commented about living in a Washington, D.C., commune.

Subsequently, this office received a telephone call from the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan
Police Department inquiring about the men and children. This office put the MPD and the
TPD in contact with each other.

Walter F. Kreitlow II
Special Agent

Fredric D. Maiduk
Resident Agent in Charge

Office of Enforcement
227 N. Bronough St. Rm 6045
Tallahassee, FL 32301

DETAILS OF INVESTIGATION:

On Thursday, February 5, 1987, this office was contacted via telephone by Sergeant JoAnn
VanMETER of the Tallahassee Police Department, Juvenile Division. Sgt. VanMETER
requested assistance in identifying two adult males and six minor children ages 7 years to
2 years.

The adult males were tentatively identified by TPD as Michael HOULIHAN and Douglas
AMMERMAN, both of Washington, D.C. who were arrested the previous day on charges of
child abuse.

The police had received an anonymous telephone call relative two well-dressed white men
wearing suits and ties in Myers Park, (Tallahassee), apparently watching six dirty and
unkempt children in the playground area. HOULIHAN and AMMERMAN were near a 1980 Blue
Dodge van bearing Virginia license number XHW-557, the inside of which was later
described as foul-smelling filled with maps, books, letters, with a mattress situated to the
rear of the van which appeared as if it were used as a bed, and the overall appearance of
the van gave the impression that all eight persons were living in it.

The children were covered with insect bites, were very dirty, most of the children were not
wearing underwear and all of the children had not been bathed in many days.

The men were arrested and charged with multiple counts of child abuse and lodged in the
Leon County Jail. Once in custody the men were somewhat evasive in their answers to the
police regarding the children and stated only that they both were the children's teachers
and that all were enroute to Mexico to establish a school for brilliant children.

The children tentatively were identified as Mary (deleted), white female, age 7; (deleted)
LIVINGSTON, white male, age 6; (deleted) FRANKLIN, white male, age 4; (deleted) EVANS,
white female, age 3; B.B., white male, age 2; and that they lived in tents in a commune in
the Washington, D.C., area and were going to Mexico to go to a school for smart kids.

This office contacted the Office of the RAC/DC and spoke with SS/A Bob Harrold. This agent
requested telephone numbers and names of police persons in area departments that might
be aware of said activities described by the children and to follow-up on leads which were
the Virginia license number and a check on the men's names with local law enforcement.

A short time later this office was contacted by Detective, Jim Bradley of the Washington,
D.C., Metropolitan Police Department. Bradley indicated that the case here in Tallahassee
appeared to be strongly related to a case he was currently working in the Washington, D.C.
area.

He stated that the actions of the two men in custody in Tallahassee relative the children
just might give his case enough probable cause for search warrants to search premises
occupied by a cult group called FINDERS.

This agent directed Bradley to telephone TPD and discuss with police directly any activities
forthcoming relative the instant case. At this time it was determined that there was no
Customs violations found to exist and therefore, this case is being closed pending receipt
of additional information.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY LESD/TECS: Create a permanent DRR/TECS record.

IDENTIFYING DATA/TECS-FIN QUERIES:
______________

To: Resident Agent in Charge Date: 02/07/87
From: Special Agent

Subject: Customs cooperation/interest in Tallahassee/Washington
MPD child abuse investigation.

On Thursday, 2/5/87, the duty agent, SS/A Bob Harrold, received a call from SS/A Walter
Krietlow, USCS, Tallahassee, Florida. SS/A Kreitlow was seeking assistance in contacting an
appropriate local police agency to coordinate a child abuse investigation in with the
Tallahassee Police Department. SS/A Krietlow further requested assistance in checking
some names, addresses and a vehicle through the Customs Child Pornography Unit data
base, and stated there was some suspicion of the subjects being involved in supplying
children for the production of child pornography. Further, he was informed by the
Tallahassee Police Department that the children may have been enroute to Mexico from the
Washington, D.C. area. The possibility of Customs interest in the investigation due to
possible violations of the Child Protection Act of 1984, and the alleged nexus with the
U.S./Mexican Border were discussed and agreed upon. SS/A Krietlow related the following
background information. SS/A Krietlow was contacted by the Tallahassee Police Department
for assistance in identifying six children and two adults taken into custody in the
Tallahassee area. U.S. Customs was contacted because the police officers involved
suspected the adults of being involved in child pornography and knew the Customs Service
to have a network of child pornography investigators, and of the existence of the Child
Pornography and Protection Unit. SS/A Krietlow stated the two adults were well dressed
white males. They had custody of six white children (boys and girls), ages three to six
years. The children were observed to be poorly dressed, bruised, dirty, and behaving like
wild animals in a public park in Tallahassee. The police were notified by a concerned citizen
and all eight persons were taken into custody. The subjects were living out of a white 1979
Dodge van, Virginia license no. XHW 557. Upon being taken into custody, the adult white
males refused to cooperate, one of whom produced a "business" card with a name on one
side and a statement on the other. The statement indicated that the bearer knew his
constitutional rights to remain silent and that he intended to do so. Upon interviewing the
children, the police officers found that they could not adequately identify themselves or
their custodians. Further, they stated that they were enroute to Mexico to attend a school
for "smart kids." SS/A Kreitlow was further advised the children were unaware of the
function and purpose of telephones, televisions and toilets, and that the children had
stated they were not allowed to live indoors and were only given food as a reward.

After receiving the request from Tallahassee, SS/A Harrold contacted me while I was on
official business at Customs Headquarters. He requested that I conduct computer checks on
the Customs Child Pornography Unit data base. The checks were to be conducted on the
names, addresses, and a vehicle provided by SS/A Krietlow. After conducting the computer
checks, I made direct contact with SS/A Krietlow to inform him that all the checks were
negative. At that time I was informed by SS/A Krietlow that the Tallahassee police had
discovered large quantities of records, to include computer discs and a U.S. passport in the
van. From some of these records the police had obtained tentative identification of the two
adults, and partial identification of the children. Furthermore, the two Washington, D.C.
addresses had been discovered through these documents, one of which was verified through
the vehicle registration. I advised SS/A Krietlow I was leaving Headquarters and he would
be receiving a response to the remainder of his request from SS/A Harrold. I then left as
stated and proceeded to conduct other business in the District.

A short time later, at approximately 11:30 a.m., SS/A Harrold contacted me by radio, and
advised me that a Detective Jim Bradley of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police
Department (MPD) was interested in the information provided by SS/A Krietlow, was in
contact with Tallahassee, and would very probably be conducting search warrants in the
area later in the day. He also informed me that U.S. Customs was invited to participate due
to the continuing possibility of violations of law enforced by the Customs Service. As I was
already in Washington, I terminated my other business and proceeded to make contact with
Detective Bradley, Intelligence Division, MPD.

Upon contacting Detective Bradley, I learned that he had initiated an investigation on the
two addresses provided by the Tallahassee Police Dept. during December of 1986. An
informant had given him information regarding a cult, known as the "Finders" operating
various businesses out of a warehouse located at 1307 4th St., N.E., and were supposed to
be housing children at 3918/3920 W St., N.W. The information was specific in describing
"blood rituals" and sexual orgies involving children, and an as yet unsolved murder in which
the Finders may be involved. With the information provided by the informant, Detective
Bradley was able to match some of the children in Tallahassee with names of children
known alleged to be in the custody of the Finders. Furthermore, Bradley was able to match
the tentative ID of the adults with known members of the Finders. I stood by while Bradley
consulted with AUSA Harry Benner and obtained search warrants for the two premises. I
advised acting RAC SS/A Tim Halloran of my intention to accompany MPD on the execution
of the warrants, received his permission, and was joined by SS/A Harrold. SS/A Harrold
accompanied the team which went to 1307 4th St, and I went to 3918/20 W St.

During the execution of the warrant at 3918/20 W St., I was able to observe and access the
entire building. I saw large quantities of children's clothing and toys. The clothing
consisting of diapers and clothes in the toddler to pre-school range. No children were found
on the premises. There were several subjects on the premises. Only one was deemed to be
connected with the Finders. The rest were renting living space from this individual. He was
identified as Stuart Miles SILVERSTONE, DOB/061941, U.S. Passport No. (deleted).
SILVERSTONE was located in a room equipped with several computers, printers, and
numerous documents. Cursory examination of the documents revealed detailed instructions
for obtaining children for unspecified purposes. The instructions included the impregnation
of female members of the community known as the Finders, purchasing children, trading,
and kidnapping. There were telex messages using MCI account numbers between a
computer terminal believed to be located in the same room, and others located across the
country and in foreign locations. One such telex specifically ordered the purchase of two
children in Hong Kong to be be arranged through a contact in the Chinese Embassy there.
Another telex expressed interest in "bank secrecy" situations. Other documents identified
interests in high-tech transfers to the United Kingdom, numerous properties under the
control of the Finders, a keen interest in terrorism, explosives, and the evasion of law
enforcement. Also found in the "computer room" was a detailed summary of the events
surrounding the arrest and taking into custody of the two adults and six children in
Tallahassee the previous night. There were also a set of instructions which appeared to be
broadcast via a computer network which advised the participants to move "the children" and
keep them moving through different jurisdictions, and instructions on how to avoid police
attention.

One of the residents was identified as a Chinese National. Due to the telex discovered
referencing the Chinese Embassy in Hong Kong, he was fully identified for future reference:
WANG/Gengxin, DOB/092747, POB/Tianjin, People's Republic of China Passport No.
(deleted), entered the U.S. on January 22, 1987, admitted until December 31, 1987. He is
in the U.S. as a graduate student in the Anatomy Department of Georgetown University. His
Visa was issued on November 10, 1986, in London, England, number 00143.

During the course of the evening, I contacted Sector 4 to initiate a TECS check on
SILVERSTONE, and initiate an archives check on him for the last four years. I also contacted
SS/A Halloran to keep him advised of the proceedings and asked for and received
permission to contact SS/A John Sullivan of the CPPU to query some names through the
CPPU data base. SS/A Halloran told me he would call Southeast Region Headquarters to
keep them posted on the proceedings as well. I later contacted SS/A Sullivan for the stated
purpose, and in the discussion that followed I gave him some background on the purpose of
the request. I advised him that the information was not for dissemination at Headquarters,
that Region was being notified, and that Region would probably contact Headquarters later
if deemed necessary. SS/A Sullivan assured me that the information would go no further
until official notification was made by Region. No positive matches were obtained from the
CPPU data base. I was later joined at the W Street address by SS/A Harrold. SS/A Harrold
advised me that there were extremely large quantities of documents and computer
equipment at the warehouse, and that MPD was posting officers inside the building there
and sealing the building until morning, in which a second warrant for that premises would
be obtained and executed. SS/A Harrold also advised me that the news media had been
notified and had been waiting for the execution of the warrant at the 4th Street address.
Detective Bradley later stated that the MPD Public Information Officer had been contacted
by a Tallahassee reporter. When it became apparent that the PIO had no information on
the search warrants, the reporter contacted local media representatives and a check of
public records containing the affidavits for the search warrants disclosed the locations and
purpose of the warrants. Detective Bradley surmised that someone on the Tallahassee
Police Department was the original source of the information for the press. I advised SS/A
Halloran of the involvement of the press, and he stated that he would, in turn, relay the
information to Region. SS/A Harrold and I assisted in the transport of the evidence seized
pursuant to the warrant and cleared MPD after the press left the area.

On Friday, 2/6/87, I met Detective Bradley at the warehouse on 4th Street, N.E. I duly
advised my acting group supervisor, SS/A Don Bludworth. I was again granted unlimited
access to the premises. I was able to observe numerous documents which described explicit
sexual conduct between the members of the community known as Finders. I also saw a
large collection of photographs of unidentified persons. Some of the photographs were
nudes, believed to be of members of the Finders. There were numerous photos of children,
some nude, at least one of which was a photo of a child "on display" and appearing to
accent the child's genitals. I was only able to examine a very small amount of the photos
at this time. However, one of the officers presented me with a photo album for my review.
The album contained a series of photos of adults and children dressed in white sheets
participating in a "blood ritual." The ritual centered around the execution of at least two
goats. The photos portrayed the execution, disembowelment, skinning and dismemberment
of the goats at the hands of the children. This included the removal of the testes of a male
goat, the discovery of a female goat's "womb" and the "baby goats" inside the womb, and
the presentation of a goat's head to one of the children.

Further inspection of the premises disclosed numerous files relating to activities of the
organization in different parts of the world. Locations I observed are as follows: London,
Germany, the Bahamas, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Africa, Costa Rica, and "Europe."
There was also a file identified as "Palestinian." Other files were identified by member
name or "project" name. The projects appearing to be operated for commercial purposes
under front names for the Finders. There was one file entitled "Pentagon Break-In," and
others referring to members operating in foreign countries. Not observed by me but related
by an MPD officer were intelligence files on private families not related to the Finders. The
process undertaken appears to be have been a systematic response to local newspaper
advertisements for babysitters, tutors, etc. A member of the Finders would respond and
gather as much information as possible about the habits, identity, occupation, etc., of the
family. The use to which this information was to be put is still unknown. There was also a
large amount of data collected on various child care organizations.

The warehouse contained a large library, two kitchens, a sauna, hot-tub, and a "video
room." The video room seemed to be set up as an indoctrination center. It also appeared
that that the organization had the capability to produce its own videos. There were what
appeared to be training areas for children and what appeared to be an altar set up in a
residential area of the warehouse. Many jars of urine and feces were located in this area.

I should also mention that both premises were equipped with satellite dish antennas.

I discussed the course of action to be taken by MPD with Detective Bradley. He stated that
he was only interested in making the child abuse case(s). I was assured that all of the
evidence would be available to U.S. Customs in furtherance of any investigative/criminal
action pursued. MPD personnel were to begin around the clock review and sorting of the
evidence until completed. Customs will have access after this is accomplished. This will
include several U.S. Passports discovered during the search.

Upon leaving the 4th Street premises, I encountered a news media representative and was
asked the reason behind U.S. Customs involvement in the investigation. I advised the
reporter that I could not discuss anything and I referred her to the PAO/DC. I left
immediately thereafter.

There is no further information available at this time. It will take three to five days for all
the information to be sorted, reviewed and logged by the MPD. I will maintain contact with
Detective Bradley until the evidence is again accessible.

Respectfully submitted,

Ramon J. Martinez
Special Agent, USCS

__________

To: Resident Agent in Charge Date: 04/13/87

On Thursday, February 5, 1987, Senior Special Agent Harrold and I assisted the Washington
D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) with two search warrants involving the possible
sexual exploitation of children. During the course of the search warrants, numerous
documents were discovered which appeared to be concerned with international trafficking in
children, high tech transfer to the United Kingdom, and international transfer of currency.

DETAILS OF INVESTIGATION:

On March 31, 1987, I contacted Detective Jim Bradley of the Washington, DC Metropolitan
Police Department (MPD). I was to meet with Detective Bradley to review the documents
seized pursuant to two search warrants executed in January, 1987. The meeting was to
take place on April 2 or 3, 1987.

On April 2, 1987, I arrived at MPD at approximately 9:00 a.m. Detective Bradley was not
available. I spoke to a third party who was willing to discuss the case with me on a strictly
"off the record" basis.

I was advised that all the passport data had been turned over to the State Department for
their investigation. The State Department in turn, advised the MPD that all travel and use
of the passports by the holders of the passports was within the law and no action would be
taken. This included travel to Moscow, North Korea, and North Vietnam from the late 1950s
to mid 1970s.

The individual further advised me of circumstances which indicated that the investigation
into the activity of the Finders had become a CIA internal matter. The MPD report has been
classified SECRET and was not available for review. I was advised that the FBI had
withdrawn from the investigation several weeks prior and that the FBI Foreign Counter
Intelligence Division had directed MPD not to advise the FBI Washington Field Office of
anything that had transpired.

No further information will be available. No further action will be taken.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY LESD/TECS:

No action to be taken on the basis of this report.

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