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gh March 28, 1974 —- aa ~g ° * GENERAL INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION eS ns Oar This concerns a new Civil Rights investigation to be conducted by our Sacramento Division involving United Farm Workers (UFW) in California. On 3/27/74, Mr. William L. Gardner, Civil Rights Division, U. S. Department of Justice, advised he had been contacted by attorney Jerry Cohen, UFW, Bakersfield, California, who advised he, in turn, had been contacted by a Fred Schwartz who allegedly represented one of three persons responsible for a number of burglaries of UFW offices in California during the past year. Schwartz offered to sell to the UFW certain documents and literature obtained during these robberies for a sum of $35,000 and indicated persons conducting robberies reported to John Harmer, a California State legislator and to the California Council of Growers. Cohen had delayed responding to Schwartz's offer and arranged to have Schwartz recontact him 3/29/74. Department requested investigation be conducted under possible violation Title 18, U. S. Code, Section 241, involving a conspiracy to deny UFW rights guaranteed by labor law statutes. They requested Cohen be interviewed for full details; attempts be made for Agents to observe future meetings between Cohen and Schwartz; that Cohen be interviewed immediately following meeting with Schwartz; and attempts be made to identify true identity of Schwartz. They requested no dissemination of information be made to local authorities at this time. Sacramento Division was advised to conduct the requested investigation. The attached advises attempts to contact Cohen 3/27/74 negative; however, he will be available for interview 3/28/74. They have been instructed to sutel summary of Cohen's interview. Matter being followed closely and you will be kept advised of pertinent developments. \7 yt