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Richard G. Held
FBI Special Agent in Charge (SAC), Multiple Field Offices
Career FBI official who directed COINTELPRO operations against the American Indian Movement and oversaw some of the Bureau's most controversial domestic operations
Overview
Richard G. Held was a career FBI official and son of Richard Wallace Held, also a senior FBI agent, creating a father-son dynasty within the Bureau. The younger Held served as Special Agent in Charge of multiple FBI field offices and was directly involved in some of the most controversial FBI domestic operations of the 1970s and 1980s. He directed FBI operations on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota during the mid-1970s, a period marked by extreme violence, the deaths of over 60 Native Americans, and the controversial prosecution of American Indian Movement leader Leonard Peltier for the killing of two FBI agents. Held later served as SAC of the San Francisco field office, where he oversaw the investigation into the 1990 car bombing of environmental activist Judi Bari, an investigation widely criticized for targeting the victim rather than pursuing the actual bomber. His career exemplified the FBI's pattern of using counterintelligence techniques developed under COINTELPRO against domestic political movements long after the program was officially terminated in 1971.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
PINE RIDGE OPERATIONS: Served as ranking FBI official on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota during 1975-1976, a period known as the "Reign of Terror" in which over 60 Native Americans were killed. FBI operations on the reservation have been characterized as a continuation of COINTELPRO tactics against the American Indian Movement.
LEONARD PELTIER PROSECUTION: Oversaw FBI operations that led to the arrest and prosecution of AIM leader Leonard Peltier for the deaths of FBI agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams at Pine Ridge on June 26, 1975. The prosecution has been widely criticized for alleged fabrication of evidence, coerced witness testimony, and suppression of ballistic evidence. Peltier spent nearly 50 years in prison and the case became an international cause celebre.
JUDI BARI INVESTIGATION: As SAC of the San Francisco field office, directed the investigation into the May 24, 1990 car bombing of Earth First! organizer Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney. Rather than investigating the bombing as an attack on the activists, Held's office arrested Bari and Cherney, accusing them of transporting explosives. Charges were dropped; Bari and Cherney won a $4.4 million civil rights verdict against the FBI in 2002.
COINTELPRO CONTINUATION: Career spanning the 1960s through 1990s showed consistent pattern of using counterintelligence techniques against domestic political movements, suggesting COINTELPRO tactics continued long after the program was officially terminated in 1971.
DYNASTY OF REPRESSION: Both Richard G. Held and his father, Richard Wallace Held, served as senior FBI officials involved in COINTELPRO and related operations, creating an unusual father-son dynasty within the Bureau's domestic intelligence apparatus.
WITNESS INTIMIDATION ALLEGATIONS: Multiple witnesses in the Peltier case and related Pine Ridge prosecutions alleged FBI agents under Held's command used threats, physical intimidation, and coercion to obtain statements and testimony.
OGLALA SIEGE: Involved in FBI response during the 71-day occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973 and subsequent prosecutions, which were marked by government misconduct so severe that charges against AIM leaders Dennis Banks and Russell Means were dismissed by the judge.
Related Investigations (1)
Criminal Charges & Violations
5 documented violations
18 U.S.C. 241Conspiracy Against Rights: Directed FBI operations that systematically violated the civil rights of Native American activists and environmentalists(Civil Rights Violations)
18 U.S.C. 242Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law: Used official FBI authority to target political activists for surveillance, harassment, and false prosecution(Civil Rights Violations)
42 U.S.C. 1983Civil Rights Violation: $4.4 million verdict against FBI in Bari v. Held for false arrest and First Amendment retaliation(Civil Rights)
18 U.S.C. 1512Witness Tampering: Allegations of coerced testimony from witnesses in Peltier prosecution(Federal Crimes)
18 U.S.C. 1001False Statements: Allegations of fabricated evidence presented in Peltier trial(Federal Crimes)
Known Associates & Connections
J. Edgar Hoover
FBI Director who established the COINTELPRO framework Held continued to implement
William C. Sullivan
FBI Assistant Director who directed COINTELPRO during overlapping period of service
Mark Felt
FBI Deputy Director during Pine Ridge operations
Leonard Peltier
AIM leader prosecuted and convicted based on investigation Held directed
Sources & Documentation
4 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- 1927
Education
Key Timeline
1927
Born; son of FBI official Richard Wallace Held
1950s
Joins the FBI, following his father into the Bureau
1973-02
Involved in FBI response to the 71-day occupation of Wounded Knee on Pine Ridge Reservation
1975-06-26
FBI agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams killed in shootout at Pine Ridge; Held oversees subsequent investigation
1975-1976
Directs FBI operations on Pine Ridge Reservation during period of extreme violence against Native Americans
1977-04
Leonard Peltier convicted of murder of the two FBI agents based on prosecution Held directed; sentenced to two consecutive life terms
1980s
Promoted to SAC of the San Francisco FBI field office
1990-05-24
Directs investigation of car bombing of Judi Bari; FBI arrests victims rather than pursuing bomber
1990-07
Criminal charges against Bari and Cherney dropped due to lack of evidence
1993
Retires from FBI after career spanning four decades
2002
Jury awards $4.4 million to Bari estate and Cherney in civil rights lawsuit against FBI (Bari v. Held)
2014
Dies