Avelino González-Claudio Explained

Avelino González-Claudio (October 8, 1942, Vega Baja, Puerto Rico – July 9, 2019) was a Puerto Rican independence activist who served time in a U.S. federal prison for his participation in an armored truck robbery planned by Los Macheteros.[1] Although the robbery took place in 1983, González-Claudio was not apprehended until 25 years later, in 2008. After pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, González-Claudio was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2010. He was released three years later, in 2013.

The robbery

On September 12, 1983, a Wells Fargo armored truck in Hartford, Connecticut, was robbed of more than $7 million.[2] The robbery, code-named "White Eagle", was "the largest cash heist in U.S. history" at the time of its commission.[3] [4]

Arrests

In 1985, González-Claudio was accused in absentia of having planned the robbery as a member of Los Macheteros.[5] González-Claudio was apprehended in 2008, after more than 20 years as a fugitive and during which time he had adopted an alias that allowed him to work as a teacher in Puerto Rico.[4] He pleaded guilty to conspiracy for robbery and, in 2010, was sentenced to seven years in prison.[6] [7] Prosecutors argued for the necessity of a substantial sentence in spite of González-Claudio's age and Parkinson's disease, fearing that he could still be influential in the Los Macheteros organization, as authorities had found in February 2008 "documents in Gonzalez-Claudio's home that they say showed he was still involved with the group."[8] Gonzalez-Claudio was released from prison on 5 February 2013.[9] During his time as a fugitive he communicated with his wife via correspondence.[10]

In May 2011, his brother Norberto González-Claudio was arrested for his participation in the robbery.[11] Norberto was released on January 15, 2015.[12]

Death

Avelino Gonzalez-Claudio died on July 9, 2019.[13]

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://laprensa-sandiego.org/editorial-and-commentary/commentary/the-incarceration-of-carlos-alberto-torres/ La Prensa San Diego. By Marjorie Cohn. The Incarceration of Carlos Alberto Torres: After 30 Years in Prison, the Puerto Rican Political Prisoner Will Be Freed.. Vol. XXXIII. July 30, 2010.
  2. Web site: No divulgan evidencia incautada en caso de machetero. 11 May 2011.
  3. http://www.economist.com/people/displayStory.cfm?story_id=4455267 Filiberto Ojeda Ríos (obituary)
  4. http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/puertorico/avelino-captured.htm The Hartford (Connecticut, USA) Courant. February 8, 2008. "Wells Fargo Fugitive Captured: Suspect Allegedly Transported Cash From $7 Million Robbery To Mexico" By Edmund H. Mahony, Courant Staff Writer
  5. Web site: FBI Fugitive - Avelino Gonzalez-Claudio . www.fbi.gov . 20 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040915083143/http://www.fbi.gov/mostwant/fugitive/sept2004/septclaudioa.htm . 15 September 2004 . dead.
  6. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/26/puerto-rican-nationalist-sentenced-years-wells-fargo-robbery-conn/ FoxNews. Puerto Rican nationalist sentenced to 7 years for 1983 Wells Fargo robbery in Conn. May 26, 2010.
  7. http://www.prdailysun.com/index.php?page=news.article&id=1279345592 Puerto Rico Daily Sun. Political prisoner to be released. July 17, 2010.
  8. http://articles.courant.com/2010-05-26/news/hc-wells-fargo-heist-0527-20100526_1_support-leftist-insurgencies-los-macheteros-wells-fargo-robbery Machetero The Hartford (Connecticut, USA), Courant. May 26, 2010. "Machetero Gets 7 Years For 1983 Wells Fargo Robbery" by Alaine Griffin, Courant Staff Writer
  9. http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=avelino&Middle=&LastName=gonzalez-claudio&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=0&y=0 U.S. Department of Justice. Federal Bureau of Prisons.
  10. News: Díaz Alcaida . Maritza . Tus noticias Escondido a plena vista . Primera Hora. PressReader.com . March 24, 2015. September 8, 2023. es.
  11. News: Marrero . Rosita . No divulgan evidencia incautada en caso de machetero . 20 October 2019 . Primera Hora . 11 May 2011 . es.
  12. Web site: Inmate Locator . BOP . February 28, 2021 . September 8, 2023.
  13. Web site: Muere el ex prisionero político Avelino González Claudio . El Nuevo Día . July 9, 2019 . es . September 8, 2023.

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