A federal judge ruled on Tuesday, April 15, that Avelino González Claudio, 65 years old, accused of having participated in a 1983 robbery of a deposit from armored cars, might flee, and thus must remain in jail without bail until his trial. Authorities said Claudio was one of more than 12 alleged members of the Puerto Rican independence group The Macheteros, which expropriated 7 million dollars from a Wells Fargo depot in West Hartford.
Family members offered collateral of real estate worth $500,000. However, Smith said that González remained a fugitive for 23 years, and that the robbery was the largest bank robbery in the history of the United States, making the charges “incredibly serious.” Victor Gerena and González’ brother, Norberto González Claudio, are the only suspects who remain fugitives.
