Filiberto Ojeda Ríos
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Filiberto Ojeda Ríos
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Filiberto Ojeda Ríos (April 26, 1933 – September 23, 2005) was the "Responsible General" of the Boricua Popular Army, or Ejército Popular Boricua – Los Macheteros, a clandestine paramilitary organization based on the island of Puerto Rico, with branches throughout the United States and other countries. Los Macheteros is a minority political group that campaigns for and supports the independence of Puerto Rico from what they characterize as an oppressive U.S. colonial rule that has lasted 107 years.
Ojeda Ríos was wanted by the FBI for his role in the 1983 Wells Fargo depot robbery in West Hartford, Connecticut, as well as bond default in September 1990.
Ojeda Rios died, at the age of 72, during an FBI operation to arrest him on September 23, 2005. Although the details of the incident remain unclear, reports indicate that federal agents surrounded Ojeda's clandestine house in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico, but were received with gunshots which hit three FBI Agents, critically injuring one. Alledgedly, Federal agents fired and killed Ojeda and arrested and injured his wife.
His death has caused mourning and protests among the militant wing of the Puerto Rican Independence movement. [1] Members of the statehood movement and supporters of the Commonwealth also criticized the Federal and local management of this case, and have questioned Ojeda's death.
Biography
Ojeda Ríos was born April 26, 1933 in Naguabo, Puerto Rico. An amateur musician, he played trumpet and guitar.
In 1961, he moved his family from Puerto Rico to Cuba and joined the General Intelligence Directorate (DGI), (G2) the Cuban intelligence service. A year later he returned to Puerto Rico, allegedly to spy on the United States military.
In 1967 he founded and led the very first of Puerto Rico's new militant political groups, the Armed Revolutionary Independence Movement (MIRA). The organization was disbanded by police in the early 1970s and Ríos was arrested. He subsequently skipped bail and moved to New York, organizing the Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN) with former MIRA members as a membership base.
In 1976, Ojeda Ríos renamed the FALN to the Boricua Popular Army—or Ejército Popular Boricua in Spanish—also known as Los Macheteros ("The Machete Wielders").
On September 12, 1983, Los Macheteros stole approximately $7 million from a Wells Fargo depot in West Hartford, Connecticut. In the course of the heist, Ojeda Ríos was confronted from a distance by law enforcement officials, and allegedly fired upon them. This was never confirmed. The money obtained from this operation was allegedly used to help fund the Puerto Rican independence movement. A portion of this money is also alleged to have been used to help disadvantaged Puerto Ricans in a tactic reminiscent of Robin Hood. Dressed as the "Three Magi" (the Puerto Rican version of "Santa Claus") they brought Christmas gifts to the children of New York's Spanish Harlem neighborhood. To the U.S. government they are viewed as terrorists, but it depends on who you ask. To Puerto Ricans, they represent the last vestiges of a struggle for Puerto Rican Sovereign Rule. Even George Washington was considered a terrorist by the British at one time.
In 1985, 19 members of Los Macheteros were indicted for offenses associated with the Wells Fargo heist. Fourteen were convicted after trial; one was acquitted. Charges against another were dismissed. Three, including Ojeda Ríos and Victor Manuel Gerena, were able to elude authorities.
In 1989, Ojeda Ríos chose to defend himself in court against charges of assaulting one of the officers during his arrest. He was acquitted on self defense grounds.
In July 1992, Ojeda Ríos was sentenced in absentia to 55 years in prison and fined $600,000 for his role in the Wells Fargo heist.
Death
On September 23, 2005, the same day as "Grito de Lares (Lares Cry)" members of the FBI surrounded a house in Plan Bonito Hormigueros, Puerto Rico where Ojeda Ríos was believed to be hiding. Some shots were fired from inside and outside the house, wounding an FBI agent and fataly wounding Filiberto Ojeda Ríos but this information is yet unknown.
The Superintedant of the Police, Pedro Toledo Dávila, confirmed through WAPA radio that the former Most Wanted fugitive was dead. The Government of Puerto Rico also confirmed the information. However, the FBI has not released any confirmation regarding Ojeda's death. What is known is that local law enforcement was requested to help seal off the farm where the operation took place, effectively sealing out the media.
On September 24, 2005 the FBI contacted the Governor of Puerto Rico to confirm his death. The circumstances of his death are still unclear and sectors of the Puerto Rican government are questioning the intentions of the FBI agents during the operation. Sectors of the independence movement in Puerto Rico have called the operation a "political assasiantion". (2)
Members of all political parties at Puerto Rico have criticized how this case was handled, and have questioned the selection of the 23rd of september for the operation since it is a special day for Puerto Ricans, the "Grito the Lares". The "Grito de Lares" celebrates Puerto Rican resistance to the Spanish Empire.
A Puerto Rico Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, has called "improper" and "highly irregular" the FBI actions related to Ojeda's death and has demanded explanations of why his government was not informed of the operation and why the press of the island was not allowed to cover the operation.
Scene of the FBI Operation
Filiberto Ojeda Rios was killed by one gunshot on the right clavicle that exited on his lower back piercing his lungs, while in a shootout with the FBI. The forensic investigators and his doctor, Héctor Pesquera, speculate that this was not a type of wound that would have killed Ojeda immediately. There is a theory that he was left bleeding to death, and that the shots were fired by a sniper.
At the time of death, the revolutionary leader had on a bulletproof vest, and was dressed on camouflaged pants and hat, said the government officials. He was with his wife at the time.
Ojeda Rios body was found lying face down, just in front of the door of the rural residence where he was hiding. At his right side, a pistol was found by the forensic investigators. More than 20 bullet casings where found at the crime scene, including some AR-15 shells.
The investigators observed two bullet holes that came from the outside of the residence, both to the side of the main entrance door. Only on the back of the residence another bullet hole was found, this one facing to the outside.
It has been told that FBI agents are still on the crime scene investigating a series of documents that where left burning on cement wall that simulates a BBQ fogón.
Local authorities have been allowed inside the residence after more than 27 hours since the beginning of this operative.
The FBI claims that it was after one of there agents got shot that they open fire against the 72 year old Ojeda. After that, a perimeter was established by the local police and no person was allowed to enter the area by land or air. Attempts of a local news crew of getting closer with a chopper were unsuccessful after being threatened that they were trespassing federal airspace and they will be handled with deadly force if necessary.
During the operation to capture Ojeda, his wife was arrested and a federal agent received a wound to the stomach, said the FBI. Elma Beatriz Rosado, Ojeda's widow, was released from federal custody later on the afternoon of September 24. She said his last words were pa’lante siempre, when she left him alive.
FBI PRESS RELEASE
September 24, 2005
Luis S. Fraticelli, Special Agent in Charge, San Juan Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI, is providing the following information regarding the attempted capture of Filiberto Ojeda-Rios (Ojeda-Rios):
On August 30 , 1985 , a federal grand jury indicted Ojeda-Rios, the proclaimed leader of the Ejercito Popular Boricua-Macheteros. Ojeda-Rios and several other members of Los Macheteros were indicted for robbery and transportation of stolen money stemming from the September 12 , 1983 robbery of approximately $7 million from Wells Fargo Armored Services Corporation , in West Hartford, Connecticut .
While free on bond awaiting trial on these original charges, Ojeda-Rios fled and became a fugitive from justice. In his absence, Ojeda-Rios was convicted and sentenced to 55 years in prison.
On September 25 , 1990 , an arrest warrant was issued by the United States District Court of Connecticut charging Ojeda-Rios with having violated Title 18, United States Code (USC), Section 3148 (Bond Default).
On September 20 , 2005 , the FBI developed information regarding the whereabouts of Ojeda-Rios. On that same day, the FBI began conducting surveillance and a tactical operation in the Hormigueros area of Puerto Rico in an effort to confirm the exact whereabouts of Ojeda-Rios. Subsequently, it was determined that Ojeda-Rios was present at a Hormigueros residence/farm house.
On September 23 , 2005 , FBI agents were conducting surveillance of the Hormigueros farm house when it was determined that their presence had been detected. Because the operation potentially had been compromised, the FBI agents decided to go ahead and execute the warrant for the arrest of Ojeda-Rios. As the FBI agents approached the front of the farm house at approximately 4:28 p.m., Ojeda-Rios opened the front door to the residence and opened fire on the FBI agents. As a result, one FBI agent was shot and severely wounded. Two other FBI agents were shot, although they were not wounded because of their protective equipment.
In response to the gunfire from Ojeda-Rios, the FBI returned fire and established a defensive perimeter in order to contain the environment.
At three separate points in time, gunfire was fired at the FBI agents from the direction of the residence. Because of the ongoing gunfire, FBI decided not to enter the residence. The FBI also was aware that Ojeda-Rios and Los Macheteros both have a history of possessing explosives. For safety reasons, the FBI then requested additional agents, police dogs, and specialized equipment, as well as an FBI tactical team based in the United States.
At one point in the encounter, Ojeda-Rios' wife, Elma Beatriz Rosado Barbosa, safely exited the residence. She was not injured by gunfire at any point in time. Although she was initially detained, she has been released from federal custody.
On September 24 , 2005 , an FBI tactical team from the United States entered the residence and discovered that Ojeda-Rios was deceased. So far, one weapon has been discovered inside of the residence. The investigation is on-going. [2]
Charges against him
- Act of Domestic Terrorism
- Aggravated Robbery (1985)
- Aggravated Robbery of Federally Insured Bank Funds (1985)
- Armed Robbery (1985)
- Bond Default (1990)
- Conspiracy to Interfere With Commerce By Robbery (1985)
- Foreign And Interstate Transportation Of Stolen Money (1985)
Photos
File:Filiberto-foto-03.jpg File:Filiberto-foto-02.jpgFile:1127585074forC-por225.jpg File:Ojeda-free.jpgFile:Ojeda-88.jpg
File:7filiberto-mural-rio-piedras.jpg
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- Boricua Popular Army
- White Eagle: the Wells Fargo depot robbery
- FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives
External links
- Man Dies in FBI Stakeout in Puerto Rico
- FBI Agent Wounded in Wells Fargo Shootout
- CNN reports the FBI operative against Filiberto Ojeda Rios
- [3]
- [4]
- Autopsy Results and Causes of Death
References
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (2003). FBI Fugitive Profile: Filiberto Ojeda Rios. United States of America.
- Edmund Mahony (1999). The Untold Tale Of Victor Gerena. The Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut (USA).
- Edmund Mahony (1999). Puerto Rican Independence: The Cuban Connection. The Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut (USA).
- Daniel James (1981). Puerto Rican Terrorists Also Threaten Reagan Assassination. Human Events. United States of America.