Arrest of Fugitive Norberto Gonzalez-Claudio

SAN JUAN, PR—This morning at approximately 10:30, FBI agents and Police of Puerto Rico officers arrested, without incident, Norberto Gonzalez-Claudio, age 65, in Cayey, Puerto Rico.

On August 23, 1985, a federal arrest warrant was issued in Hartford, Connecticut charging Norberto Gonzalez-Claudio with obstruction of commerce by robbery and conspiracy. It is alleged Norberto Gonzalez-Claudio participated in the armed robbery of approximately $7 million from the Wells Fargo Depot in Hartford, Connecticut on September 12, 1983. If convicted on these charges, Norberto Gonzalez-Claudio faces up to approximately 275 years of imprisonment.

On March 21, 1986, another federal arrest warrant was issued in New Haven, Connecticut charging Norberto Gonzalez-Claudio with bank robbery, aggravated robbery, theft from interstate shipment, foreign and interstate transportation of stolen money, and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery.

Norberto Gonzalez-Claudio had been a fugitive from justice for the past 25 years. It is believed Norberto Gonzalez-Claudio is a member of the clandestine domestic terrorist organization known as Ejercito Popular Boricua-Los Macheteros, a group which has claimed responsibility for several murders, armed robberies, and terrorist bombings.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of any guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial. The U.S. government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.