Puerto Rican nationalist sentenced to 7 years for 1983 Wells Fargo robbery in Conn.

Man sentenced to 7 years for 1983 Conn. robbery

HARTFORD, Conn. — A 67-year-old man who was a fugitive for 22 years after participating in a $7 million armored truck robbery in Connecticut has been sentenced to serve seven years in federal prison.

Federal prosecutors say Avelino Gonzalez-Claudio conspired with others to steal the money during a 1983 West Hartford heist of a Wells Fargo truck. The money was funneled to fund Los Macheteros, a clandestine organization seeking Puerto Rican independence.

A U.S. District Court judge also ordered Gonzalez-Claudio on Wednesday to repay all $7 million to Wells Fargo.

He had pleaded guilty earlier this year to foreign transportation of stolen money and conspiracy to rob federally insured bank funds.

One of the alleged ringleaders, Victor Manuel Gerena, remains at large and is on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list.