Reward increased for fugitive wanted in 1983 robbery
Age-enhanced FBI photo of Victor Gerena
(New Haven-WTNH, Dec. 7, 2004 2:50 PM) _ There is new information this afternoon in the hunt for one of the FBI's ten most-wanted fugitives. Victor Gerena is wanted in connection with a $7 million dollar robbery in West Hartford.
by News Channel 8's Erin Cox
This is the largest reward ever offered for a Connecticut fugitive.
Victor Gerena has been on the FBI’s list of top ten most-wanted fugitives for over 20 years. They are hoping with this increased reward they'll get some new information about his whereabouts.
Victor Gerena is wanted in connection with the September 1983 robbery of a Wells Fargo depot in West Hartford. He was working as a guard when he was able to organize and orchestrate ripping off $7 million.
FBI officials say he was acting for the Puerto Rican nationalist group Los Macheteros, which is working for the freedom of Puerto Rico.
They have released a new age-enhanced photo of what Gerena may look like today. They say Gerena is now on the list with Osama bin Laden, and they are the only two terrorists who are still at-large.
“The only two individuals on the top ten who have alleged affiliations with terrorist organizations that have not been captured,” says Michael Wolf, FBI Agent.
“Mr. Gerena was a pioneer in terrorist fundraising, but he predated the Internet so he did it the old fashioned way—by an armored car robbery. But the end result was the same – it was to raise money for terrorist activities that have maimed or killed U.S. citizens and our allies,“ says Kevin O'Connor, CT US Attorney.
So where is Victor Genera? FBI officials said in the press conference today that they thought Gerena was in Mexico, they've heard he’s been in Cuba, maybe he’s back in the United States. They are really hoping this publicity will turn up the heat on this case.
If he’s in Cuba, how could this publicity help catch him there? News Channel 8 asked the special agent in charge who said they plan to get the information into Havana tomorrow. When asked how they plan to do it, he replied, “Oh, I can't tell you that.”
Federal authorities raise reward for fugitive bank robber
(New Haven-AP, Dec. 7, 2004 Updated 12:48 PM) _ The federal government is boosting the reward for Victor Gerena the main suspect in the 1983 Wells Fargo robbery in West Hartford.
Reward increased for fugitive wanted in 1983 robbery
Age-enhanced FBI photo of Victor Gerena
(New Haven-WTNH, Dec. 7, 2004 2:50 PM) _ There is new information this afternoon in the hunt for one of the FBI's ten most-wanted fugitives. Victor Gerena is wanted in connection with a $7 million dollar robbery in West Hartford.
by News Channel 8's Erin Cox
This is the largest reward ever offered for a Connecticut fugitive.
Victor Gerena has been on the FBI’s list of top ten most-wanted fugitives for over 20 years. They are hoping with this increased reward they'll get some new information about his whereabouts.
Victor Gerena is wanted in connection with the September 1983 robbery of a Wells Fargo depot in West Hartford. He was working as a guard when he was able to organize and orchestrate ripping off $7 million.
FBI officials say he was acting for the Puerto Rican nationalist group Los Macheteros, which is working for the freedom of Puerto Rico.
They have released a new age-enhanced photo of what Gerena may look like today. They say Gerena is now on the list with Osama bin Laden, and they are the only two terrorists who are still at-large.
“The only two individuals on the top ten who have alleged affiliations with terrorist organizations that have not been captured,” says Michael Wolf, FBI Agent.
“Mr. Gerena was a pioneer in terrorist fundraising, but he predated the Internet so he did it the old fashioned way—by an armored car robbery. But the end result was the same – it was to raise money for terrorist activities that have maimed or killed U.S. citizens and our allies,“ says Kevin O'Connor, CT US Attorney.
So where is Victor Genera? FBI officials said in the press conference today that they thought Gerena was in Mexico, they've heard he’s been in Cuba, maybe he’s back in the United States. They are really hoping this publicity will turn up the heat on this case.
If he’s in Cuba, how could this publicity help catch him there? News Channel 8 asked the special agent in charge who said they plan to get the information into Havana tomorrow. When asked how they plan to do it, he replied, “Oh, I can't tell you that.”
Federal authorities raise reward for fugitive bank robber
(New Haven-AP, Dec. 7, 2004 Updated 12:48 PM) _ The federal government is boosting the reward for Victor Gerena the main suspect in the 1983 Wells Fargo robbery in West Hartford.