Thread: Shootout involving Filiberto Ojeda-Rios

FBI Press Release:
http://sanjuan.fbi.gov/pressrel/2005/sj092405.htm

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.

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Update:

FBI Press Release:
http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel...ller092605.htm

FBI DIRECTOR ASKS FOR INDEPENDENT REVIEW
Washington D.C. - Today, FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III, in conjunction with Luis Fraticelli, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Puerto Rico, asked Glenn A. Fine, the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Justice, to conduct an independent review of the circumstances surrounding the wounding of an FBI agent and the death of Filiberto Ojeda Rios. Mr. Ojeda Rios was a fugitive wanted in connection with the robbery of an armored truck depot in Connecticut in 1983. He had been sentenced in absentia to 55 years in prison after jumping bond on federal charges stemming from the seven million dollar robbery. At the time of the attempted arrest, FBI agents were acting on a federal arrest warrant issued by a federal judge in Connecticut. Ojeda Rios was a leader of a group, Los Macheteros, that has been linked to a nearly thirty year pattern of terrorist attacks on the island of Puerto Rico.

John Miller, Assistant Director for Public Affairs, said, "The agents were in the process of trying to effect the arrest of a dangerous fugitive. While the agents were serving the arrest warrant, there was an exchange of gunfire and an FBI agent was shot and seriously wounded and Ojeda Rios suffered a fatal wound. Based on the preliminary information available to us, we have every reason to believe the agents acted properly."

With reference to the request for the Inspector General's review, Mr. Miller said, "Since the attempt to capture Ojeda Rios, a number of supporters of Ojeda Rios, as well as some public officials in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and elsewhere, have raised questions and in some instances made allegations about the FBI's handling of the incident. Because of that, by calling in this case for a review by the Inspector General we are demonstrating the highest level of transparency, openness to scrutiny, and confidence in the performance of our agents under fire while trying to carry out their lawful duty."

Whenever I read an article, I always like to read what else is being said about it in the wide reaches of cyberspace. Excellent move on behalf of Director Mueller calling for an independent review. Every leftist web site, online newspaper or radio station, or blog is stating that Ojeda Rios (so called leader of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement) was assasinated by an FBI sniper, and that his wife was critically wounded. This statement was released by the ProLibertad Freedom Campaign trying to mobilize the masses in NY and NJ.

"The FBI chose to assassinate Ojeda Rios on Friday Sept. 23rd (Known as El Grito de Lares, a celebration of the anti-colonial resistance movement in Puerto Rico) as a message to the independence movement; the US government is trying to tell us that if we resist, then we will be murdered like Ojeda Rios, Don Pedro Albizu Campos, Angel Rodrgiuez Cristobal and the many other Puerto Rican patriots that have fallen at the hands of the US government."

The independent review should put these claims to rest...

Question: Was Elma Beatriz Rosado Barbosa involved in any of the Los Macheteros activities?

When I worked in the corporate world in PR in the late 90's, there were many office workers sporting the machete of the Macheteros. It was a badly kept secret.

My prayers go out to the FBI Special Agents wounded in the line of duty. I hope our FBI colleagues on this board keep us advised as to their condition. DM

Originally Posted by dmclark

My prayers go out to the FBI Special Agents wounded in the line of duty. I hope our FBI colleagues on this board keep us advised as to their condition. DM

The most seriously wounded agent is still in the hospital (albeit one closer to home than PR) but is sitting up and is expected to be released to home later this week. A full recovery is expected. The other two are fine.

OUTSTANDING NEWS! Thanks! DM

That's such good news!

Glad to hear about the agent's recovery.

I do not know if this is the right place for me to vent, but to me, the public outcry regarding this terrorist, is sadly misplaced.

I have lived in PR for all of my life, except the time I went to college. I have seen what the "macheteros" do, from the time I was very young. I grew up knowing that armed resistance against the US government was wrong, because the voting public here is large, over 85% turnout in elections. The people of PR have had many chances to vote in order to decide what the political relationship with the US should be, and independence comes in at less than 4% of the votes.


What is not discussed at large, is Cuba's support for the Macheteros' violence against the US, be it training, money, you name it, there are rumors that cover the gamut.

It makes me very sad to see the commonwealth government point fingers, raise accusations, and threaten with criminal charges those involved from the FBI and the federal government as a whole for the death of Ojeda. That is most foul. What short memory we have. Nobody has spoken for those who lost their lives when targeted by the Macheteros, nobody. Many have called him a martyr, a hero, but why did he hide? He know that his actions were criminal. Recently, PR went through a struggle of another kind. Some people in PR wanted the US Navy to leave the Naval Weapons Range in Vieques, PR. To make a long story short, the were able to get the Navy to leave. Not using force, but using civil disobedience. There were some who resorted to violence, but were shunned by the majority of protesters. Those peaceful protesters knew that the consequence for their actions was to be arrested by federal officers. They were arrested, almost all of them went peacefully, but the got their message across. Where was Ojeda when this was happening? Hiding.

It was easy to direct others and to commit crimes and then hide, claiming the righteousness of their actions with no consequences. They acted like the terrorists that they are. It was easy to put bombs in a disco in New York and kill innocent people and blind a NY police officer, it was easy to steal over 7 million dollars and kill the guards transporting the money, it was easy to bomb Air National Guard airplanes (those do not shoot back), it was easy to ambush on two occasions busses transporting unarmed US Marines.

In my opinion, he received what he wanted, to go out in a blaze of gunfire. His wife is claiming that the FBI lied about the raid, that he was going to surrender. When his body was found by the FBI, Ojeda was wearing camo pants, a bulletproof vest and had a 9mm handgun with extra mags at his side.

I am truly saddened by the death of any human being, but I am also saddened by the misplaced glory that many people here are claiming for this dead terrorist.

Sorry to vent.