Oscar Lopez Rivera, Seditious Conspiracy, Maryland 1981

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Parole Denied for Oscar Lopez Rivera, Convicted FALN Member

Chevy Chase, MD, August 11, 1981, was a fateful day for the city and state of Maryland, marking the beginning of a 30-year journey for Oscar Lopez Rivera, a convicted member of the Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional Puertorriqueña (FALN).

Lopez Rivera was sentenced to 55 years’ imprisonment for his role in the FALN, a Puerto Rican nationalist group responsible for over 100 bombings that killed six people and maimed others. His crimes included seditious conspiracy, use of force to commit robbery, interstate transportation of firearms and ammunition to aid in the commission of a felony, and interstate transportation of stolen vehicles.

On February 26, 1988, Lopez Rivera was sentenced to an additional 15 years’ incarceration for conspiring to escape from the Leavenworth federal prison. He had solicited unincarcerated supporters to obtain weapons, grenades, and C-4 explosives to break him and fellow inmates out of prison.

In 1999, President Clinton offered Lopez Rivera clemency on the condition that he renounce violence and serve an additional 10 years in prison with clear conduct. Lopez Rivera rejected the offer.

Chairman Fulwood of the United States Parole Commission stated, ‘We have to look at whether release would depreciate the seriousness of the offenses or promote disrespect for the law, whether release would jeopardize public safety, and the specific characteristics of the offender.’

Oscar Lopez Rivera, 55 years of imprisonment, and 30 years of incarceration is a harsh punishment for his role in the FALN, but the U.S. Parole Commission has denied his parole application, keeping him behind bars for now.

For more information, please contact Johanna Markind at (301) 492-5821 ext. 238.