vivavictor

American culture has a long history of celebrating the outlaws who rob the rich and protect the poor:

Jesse James

(excerpt)

Jesse was a man, a friend to the poor,

He never would see a man suffer pain;

And with his brother Frank

he robbed the Chicago bank,

And stopped the Glendale train.

--Traditional

I've labored long and hard for bread,

For honor and for riches.

But on my corns too long you've tread,

You fine-haired sons of bitches.

--Black Bart

aka The Po8

aka Charles Bolton

Here I lay me down to sleep

To wait the coming morrow, Perhaps success, perhaps defeat,

And everlasting sorrow.

Yet come what will, I'll try it once,

My conditions can't be worse,

And if there's money in that box,

'Tis money in my purse.

--Black Bart

Victor Gerena is Hartford's anti-hero.

In December, 1983, he allegedly robbed Wells Fargo of $7.2 million. It was a daring, non-violent daylight theft that brought down the full weight of the United States government on him, his family, his friends, and the entire movement for Puerto Rican independence both here and on the Island.

He's on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List.

The Feds want Victor. A million dollar reward from the FBI for information leading to his capture is still in effect. And bounty hunter wannabees will give you $1,000 for information leading to his arrest (now that's a crime). Victor is a wanted man, but more than 23 years after the robbery, he still hasn't been caught.

What a difference a century makes.

Colorful figures like Jesse James and Pretty Boy Floyd (made even more famous by Woody Guthrie) were considered thieves and killers back in their own day. Wells Fargo profits off its "wild west history" by promoting the legendary characters who used to rob their stage coaches, calling them "varmints" on the corporate website. While Victor Gerena doesn't rate any space on the Wells Fargo site, Black Bart does. Bart, whose real name was Charles E. Bolton, robbed 27 stages over a period of four years in the late 1800's. Even Wells Fargo will tell you that he was known for his polite manner when he relieved the company of its gold. And he wouldn't rob passengers on the stage--only the company strongbox.

Black Bart's last robbery was 1883. Victor's first was 1983.

Black Bart, "The Po8"

It was Black Bart's poetry, though, that really made him famous (see sidebar). With wordplay that is worthy of a 20th century city kid who "tags" subway cars, Bart signed himself "The Po8". The story goes that Bart was caught when a detective found a laundry marking on a handkerchief he left behind. Bart did some time, but when he got out it was rumored that Wells Fargo paid him money just so he wouldn't rob any more stagecoaches.

Neither Wells Fargo nor the Feds are so gracious when it comes to Victor.