Miami News

October 6, 1975, 5

Terrorist who fled country faces hearing

 

A 34-year-old Cuban terrorist who fled the country after lie was convicted of possessing firearms, appears for a federal hearing here today following his arrest in Santo Domingo.

Humberto Lopez, who had written friends here that he was heading an anti-Castro organization in Santo Domingo, was arrested there on charges of illegal entry. He was flown back to Miami Saturday, the FBI said.

Lopez was first arrested in July, 1973 in Hialeah for possession of weapons, including mortars, rifles, a silencer and a cannon. A year later he was convicted in federal court on five counts of violation of the national firearms registration act.

In March, 1974, Lopez was arrested for illegal possession of firearms after he lost his left eye and three fingers when a bomb he was making exploded.

He was convicted of the possession charge in Dade Circuit Court in December, 1974, but fled the country before sentencing.

Lopez faced up to 15 years in prison on the state and federal charges.

In the Dominican Republic he headed the Frente Liberacion Nacional de Cuba. Before fleeing this country, he sent a tape recording to a Spanish-language radio station calling for terrorist activities by anti-Castroites.