Biography
Antonio Suares — known as Tony — was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and a co-defendant of UE organizer Alex Markley in the case arising from the 1975 UE strike at the Worthington Compressor plant in Holyoke, Massachusetts. According to the federal appellate record, Suares assembled and delivered three homemade "destructive devices" to an undercover ATF agent (Thomas O'Reilly) for $75 on December 8, 1975; the government alleged the devices were meant for use against trucks of Martin Brothers Trucking Company, which had been crossing the union's picket lines. Suares maintained his innocence, and the UE and labor supporters characterized the case as ATF entrapment — saying the agent had agitated for violence and that the men refused.
He was convicted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts of three counts of possessing and three counts of transferring unregistered destructive devices under the National Firearms Act (26 U.S.C. §§ 5861(d) and 5861(e)) — a related conspiracy count was dismissed after trial — and sentenced to one year in prison. The First Circuit affirmed the convictions on December 16, 1977 (United States v. Suares, 567 F.2d 523, No. 77-1210). The two men received broad labor support.
The Militant, March 25, 1977, page 7: Printed Tony Suares, he was rearraigned with Alex Markley in Springfield federal court March 14, 1977. The indictment alleged conspiracy to damage trucks in interstate commerce and delivery of three devices to ATF agent Thomas O’Reilly for ninety-five dollars. The paper reports actual arrests about eight months after the alleged 1975 transactions, without supplying an exact day. The March 17 continuation was scheduled, not an outcome or new custody period. Source: https://www.themilitant.com/1977/4111/MIL4111.pdf#page=7
The Militant of April 8, 1977 reports that Alex Markley and Tony (Antonio) Suares were convicted in Springfield federal court on March 26, 1977. It identifies Lawrence Shubow as Suares’s defense attorney and names the prosecutor only as O’Neill. Both men were free on bail when the report appeared. The report announced an April 14 sentencing hearing; it did not establish a prison admission on that day. The newspaper’s criticism of the devices evidence and alleged entrapment is attributed to the report and defense, rather than presented as a judicial finding.
Printed TonySuares, he is individually named with Markley as arrested the preceding July and awaiting the March14 trial on destructive-device and conspiracy accusations. The article alleges ATF provocation during the Holyoke strike. The twelve-hour interrogation description specifically concerns Markley and is not assigned to Suares. Later court findings remain intact.
