Biography
Carlos M. “Pío” Ayes Suárez was an anthropology and archaeology student from Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, and an activist in the Puerto Rican Independence Party. Federal agents arrested him on August 30, 1985, during the government’s roundup of people accused in the Wells Fargo robbery case. He was released on bail before January 1986 and tried with other defendants in Hartford, Connecticut. On April 10, 1989, the jury acquitted Ayes Suárez of every charge. He later worked as an archaeologist, anthropologist, author, and historian in Puerto Rico.
Verified bail release and identified historical photograph
Carlos Ayes Suárez was actually released on November 14, 1985 from federal custody at Otisville after posting a $100,000 bond. The Associated Press report published November 15 explicitly confirms release and attributes the Thursday date to his attorney, James Bergenn. The October 3 bail order was not the release: the October 4 report says none of the seven defendants granted bail had yet been freed. The initial August 30-November 14 custody lasted 76 elapsed days; the April 1989 acquittal is not a prison release date.
Sources: Manchester Herald, November 15, 1985, printed page 8, AP, “2nd defendant released”; October 4, 1985, printed page 5, bail order but no release yet.
The unchanged historical photograph identifies Carlos Ayes Suárez at right in the white shirt. Source: Latin American Studies, explicitly captioned Carlos Ayes Suarez; original photograph. Photographer, exact capture date and reuse license unknown. A different publisher image was inaccessible and was not bypassed.
