Raymond Luc Levasseur

Raymond "Ray" Luc Levasseur (born October 10, 1946), of Sanford, Maine, was a member of the United Freedom Front, a militant Marxist organization that conducted a series of bombings throughout the United States from 1976 to 1984.

Early life

In 1965 Levasseur enlisted in the United States Army, and was sent to Vietnam two years later, for a 12 month tour of duty. He felt that this experience radicalized him — claiming that he experienced racism, and began to feel strong opposition to fighting against the Vietnamese, who he felt were struggling for their right to self-determination.

After returning from Vietnam, Levasseur moved to Tennessee, where he began attending college. There, he began working with the Southern Student Organizing Committee (SSOC).

In 1969, Levasseur was arrested for attempting to sell six dollars' worth of marijuana to an undercover police officer. Even though he had no prior criminal history, due to his political activism, Levasseur was given the maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. He was sent to the Tennessee State Penitentiary, where he spent 2 years in solitary confinement, before being released on parole.