Lucien Rivard

Lucien Rivard (June 16, 1915 – February 3, 2002) was a Quebec criminal known for a sensational prison escape in 1965.

Background Rivard had been engaged in robbery and smuggling drugs since the 1940s. in his early years, but in the 1956 he moved to Cuba and operated a casino, and became involved in the heroin business. In 1958 he moved back to Laval, Quebec, and operated the business "Domaine Idéal" to continue dealing drugs and weapons. With Mondoloni and Jean Croce he was involved in narcotics trafficking. Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista was paid $20,000 per week to allow the narcotics to be moved. He smuggled guns for Fidel Castro and his rebels. He later met up again with Mondoloni at Acapulco in Mexico, a country they would return to on many occasions.

In October 1963 drug runner Michel Caron was arrested in Texas as he attempted to cross the border from Mexico with 35kg of heroin, while in custody he implicated Rivard. Attorney General Bobby Kennedy got personally involved and sought to prosecute Rivard. He used a water hose to climb a wall and escape. He was missing for four months before being caught and extradited to the United States. He was finally captured on 16 July 1965 near Châteauguay, Quebec. He was extradited to Texas where he served nine years in prison. In 2006, it was announced that the Quebec government would help sponsor the film The American Trap (Le piège américain), to be directed by Charles Binamé with Rémy Girard to play Lucien Rivard.

The escape also inspired the song "A Government Inquiry" by The Brothers-in-Law in their album Oh, Oh Canada (Arc A636), and comedian Rich Little to parody Prime Minister Lester Pearson singing "Old Man Rivard".