The Eternal Recidivism of Benjamín Vega: 35 Years Behind Bars

Starting his criminal path in Tarragona in 1991, Vega faces twelve convictions and will remain imprisoned until age 73.

Generic image of the interior of a prison facility showing a corridor and cells.
IA

Generic image of the interior of a prison facility showing a corridor and cells.

Benjamín Vega, 60, has spent over three decades within the prison system since a Tarragona judge first sentenced him in 1991 following several robberies in Salou.

What began as a one-week sentence evolved into a life defined by twelve legal cases. Vega admits that he initially viewed prison as a game, which caused him to lose any fear of incarceration. Unless he receives a sentence reduction, he is expected to remain in custody until 2039.

"The worst part is that I didn't fear prison; if I had, I wouldn't have gone back."

Benjamín Vega · Inmate
While serving time in facilities like Brians 2, he crossed paths with high-profile inmates such as Dani Alves. Despite having two children, Vega reflects on a life where his freedom has been scarce, noting that he has spent very little actual time living outside prison walls.