Law enforcement is a complicated balancing act of serving and protecting the public. There is really no limit to the different types of scenarios any person in any branch of law enforcement is going to encounter on a daily basis. From local police to the CIA there are countless citizens in the United States and around the world that rely on these men and women to bring the bad guys to justice. Within those organizations they have special tools to help identify and capture those individuals. However there is a tool that is at the disposal of all law enforcement outlets that serves as a passive alarm that could lead to a break in a case that would otherwise not present itself. That tool is a most wanted list. Simple in design and presentation most wanted lists still provide a very valuable service to law enforcement agencies without much in the way of maintenance. This article will focus on two agencies in particular: the Federal Bureau of Investigation with their 10 Most Wanted and the United States Marshal Service who utilize a 15 Most Wanted including a few details of the fugitives that those lists are pursuing.
The FBI has been in operation in one form or another since 1908 starting with just 23 investigators within the Department of Justice. It was not until 1936 that the organization known as DOI or Division of Investigation would become the FBI under Director J. Edgar Hoover. It was not until much later in the Bureaus history that they initiated the Ten Most Wanted program which would help to bring national attention to some of their most dangerous fugitives. The first were: Thomas Holden, Morley King, William Nesbit, Henry Mitchell, Omar Pinson, Lee Downs, Orba Jackson, Glen Wright, Henry Shelton, and Morris Guarlnick. Since that humble beginning the Most Wanted List has helped to bring 488 criminals into custody. Spending the shortest amount of time on the list was the fugitive Billy Austin Bryant with only 2 hours, while the longest amount of time on the list belongs to the fugitive Victor Manuel Gerena with over 32 years. The following are some details of the current occupants of the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List.
Santiago Villaba Mederos is wanted for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution-murder in the first degree, attempted murder in the first degree, conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree, unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree; murder in the second degree. Born in Tacoma, Washington on June 5th 1991 at the time of his warrant he stands 5’10” and weighed 140 pounds. He has a tattoo on his left shoulder of the letter “S” and another on his right shoulder of an “E”. Mederos is a known member of a gang known as the Eastside Lokotes Sureno or (ELS) gang with ties to both Washington and Mexico. Mederos is bilingual. Mederos aka “Pucho” has been a fugitive since February of 2010 for allegedly firing multiple gunshots into a random car killing a 2 year old girl and wounding her brother. Later in March that same year he allegedly fired a gunshot into a crowd during a fight striking and killing an innocent 21 year old male. His local and state warrants were issued by the Superior Court of Washington with a federal arrest warrant being issued years later on September 30th 2016 after he was then charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Robert W. Fisher is wanted for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution – 3 counts of first degree murder, and arson of an occupied structure. After the murder of his wife and two young children he then blew up the house in which they all lived in Scottsdale, Arizona in April of 2001. Authorities have been hunting him since. He was born April 13th 1961. At the time of his warrant Fisher stands 6’0” and weighed 190 pounds, he has blue eyes and there is a surgical scar on his lower back.
Arnoldo Jimenez is wanted for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution – first degree murder. Jimenez allegedly stabbed his wife to death on May 12th 2012 only two days after their wedding. After stabbing her in his black 2006 Maserati he then allegedly dragged her body into the bathroom tub of her apartment in Burbank, Illinois. A state warrant for his arrest was issued on May 15th, 2012 and only two days later a federal warrant was issued by the United States District Court. At the time of Jimenez’s warrant he stands 6’0” and weighed 200-225 pounds. There are no distinguishing marks for Jimenez but he has known aliases of Arnoldo Gimenez and Arnoldo Rochel Jimenez. It is believed that he may have fled to Durango, Mexico specifically in the area of Santiago Papasquiaro. He may also be in the area of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico.
Jason Derek Brown is wanted for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution – first degree murder, and armed robbery. Stemming from a robbery in November of 2004 in which Brown allegedly shot and killed an armored car guard outside of a movie theater then fleeing with the money. Brown has many aliases including Jason D. Brown, Derek Brown, Greg Johnson, Harline Johnson, Greg Harline Johnson, John Brown, and Jay Brown. He has used multiple birthdays which include July 1, 1969 and January 17th 1971. Standing 5’10” Brown weighed 170-180 pounds with blonde hair and green eyes. Brown speaks fluent French and has a master’s degree in International Business. He is known for his elaborate lifestyle and likes to flaunt his high-priced cars, boats, and other toys. He has ties to Utah, California, and Arizona. He has also traveled internationally to both France and Mexico. He should be considered armed and extremely dangerous.
Alejandro Rosales Castillo is wanted for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution – murder. In 2016 a warrant was issued for Castillo’s alleged involvement in the murder of a co-worker in Charlotte, North Carolina. The victim’s vehicle was located at a bus station in Phoenix, Arizona on August 15th 2016 and two days later the victim’s body was located in a wooded area in Cabarrus County, North Carolina with a gunshot wound to the head. Castillo was seen crossing the border into Mexico and may reside in San Francisco de los Romo, Aguascalientes, or Pabellón de Arteaga, Aguascalientes. Castillo should be considered armed with violent tendencies. At the time of his warrant Castillo born November 26th 1998 stands 5’6” and weighed 180 to 190 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
Alexis Flores is wanted for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, kidnapping, and murder stemming from his alleged involvement in the kidnapping and murder of a five-year old girl in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who was reported missing in July of 2000 and was later found strangled to death in a nearby apartment the following month. A Honduran native Flores could have made his way back to his home country. At the time of his warrant Flores stands 5’4” tall and weighed 130-140 pounds. With black hair and brown eyes Flores also has scars on his forehead and right cheek.
Born January 27th 1957 in Sinai, Egypt standing 6’2” weighing 180 pounds, Yaser Abdul Said is wanted for his alleged involvement in the murder of his two teenage daughters on January 1st 2008 in Irving, Texas where they died of multiple gunshot wounds. He has an affinity for dogs with a focus on black and tan German Shepherds. He has a dark brown spot on the lower left side of his neck. In the past he was known for always wearing dark glasses both in and outdoors with a vice for smoking Marlboro Light 100s. He has ties to the north east of the United States as well as Canada and Egypt. In the past Said made a living driving taxi cabs and is known for carrying a weapon at all times.
Violent crimes in aid of racketeering; conspiracy to commit violent crimes in aid of racketeering; conspiracy to kidnap a federal agent; kidnapping of a federal agent; felony murder of a federal agent; aiding and abetting; accessory after the fact. This long list of charges is attached to one Rafael Caro-Quintero. Born in Badiraguato, Sinaloa, Mexico Quintero has used multiple birthdays starting with October 24th 1952 through to 1963. At the time of his warrant Quintero stands 6’0” tall and weighed 159-170 pounds. With heavy connections to the Sinaloa Cartel and the Caro-Quintero Drug Trafficking Organization it is likely this suspect is hiding in Mexico and holds an active key role in the Cartel. Quintero is sought for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping and murder of a Drug Enforcement Agent in Mexico in 1985. With a potential reward of $20 million offered by the United States Department of State’s Narcotics Rewards Program, Quintero holds the highest bounty of all the Most Wanted criminals on the list.
The oldest person to be placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list Eugene Palmer born April 4th 1939 is wanted for allegedly shooting and killing his daughter-in-law in Stony Point, New York on September 24th 2012. An avid car enthusiast Palmer enjoys auto racing and is also an experienced outdoorsman and hunter. Standing 5’10” tall Palmer weighed 220 pounds at the time of his warrant, has a deformed left thumb, is balding, and has brown eyes.
The last profile on the FBI’s list belongs to Bhadreshkumar C. Patel. Born in Kantrodi Ta Viramgam, Gujarat, India on May 15th 1990 he stands 5’9” tall and weighed 165 pounds with brown hair and eyes. Patel is wanted for allegedly killing his wife with blunt force trauma while they were both working in a doughnut shop in Hanover, Maryland on April 12th 2015. He has been charged with first degree murder, second degree murder, first degree assault, second degree assault, and dangerous weapon with intent to injure and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Patel was last known to have been in the Newark, New Jersey area
The U.S. Marshals Service has a list of their own which consists of 15 instead of 10 Most Wanted. As of this reports date of October 27th 2019 the Marshals website only has 12 fugitives listed and one of them an alleged child rapist Corey Deshawn Gatson had been captured near Guadalajara, Mexico on October 3rd 2019, while another fugitive Blane Barksdale was arrested earlier on September 11th 2019 leaving only 10 active fugitives on the Marshals list. The following are details regarding two of those individuals.
Having been sought after by authorities dating back to April of 2000 Anthony Seth Burroughs is a 40 year old man born March 13th 1979 standing 5’8” tall and weighed 200 pounds. He has tattoos on both arms with black hair and brown eyes. After an altercation at a house party in Tucson, Arizona Burroughs allegedly shot and killed 19 year old Juan Ruben Rodriguez. It is believed he fled the United States within 24 hours possibly to the Philippines. U.S. Marshals believe Burroughs still poses a significant threat to the public and continue their hunt.
Another of the Marshals Most Wanted is John Ruffo. Mr. Ruffo has been wanted by the Marshals Service Eastern District of Virginia since November of 1998. After facing a 150 count indictment charging him with bank fraud, money laundering, wire fraud, and conspiracy Ruffo failed to self surrender after he was sentenced to seventeen and a half years in federal prison. He has been running from Marshals since. A Director in the Marshals office has been quoted saying ‘Ruffo may have access to monetary resources which could be helpful to him in evading capture. But, the Marshals Service is determined to see his days as a fugitive brought to an end.’
While both the Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigations are similar in the idea of a Most Wanted list their execution is not. The Marshals Service list seems outdated and out of line with the urgency you would expect from a government program. If it is supposed to be a top 15 list there should be 15 names and records listed. This seems like a lost opportunity for the agency to receive the help it needs in apprehending these criminals. It should take note of the polished look of the FBI’s list and keep it just as updated. While it is great to see fugitives arrested that does not excuse why another person has not taken that captured fugitive’s spot on the list.
At the start of this report the many tools of law enforcement were mentioned. In conclusion, there is one more tool that law enforcement has that can be utilized by the general public for fact finding and helping to keep tabs on reformed criminals; namely sex offenders. The National Sex Offenders Registry is an online database that contains the whereabouts and details to the nation’s sex offenders. Created initially in 1994 Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Act was created to require states to implement a registration program. It was later amended in 1996 by Megan’s Law which established that states conduct notification to surrounding neighbors. There has been a consistent effort to improve and implement better versions but it is still a challenge to ensure that offenders comply with the registration act.
Using a local address in Jacksonville, FL it yields results that may surprise some people in just a one mile radius and that radius includes day cares and a school. A list quickly builds of 10 individuals scattered in just a small radius ranging in age from 21 to 67 years of age. While it is easy to assume that there will be one or two people in a 1 mile radius it was surprising to see as many as 10 in such a small area what was even more alarming is that same search widened to 2 miles yields 43 different people all men, sadly most are guilty of sexual assault to a child under the age of 12.
These tools mentioned above are not just for law enforcement but more importantly the general public has resources to help protect themselves. The more that people are engaged with the people and programs around them the better the community will benefit to improve and protect it’s environment. Regarding the Most Wanted Lists all suspects should be considered armed and extremely dangerous.