The Big Apple Wasn't Big Enough to Hide

Albuquerque, NM – On March 5, 2013, a State of New Mexico arrest warrant was issued for the arrest of Edwin Vasquez-Zamora, charging him with Criminal Sexual Penetration of a Minor, Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor, and First Degree Kidnapping. Vasquez-Zamora allegedly sexually assaulted 3 children all under the age of 13. Albuquerque Police Department Detectives interviewed Vasquez-Zamora earlier this year; it is believed shortly after the interview Vasquez-Zamora fled New Mexico.

September 12, 2013, Deputies had information that Vasquez-Zamora either fled to Virginia or New York. Marshals in New Mexico requested the assistance of Deputies in Virginia and within hours the Marshals Service was knocking on doors in Eastern Virginia. Vasquez-Zamora was not found to be in Virginia, which left only New York for him to hide.

September 19, 2013, Marshals developed information where Vasquez-Zamora was hiding among the millions of people living in New York. Earlier this morning, the Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force was able to locate and apprehend Edwin Vasquez-Zamora living in the town of Brentwood on Long Island. Vasquez-Zamora is awaiting extradition back to New Mexico.

On September 10, 2013, Detectives from the Albuquerque Police Department and Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, and Deputies from the United States Marshals Service South West Investigative Fugitive Team (SWIFT) task force, joined forces to target Albuquerque’s most dangerous sexual predators. Edwin Vasquez-Zamora was placed at the top of the list for dangerous sexual predators. Over the last 10 days, the United States Marshals Service utilized task forces across the country to investigate leads in 3 states in an attempt to apprehend Vasquez-Zamora as quickly as possible. District of New Mexico, United States Marshal Conrad Candelaria said "If these horrific charges are proven to be true, then the SWIFT and the Albuquerque Police Department have once again helped to make our community safer by taking a sex offender off of the street. Those that prey upon children have no room in a any society. Hopefully the victims in this case will sleep just a little better tonight knowing the suspect is behind bars".

Last week, SWIFT task force targeted and arrested Steven Anaya. Anaya was charged with Criminal Sexual Penetration of a Minor under 13 and Kidnapping. Anaya’s second victim came forward and reported the incident after seeing Anaya on television when he was arrested and charged in June 2013 for sexually assaulting another young girl.