Deputy U.S. Marshal and Task Force Officer Injured While Arresting Federal Fugitives

Sebring, FL – One Deputy U.S. Marshal and a Task Force officer assigned to the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force were injured early this morning while attempting to arrest two fugitives who were wanted on federal drug charges. At approximately 6:15 am today, Deputy U.S. Marshals and task force officers from the Ft. Pierce U.S. Marshals office located 28-year old Robin Jean Guillaume and 28-year old Alex Guerrier at an address in the Sebring, Florida area of Highlands County. Guillaume and Guerrier were both wanted on Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) indictments and arrest warrants that were issued out of the U.S. Marshals office in Ft. Pierce, FL.

While Deputy Marshals and Task Force officers announced their presence at the front door of the residence, occupants from inside the home began firing upon law enforcement personnel. A deputy Marshal was struck by bullets in the hand and a St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Task Force officer was struck in the shoulder. Injuries sustained by U.S. Marshals personnel were not life threatening. The injured Deputy Marshal and Task Force officer were transported to a local hospital.

Guillaume and Guerrier were apprehended outside the residence and were quickly arrested. Neither of the two fugitives were injured during the incident. After the suspects were in custody, at least two handguns were seen by law enforcement personnel inside the residence. Both suspects will be transported back to Ft. Pierce to have their initial appearance on the outstanding federal narcotics charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Ft. Pierce is aware of this incident. The US Marshals Service and Drug Enforcement Administration will be consulting with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to determine if additional charges will be filed against the two defendants. The Highland County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting incident.

U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests Child Pornography Suspect in Northumberland

Williamsport, PA – Today, United States Marshal Martin J. Pane announced that the United States Marshals Service (USMS) Fugitive Task Force arrested Andrew Balonis – a 24 year-old man in the borough of Northumberland, PA.

On August 23, 2013, the Syracuse Police Department charged Balonis with Possessing a Sexual Performance of a Child. It was alleged that Balonis possessed 273 videos and 383 images of children engaged in sexual acts. Syracuse Police Department requested the assistance of the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force in locating and arresting Balonis.

On Wednesday, November 20, 2013, based upon an investigative lead, members of the USMS Middle District of Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force located and arrested Balonis without incident at a home in the 400 block of Water Street, Northumberland, PA. Balonis was arraigned as a fugitive from justice in front of Magisterial District Justice Edward Mihalik and released on $50,000 unsecured bail.

United States Marshal Martin J. Pane stated, “Fugitives charged with crimes against our children are a very high priority. This arrest reflects the agency’s commitment to making our communities more safe and secure.”

The USMS worked jointly in this investigation with personnel from the Pennsylvania State Police Fugitive Section.

2003 Double Homicide Suspect Who Fled to Argentina

Extradited Back to Miami by U.S. Marshals

Miami, FL – Hugo Ramon Quesada, a man wanted on homicide charges by the Miami Dade Police Department arrived back in the U.S. today after being extradited from Argentina.

Deputy U.S. Marshals flew to Argentina earlier this week and took custody of Quesada and returned him to Miami today at 6:10 a.m. Quesada was turned over to the custody of the Miami Dade Police Department upon arrival at the Miami International Airport. In August 2003, an arrest warrant was issued by the Miami Dade Police Department that charges Quesada with two counts of first degree murder, and one count of attempted murder.

On Sunday, Aug. 10, 2003, Quesada went to the home of his wife, Martiza Quesada in Miami and allegedly murdered her. Quesada is alleged to have also killed his wife’s stepfather Emilio Xiques at the same residence and placed his body in a tool shed in the yard. According to police reports, Quesada then drove to his wife’s mother’s home in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami and told her he had just killed her daughter and her husband. Quesada is accused of then stabbing his wife’s mother in the back and fleeing the residence, leaving her for dead. Quesada’s mother-in-law was critically wounded but survived the attack and was able to provide police with the identity of her attacker. Quesada fled the crime scene in a white vehicle rented by Maritza Quesada and was never seen again.

Miami Dade Police homicide detectives named Quesada as a suspect, but soon realized that Quesada fled the United States and returned to his home country of Argentina. On Aug. 19, 2003, Miami Dade police detectives requested the assistance of the U.S. Marshals to track down Quesada in Argentina in hopes of returning the suspect back to Miami to face criminal charges. During the next three years, Deputy U.S. Marshals and ICE/HSI agents assigned to the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force began interviewing numerous family members and associates of Quesada in Miami to determine where the fugitive was hiding in Argentina.

Hard work and determination finally paid off when Deputy Marshals and ICE/HSI agents in Miami developed information in July 2006 on a location where Quesada was hiding out in Argentina. Deputy Marshals and HSI agents forwarded this information to Interpol Inspectors in Argentina. Deputy Marshals also requested the State Attorney’s Office in Miami to pursue a Provisional Arrest Warrant through the Department of Justice/Office of International Affairs in Washington, D.C.

On Nov. 2, 2006, Quesada was arrested by the Federal Police of Argentina (Interpol) in Buenos Aires, Argentina on the outstanding Provisional Arrest Warrant from the United States. At the time of his arrest, Quesada was utilizing the identity of his brother-in-law in an attempt to avoid capture. Quesada began fighting the extradition process to avoid being returned to the South Florida to face homicide charges.

On Aug. 21, the Supreme Court of Buenos Aires in Argentina approved the extradition of Quesada to be returned back to the United States. On Oct. 24, the Government of Argentina formally approved the extradition. Quesada arrived this morning escorted by U.S. Marshals and was turned over to Miami Dade Police homicide detectives.

This arrest and successful extradition has been the result of the combined efforts of: the Miami Dade Police Department, the Miami Dade State Attorney’s Office, agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/ ICE Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Police of Argentina assigned to Interpol, Department of Justice Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Mexican Murder Suspect Arrested in New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM – On November 7, 2013, Deputy United States Marshals and Homeland Security Investigators, arrested Mario Jurado-Ariostegui for Murder. Jurado-Ariostegui, a Mexican National, was found to be living in Belen, NM, and was arrested at the request of the Mexican government. Jurado-Ariostegui was wanted for a double homicide he allegedly committed in Chihuahua, Mexico. Jurado-Ariostegui had no legal status in the United States. Homeland Security confirmed that Jurado-Ariostegui is a Mexican citizen and was in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Jurado-Ariostegui is pending deportation back to Mexico. District of New Mexico, United States Marshal Conrad Candelaria said "Once again our SWIFT members and partner agencies pooled their resources to arrest this dangerous fugitive and continue to keep our communities safe. Our partners in the Republic of Mexico are an additional asset and we are very appreciative of their efforts in extraditing fugitives to face justice in both Mexico and the United States."

U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests Suspect in Connection with a Bomb Threat

Alexandria, VA – U.S. Marshal Robert Mathieson announces the capture of William Wyatt Raum. Raum was wanted by the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) in connection with a bomb threat communicated earlier this month.

On Oct. 29, the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center received a bomb threat from an unknown suspect. On Nov. 4, the FCSO requested their deputy sheriff assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service’s fugitive task force to investigate the threat. The investigation determined Raum as the alleged offender.

The case was adopted by the U.S. Marshals task force located within the federal Eastern District of Virginia. At approximately 6:00 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 18, task force officers and Deputy U.S. Marshals located and apprehended Raum in an apartment complex located on Marlboro Pike in Capitol Heights, MD. Raum was transported to the Prince George’s County Police Department and is awaiting extradition to Fairfax County.

The U.S. Marshals-led fugitive task force within E/VA is made possible by the collaboration of the U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Secret Service, Alexandria Police Department, Virginia State Police, Fairfax County Police Department, Fairfax County Sheriff's Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Diplomatic Security Service.

The task force within the Metropolitan D.C. area was founded in 2004 and, to date, has arrested tens of thousands of fugitives. The success of the task force directly correlates to it being a truly joint endeavor. Each agency brings its unique skills and expertise toward the common goal of pursuing and arresting the worst of the worst.

The U.S. Marshals Service arrested more than 36,000 federal fugitives, 86,700 state and local fugitives, and 11,800 sex offenders in fiscal year 2013. Our investigative network and capabilities allow for the unique ability to track and apprehend any fugitive who attempts to evade police capture, anywhere in the country.