Lone Star Task Force Nabs Robbery Suspect

Failed to Appear for Robbery and Weapons Charge

Austin, TX – Ray Hawkins, Jr., 29 of Jacksonville, Texas was arrested by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force this afternoon in South Austin without incident. Hawkins was sought by Cherokee County authorities for his alleged involvement in a series of armed robberies of local convenience stores in Jacksonville where firearms were used in the commission of these robberies. Others involved in this case have been convicted and sentenced.

Hawkins was due to appear before a Cherokee County District Court on August 8th to enter a plea on the robbery cases. Hawkins did not appear as ordered and a Failure to Appear warrant was subsequently issued. The US Marshals led Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force conducted a series of interviews and determined that Hawkins had fled to Austin shortly after his scheduled hearing date.

The investigation transitioned to the Austin based task force, and officers initiated surveillance at several locations purported to have ties with Hawkins. Early yesterday, task force officers established surveillance in the 7300 block of Rhett Place and observed a parked vehicle associated with Hawkins in East Texas. Eventually, officers were able to identify Hawkins and as officers approached, Hawkins attempted to flee through the back door and was quickly apprehended by officers covering the rear.

Hawkins will remain in the Travis County Detention Center pending his extradition to Cherokee County.

Robert R. Almonte, United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas states, “The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force this afternoon removed a fugitive from the streets of our community and hopefully prevented future potential crime from occurring.”

Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in Austin –

    Austin Police Department-Criminal Apprehension Team

    Travis County Sheriff’s Office

    Texas Department of Criminal Justice OIG

    Texas Department of Public Safety

    Texas Attorney General’s Office

    Buda Police Department

    Cedar Park Police Department

    Kyle Police Department

    Leander Police Department

    San Marcos Police Department

    Williamson, Caldwell, Hays and Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office

    Williamson County DA’s Office

    U.S. Marshals Service

Alleged Large-Scale Huntington Area Narcotics Dealer Apprehended in Mexico

Moises Gamboa, 48 years old, was apprehended today in Rocky Point, Mexico by Mexican authorities with the assistance of United States Marshals Service and Drug Enforcement Administration personnel.

Gamboa was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2010 for the distribution of over 1000 kilograms of marijuana in the Huntington area. Gamboa, who is a Mexican citizen, fled the United States prior to being indicted. Gamboa, who uses several aliases, is believed to be wanted in other states for similar drug trafficking offenses, and is alleged to have ties to notorious Mexican drug cartels.

U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said, “Mr. Gamboa allegedly sold thousands of pounds of marijuana and collected millions of dollars in ill-gotten gains as a member of a notorious drug trafficking organization. Thanks to the exemplary work of law enforcement and in particular, the U.S. Marshals Service, this fugitive is in federal custody, where he belongs.”

After it was determined Gamboa was currently residing on the western coast of Mexico, the United States Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service worked together to secure a Provisional Arrest Warrant through the Mexican government that allowed the apprehension of Gamboa.

Gamboa will face extradition proceedings in Mexico, and will likely be returned to Southern District of West Virginia to answer the charges.

Annually, investigations carried out by US Marshals result in the apprehension of approximately 34,000 federal fugitives and more than 27,000 state and local fugitives on felony charges. More federal fugitives are arrested by US Marshals than all other federal agencies combined.

Marshals Arrest Online Sexual Predator

Albuquerque, NM – On August 15, 2013, the District Court of New Mexico in Sandoval County issued a warrant for the arrest of Joseph T. Smith, charging him with Criminal Sexual Penetration of a Minor. Rio Rancho Police investigated the sexual assault and the complaint alleges that Smith befriended a minor on a computer website and then went over to the minor’s home when her parents were not there. The Minor’s parents returned home and caught Smith jumping out the second story window of their home. The Minor’s parents gave chase and when the mother caught up to Smith, Smith assault and battered the Minor’s mother to get away. Smith’s friends helped him flee Rio Rancho; they picked him up and transported him to Albuquerque. Smith attempted to hide in and around the city of Albuquerque.

Rio Rancho Police and United States Marshals developed information that Smith was sleeping in the dug out of a high school baseball field every other night and that he would ride the Albuquerque city buses for a place to feel safe and sleep. Smith was seen in Albuquerque’s southeast area of town on several occasions trying to blend in with college kids in and around the two universities. Smith has a very distinctive tattoo that makes him easily identifiable. When pictures of Smith were distributed, within a split second most people that saw Smith were able to identify whether they did or did not see him in the area.

U.S. Marshals contacted both University of New Mexico (UNM) and Central New Mexico (CNM) campuses and had distributed photos of Smith to law enforcement officers. While Deputy Marshals were checking the computer labs and the library of CNM, CNM Security officers spotted Smith on campus trying to fit in with other college kids. Security Officers and Deputies took Smith into custody in the 900 block of Buena Vista Se, Albuquerque, NM. Joseph T. Smith, 22, has a criminal history that spans four states and includes other acts of violence. Smith was booked into custody without incident. District of New Mexico, United States Marshal Conrad Candelaria said ” the District of New Mexico’s United States Marshals Service, Fugitive Task Force takes very seriously its primary directive of investigating and apprehending dangerous and violent fugitives but what further propels this directive is when children suffer at the hands of predators. I commend the diligent efforts of the Marshals Service and its many law enforcement partners that worked continuously until this dangerous fugitive was arrested before another child is hurt.”

L.A. Gangster Wanted for Murder Hunted Down by U.S. Marshals and Arrested in Mexico

Tucson, AZ – Today, Thomas Ruben Velarde, age 26, of California, was returned back to the United States and into the hands of awaiting Deputy U.S. Marshals and detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Velarde was deported by Mexican law enforcement officials through the Nogales Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. Velarde, aka “Poison” and “Serio,” is a known street gang member and has been wanted for homicide with a bond of nine million dollars, since January 2009, for his alleged participation in a homicide that killed one man and wounded two others.

On January 11, 2009, Velarde and Patricio Michel, age 26, confronted three male subjects in a parking lot outside a Mexican food restaurant in Compton, California. An altercation between the subjects ensued and Velarde allegedly shot at the three males, killing a 28 year old male and wounding the other two.

Within close proximity of the incident two armed security guards hired to work at a nearby party heard the gun shots and responded. While approaching the scene, the security guards observed a vehicle accelerating in their direction and in self-defense fired upon the vehicle. The vehicle fled the area and a search for Velarde and Michel began. Law enforcement officers located and arrested Michel later that morning at his residence in Downey, California. Detectives conducting the homicide investigation learned that Velarde had fled to the Republic of Mexico, where his whereabouts remained unknown.

On January 26, 2009, Velarde and Michel were both charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder. Velarde maintained his fugitive status for over four years and was featured on the television show America’s Most Wanted, meanwhile, Michel continued his journey through the justice system. On July 14, 2010, Michel pled guilty to manslaughter with the use of a firearm, and was

sentenced to 15 years in a California state prison. Velarde continued to elude U.S. law enforcement officials until recent information on his location was obtained. Deputies with the U.S. Marshals led Violent Offender Taskforce - Mexican Investigative Liaison unit were contacted and were requested to assist with newly discovered information. Deputies immediately began to assist the Mexican authorities with their investigation of U.S. fugitive, Velarde. Authorities in Mexico located Velarde and arrested him without incident in Huatabampo, Sonora Mexico. Velarde was taken into custody by Deputy U.S. Marshals and was transported to the Pima County Detention Center where he will await his extradition back to Los Angeles, California.

United States Marshal David Gonzales stated, “Tracking down and arresting individuals that commit these violent acts in our communities is a priority of the United States Marshals Service. It is my hope this arrest can bring some sense of closure to the victim’s family.” He added, “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in Mexico and throughout the United States to track down dangerous individuals.”

The federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that comprise the Arizona WANTED Violent Offender Taskforce (Tucson Metro Division) include: U.S. Marshals Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Arizona Department of Public Safety; Pima County Adult Probation Office; Arizona Department of Corrections; Tucson Police Department; U.S. Border Patrol; Pima County Sheriff’s Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.

U.S. Marshals Task Force Apprehends Santa Rosa Man Wanted on Numerous Violent Felonies

East Milton, FL – The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force captured a Santa Rosa County man early this morning who was being sought by the Sheriff’s Office on a warrant charging him with six felonies. At about one o’clock this morning the Task Force and Santa Rosa County patrol deputies arrested Michael Adam Burns at home on the 9500 Block of American Farms Road after he stepped out onto the porch of the house. Task Force Officers from the Marshals, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Escambia County Sheriff’s Offices were conducting surveillance of the house when Burns came outside and then quickly subdued him without incident. Burns, 27, is wanted in connection with an incident that took place several days ago in Gulf Breeze, when he allegedly bit the victim who is reportedly pregnant and broke a leg off of a table threatening the woman while allegedly shouting, “I am going to kill the babies.” Burns then took off before deputies could respond. Burns is being charged with Aggravated Battery/Offender Knowing Victim was Pregnant, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Battery by Strangulation, Assault, False Imprisonment and Obstructing Justice. Burns remains in the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond.