Florida Fugitive Featured on ‘America’s Most Wanted’ Caught in Honduras by Diplomatic Security

Fugitive Anita Sue Pinto-Aguilar was arrested in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, by local authorities June 20, 2007, after being detained by Diplomatic Security (DS) special agents at the U.S. Embassy. She is wanted in Okaloosa County, Florida, in connection with the homicide of her 17-year-old daughter in June 2006. A warrant was issued for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution after Pinto-Aguilar fled while being investigated on charges of tampering with evidence.

Pinto-Aguilar submitted a U.S. passport application in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, and upon normal procedural review, alert Consular authorities noted she was of law enforcement interest. When she came to the Tegucigalpa U.S. Embassy to pick up her passport, Diplomatic Security held her for the local authorities. She was charged with immigration violations in Honduras and transported back to Miami today where she is awaiting transfer to Okaloosa County.

Featured on Florida’s “Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers Wanted” and the national program “America’s Most Wanted,” Pinto-Aguilar was believed to have been hiding in the U.S. Southwest.

“I want to applaud the efforts and assistance of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security. We greatly appreciate their cooperation and teamwork to locate this subject and return her to our jurisdiction,” said Okaloosa County Florida Sheriff Charlie Morris.

Director of the Office of Investigations and Counterintelligence, Dave Kidd, of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS), stated, “It’s this type of close, worldwide law enforcement liaison capability that gives Diplomatic Security unparalleled ability to locate, pursue and apprehend fugitives like Pinto-Aguilar. Her return highlights the critical role DS plays in bringing suspects and fugitives to justice, regardless of where they may be hiding. Pinto-Aguilar’s apprehension was the direct result of law enforcement coordination and field efforts by Diplomatic Security, the FBI, the U.S Consular section and the Honduran local police authorities."

Because the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) is the most widely represented law enforcement organization in the world, the capability to track and capture fugitives who have fled U.S. jurisdiction to avoid prosecution is unmatched. During 2006, DS assisted in the resolution of 126 international fugitive cases. Fugitives were tracked, located, and apprehended in a total of 47 different countries in every region of the world. Many of these fugitive captures are the result of the outstanding work of Foreign Service national investigators who work shoulder-to-shoulder with DSS Special Agents at posts worldwide.

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the U.S. Department of State’s law enforcement and security arm. The special agents, engineers, and security professionals of the Bureau are responsible for the security of 285 U.S. diplomatic missions around the world. In the United States, Diplomatic Security personnel protect the U.S. Secretary of State and high-ranking foreign dignitaries and officials visiting the United States, investigate passport and visa fraud, and conduct personnel security investigations. More information about the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security may be obtained at www.state.gov/m/ds.

Contact:
L. Kendal Smith
571-345-2509
SmithLK2@state.gov