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Release RECORD $2.2 MILLION REWARD ANNOUNCED FOR CAPTURE OF FUGITIVE WANTED FOR THE 1994 MURDER OF A DEA AGENT Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Thomas A. Constantine, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Louis Freeh, and Department of State Acting Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Rand Beers are joining together to announce a reward of up to $2.2 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Mexican fugitive Augustin VASQUEZ Mendoza, believed to have been responsible for the 1994 murder of DEA Special Agent Richard Fass.
Following undercover negotiations between Special Agent Fass and VASQUEZ Mendoza for the purchase of 22 pounds of methamphetamine for $160,000, Special Agent Fass was fatally wounded by VASQUEZ Mendoza’s henchmen during the undercover drug buy. Federal and state authorities investigating the murder concluded that VASQUEZ Mendoza intended to rob and murder Special Agent Fass all along. After the murder, VASQUEZ Mendoza fled to Mexico, where he is still believed to be hiding. FBI Director Freeh stated, "VASQUEZ Mendoza is on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List for his participation in the June 30, 1994 murder of DEA Special Agent Richard Fass in Glendale, Arizona. We are extremely pleased that the earlier DEA and FBI reward offer of $250,000 has been increased substantially through the State Department’s Counternarcotics Rewards Program." Acting Assistant Secretary Beers said he was "pleased to announce that the Department of State is offering a reward of up to $2 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of international narcotics trafficker Augustin VASQUEZ Mendoza. The Counternarcotics Rewards Program, established by statute in 1986, is one of the most effective tools available to aid law enforcement in the capture of major narcotics traffickers who import hundreds of tons of drugs into our country each year. Because Augustin VASQUEZ Mendoza is also alleged to have been a participant in the 1994 murder of DEA Special Agent Richard Fass, we wanted to use this program to show how serious we are about ensuring his capture and arrest." Wanted posters of VASQUEZ Mendoza with the reward offer of up to $2.2 million are displayed throughout the border states -- Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, and California, and posted on the DEA, FBI, and State Department Internet sites. Agents are manning telephones at the DEA Field Office in Phoenix, Arizona around the clock to receive leads that may result in the capture of VASQUEZ Mendoza. Callers should phone toll free U.S. telephone number 1-888-853-4961 or collect at 1-602-241-5183. In addition, the popular Fox TV program "AMERICA’S MOST WANTED" will broadcast an updated segment U.S. law enforcement efforts to locate fugitive VASQUEZ Mendoza, emphasizing the increased reward, and providing toll free numbers to call with information leading to the capture of this notorious drug criminal and alleged murderer. "With this reward and all the publicity, we expect that VASQUEZ Mendoza’s days as a ‘free man’ are numbered," Constantine concluded. REWARDOF UP TO $2.2 MILLION DOLLARSAGUSTIN VASQUEZ MENDOZA
WANTED
BY THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA) AND THE FOR THE MURDER OF A DEA SPECIAL AGENT
PLEASE CALL YOUR LOCAL DEA OR FBI OFFICE WITH ANY INFORMATION. TOLL FREE 1-888-853-4961 OR 1-602-241-5183
RECOMPENSA
HASTA (17,600,000.00 NUEVOS PESOS MEXICANOS)SE SOLICITA POR LA DEA Y LA FBI POR HOMICIDIO DE UN AGENTE FEDERAL NORTE AMERICANO AGUSTIN VASQUEZ-MENDOZA
POR
FAVOR LLAME SU OFICINA LOCAL DE LA DEA O LA FBI SIN COBRAR LLAME 1-888-853-4961 O 1-602-241-5183 |
According
to Constantine, "Special Agent Fass was murdered by VASQUEZ Mendoza
and his criminalassociates. The two triggermen were arrested as they fled
the scene and the third accomplice was captured in Los Angeles a few days
later. The criminal mastermind VASQUEZ Mendoza escaped. We are committing
all our resources to capturing this murderous coward. The sizeable reward
we are announcing today should bring in new leads and bolster our efforts
to locate and deliver VASQUEZ Mendoza to justice." 