San Juan, Puerto Rico - Just twelve days after the arrest announcement of
three “Top Ten Most Wanted” fugitives by the Puerto Rico Fugitive Task
Force, the United States Marshal for the District of Puerto Rico is pleased
to announce that the United States Marshals led Puerto Rico Fugitive Task
Force (PRFTF) has arrested another member of their “Top Ten Most Wanted” list,
Fernando Santiago-Rios.
Santiago-Rios was wanted by the Puerto Rico Police Department since June of
2006 as a member of a multi-kilogram cocaine conspiracy and on four weapons
charges. These charges were the result of a federal Organized Crime Drug
Enforcement (OCDETF) and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Activity (HIDTA)
investigation involving a number of high profile targets.
In October of 2007, the Puerto Rico Fugitive Task Force was asked to locate
and apprehend Santiago-Rios and in December of 2007, a federal warrant was
obtained by the United States Marshals Service for Unlawful Flight to Avoid
Prosecution (UFAP).
On January 27, 2008, a tip was received after an individual saw the Puerto
Rico Fugitive Task Force “Top Ten Most Wanted” picture of Santiago-Rios on
the United States Marshals District of Puerto Rico website and contacted the
PRFTF directly. The PRFTF contacted the U.S. Marshals Office in Florida and
based directly on information provided by the tipster, Fernando
Santiago-Rios was arrested at a residence in Tampa without incident and
transported to the county jail where he awaits extradition to Puerto Rico.
Members of the public can access this website to view other members of the
Puerto Rico Fugitive Task Force’s “Top Ten Most Wanted” List at
http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/pr/index.html.
Formed in 1997, the Puerto Rico Fugitive Task Force is an United States
Marshals Service led task force comprised of Agents from the Puerto Rico
Police Department, the Puerto Rico Corrections Department, the Puerto Rico
State Marshals, the Special Investigations Bureau and the United States
Marshals Service. In fiscal year 2006, the U.S. Marshals arrested more than
36,000 federal fugitive felons, clearing 39,000 federal felony warrants –
more than all other law enforcement agencies combined. Working with
authorities at the federal, state, and local levels, U.S. Marshals-led
fugitive task forces arrested more than 58,600 state and local fugitives,
clearing 70,300 state and local felony warrants. |
