March 20, 2007

Gang member wanted for murder of Mexican state police officer captured in Los Angeles and deported

LOS ANGELES - A man wanted by the Mexican government for the murder of a police officer and the attempted murder of two others in Zacatecas, Mexico, was turned over to the custody of Mexican law enforcement officials today following his arrest yesterday.

Odilon Carlos, also known as Odilon Carlos-Marquez, 27, of Zacatecas, Mexico, was taken into custody yesterday morning by the FBI's Fugitive Task Force near his girlfriend's residence in Huntington Park, aided by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fugitive operations team.

Carlos, a member of the 18th Street "transnational" gang in Los Angeles, was previously deported in 2005 after serving five years in prison for a 1999 felony conviction for possession of an UZI automatic weapon. On December 28, 2006, Carlos allegedly used an UZI 9 mm machine gun to fire on three Zacatecas municipal police officers. One officer was killed and the others sustained serious injuries. An exhaustive manhunt ensued after Carlos was thought to have fled into the mountains near Zacatecas. Police searched several days for Carlos utilizing helicopters and canines, but were unable to locate him in the rugged terrain.

In March 2007, agents with the FBI's Mexico City Legal Attaché, stationed in Guadalajara, Jalisco, were contacted by Mexican law enforcement authorities who had developed information that Carlos had illegally returned to the United States and was residing in Los Angeles.

"This capture should send a message to fugitives from justice that crossing the U.S.-Mexican border does not provide sanctuary," said J. Stephen Tidwell, assistant director in charge of the FBI in Los Angeles. "The FBI has and will continue to work jointly with Mexico and other foreign governments, and our partners in the United States, to apprehend violent criminals whose capture serves the interest of law-abiding citizens in any country."

Carlos, a convicted felon, was previously removed from the United States in 2005. ICE reinstated that previous removal in order to carry out his deportation today. ICE officers and members of the Fugitive Task Force transported Carlos to the border crossing at San Ysidro today, where he was turned over to Mexican immigration officials.

"Since January of last year, ICE's Los Angeles fugitive operations teams have taken custody of 39 foreign nationals who were being sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including rape and murder," said Jim Hayes, Director for ICE's Los Angeles Field Office. "As a result of these efforts, these suspects have been returned to their home countries to face justice. The message for violent fugitives who flee to the United States is clear - you can't outrun the law."

This successful apprehension was the result of a joint operation by Mexican law enforcement authorities working cooperatively with the FBI's Legal Attaché in Mexico City and the FBI's Fugitive Task Force in Los Angeles, with assistance provided by ICE. Agents with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation - Division of Adult Parole Operations also provided assistance. Analytical support on the case was provided by L.A. CLEAR. The FBI's Fugitive Task Force in Los Angeles is made up of officers with the Los Angeles Police Department and agents with the FBI.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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