THE LONE STAR FUGITIVE TASK FORCE ARRESTS SAN ANTONIO FUGITIVE

AUSTIN – The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested Jose Antonio Espinoza this evening in the 12000 block of Hunters Chase in Northwest Austin. Espinoza was sought by the task force after he failed to appear for his June 2006 sentencing in the United States District Court in San Antonio, Texas.

Espinoza was charged in May of 2005 for his involvement in a federal cocaine conspiracy and distribution network. Espinoza was released on bond and ordered to report as required by the conditions of his bond release. In December of 2005, Espinoza pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Fred Biery in San Antonio and was allowed to remain on bond pending his scheduled sentencing in June of 2006. Espinoza subsequently failed to appear for his scheduled sentencing and was handed down a 30 year sentence in absentia by Judge Biery.

Task Forces officer initiated surveillance at an apartment complex after their investigation determined Espinoza was living under an alias Jose Luis Hernandez. Espinoza, upon departing the residence was surrounded, and arrested without incident. Espinoza will remain in custody of the Travis County Jail pending his assignment to a Bureau of Prisons institution for the service of his 30 year sentence.

Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in Austin are the Austin Police Department – Intelligence Unit, Travis County Sheriff’s Department, Texas Rangers, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

LaFayette Collins, United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas states, “If you fail to abide by your obligation to the Court, the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force will hunt you down with every resource at their disposal.”