Thread: Local authorities find Mexican national who escaped feds

Local authorities find Mexican national who escaped federal custody

June 02, 2011 10:13 AM
Jared Taylor The Monitor

ALTON — Local authorities tracked down a fugitive who escaped from federal custody in April.

Victor Arriaga Chavez, 20, had been on the run since he fled federal custody two months ago as he was about to face human smuggling charges in U.S. District Court in McAllen, according to a news release from U.S. Border Patrol. Arriaga's time on the run ended Wednesday morning near Alton.

Hidalgo County sheriff's deputies patrolling a neighborhood near Alton grew suspicious when a man began running after he spotted their patrol vehicle, the release states. Deputies called Alton police officers, who helped track down Arriaga minutes later.

He was later identified by U.S. Border Patrol agents in McAllen, who had been looking for him since he escaped federal custody April 4 outside federal court at Bentsen Tower, 1701 W. Business 83, McAllen, according to the release.

Arriaga was at the courthouse to face human smuggling charges after Border Patrol agents arrested him and 19 other people near Mission, court records state. Authorities said he confessed to working as a river and foot guide for groups illegally entering the United States. He told investigators he earned between $25 and $50 for each person successfully smuggled into the U.S.

Prior to his escape, Border Patrol agents apprehended Arriaga a total of 10 times, with groups that ranged from three to 38 people, court records state. During each of those incidents, Arriaga told agents he was a minor and he avoided criminal charges.

Arriaga is now expected to face federal escape charges in addition to the original human smuggling charges, the news release states.
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Jared Taylor covers courts and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4439.

http://www.themonitor.com/articles/esca ... -find.html

I.C.E. News Release

Federal Fugitive Arrested by Hidalgo Deputies and Alton Police Officers

(Wednesday, June 01, 2011)

Mission, Texas ─ Deputies from the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Alton Police Department arrested a man who escaped from federal custody on April 4.

Wednesday morning, Hidalgo County Deputies were on patrol when they spotted the man and attempted to talk to him. As the man saw deputies approaching, he fled on foot. With the assistance of officers from the Alton Police Department, Hidalgo County Deputies arrested him a short time later.

The man was interviewed by agents at the scene and admitted to being in the country illegally. He was taken to the McAllen Border Patrol Station for processing where records checks revealed him to be Victor Arriaga-Chavez--the person who had escaped from federal custody as he was waiting to be arraigned on alien smuggling charges. Victor Arriaga-Chavez is expected to face federal escape charges and deportation.

“Thanks to our law enforcement partners who encountered this fugitive and brought him to justice,â€