CBP Officers in Rio Grande City Apprehend 2 Fugitives, 1 Wanted for Fraud, Escape from Custody

January 04, 2010: U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Rio Grande City International Bridge apprehended two fugitives with outstanding warrants; one wanted by the state of Texas for escape from custody and another by the state of Utah wanted on a fraud charge.

On December 30, 2009, CBP officers working at the Rio Grande City International Bridge came in contact with a northbound traveler returning from Mexico. The traveler was identified as Juan Alberto Alaniz, a U.S. citizen, age 22 from Rio Grande City, Texas. A check of a CBP database identified Alaniz as the subject of an outstanding criminal arrest warrant. The warrant listed Alaniz as a fugitive wanted by the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, Provo, Utah on a state charge of fraud. After his arrest, Alaniz was transferred to the custody of the Rio Grande City Police Department. Alaniz remains incarcerated and is to be extradited back to Provo, Utah.

On January 1, 2010, CBP officers working at the Rio Grande City International Bridge came in contact with yet another northbound traveler returning from Mexico. The traveler was identified as Antonio Gonzalez, a U.S. citizen, age 41 from Rio Grande City, Texas. A check of a CBP database identified Gonzalez as the subject of an outstanding criminal arrest warrant. The warrant listed Gonzalez as fugitive wanted by the Texas Department of Public Safety on a state charge of escape from custody. After his arrest, Gonzalez was transferred to the custody of the local DPS office in Rio Grande City, Texas.

Leopoldo Reyes, CBP acting port director, Rio Grande City said, “CBP officers’ queries of individuals using a CBP database at primary inspection resulted in the apprehension of two men with outstanding arrest warrants. These actions taken by CBP officers every day help keep America safe and advance our border security mission.”