Wednesday, April 30, 2014

U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests Murder Fugitive in Lower Paxton Township



1999 Fatal Shooting Occurred in Puerto Rico

Harrisburg, PA – United States Marshal Martin J. Pane announced today the arrest of Daniel Rivera-Morales for a shooting that occurred over 14 years ago in Puerto Rico. He was arrested in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County.

Rivera-Morales, 32, is charged with the August 1999 murder of an individual in the Ponce De Leon Public Housing Project in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico.

On April 22, 2014, an arrest warrant was issued in Puerto Rico charging Rivera-Morales with four felonies: homicide – willful killing non-family member with gun, possession of illegal firearm, porting and transporting of a firearm, and discharging of firearm causing death.

The case was adopted by the U.S. Marshals Service in the District of Puerto Rico. The investigation determined Rivera-Morales was on federal supervised release in the Middle District of Pennsylvania for a prior federal conviction in Puerto Rico. In 2003, Rivera-Morales was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine – he received a prison sentence of 135 months.

An investigative lead was sent to the USMS Middle District of Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force requesting assistance in the arrest of Rivera-Morales.

Earlier this morning, Deputy U.S. Marshals and task force officers arrested Rivera-Morales without incident in the 4900 block of Haverford Road in Lower Paxton Township. He was taken to the Dauphin County Prison, pending court proceedings concerning his extradition to Puerto Rico.

United States Marshal Martin J. Pane stated, “The coordination and cooperation demonstrated by law enforcement in this case ensured that a dangerous fugitive was taken off the streets. It is our top priority to arrest violent crime fugitives, especially those who have no regard for human life.”

U.S. Marshals were assisted by personnel from the Harrisburg Bureau of Police, Lower Paxton Township Police Department, Dauphin County Adult Probation Office, and Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole. These agencies are participating members of the district’s Fugitive Task Force.

The concept of all USMS-led fugitive task forces is to seek out and arrest the nation’s most dangerous offenders.

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