Fugitive Wanted for Allegedly Murdering Air Force Reservist Captured in Mexico

Tucson, AZ - U.S. Marshals arrested Moises Valdez, 38, at the San Luis, Arizona, Port of Entry, on  Wednesday, March 4th for murder.

On November 2, 2014, Marissa Pineda De Almanza, a member of the United States Air Force Reserve, was found deceased inside her apartment in Elk Grove, California. The investigation determined Almanza was murdered as the result of multiple shot gun wounds. On November 24, 2014, the Sacramento Superior Court of California issued a warrant for the arrest of Moises Valdez for the murder of Almanza. Almanza was an acquaintance of Valdez. Investigators developed information that Valdez immediately fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution.

Between December 2014 and February 2015, Deputy U.S. Marshals in California and Arizona developed information regarding Valdez’s whereabouts.

On March 4, 2015, Valdez was arrested in Mexico and deported to the United States via the San Luis, AZ Port of Entry and turned over to U.S. Marshals when he was immediately arrested for the murder of Almanza. Valdez was booked into the Yuma County Jail pending his extradition to California.

“Tracking down and arresting offenders that commit violent acts is a priority with the United States Marshals Service,” said David Gonzales, U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona. “This arrest was the result of the outstanding cooperation among multiple offices within the United States Marshals Service working to apprehend fugitives and resolve border-related issues.”

The U.S. Marshals Service is the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency. Annually, U.S. Marshals arrest more than 50 percent of all federal fugitives and serve more federal warrants than all other federal agencies combined.