Task Force Arrests Cincinnati Rape Suspect in California

Bloomington, CA - U.S. Marshal Pete Tobin is pleased to announce that during the evening hours of February 10, 2017, the U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force (PSWRFTF) arrested fugitive Cesar Romero on an outstanding warrant from the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, Cincinnati, Ohio for the charge of Rape of a Minor.

On January 25, 2017, Romero was indicted by a Hamilton County Grand Jury, for alleged sexual assault of a juvenile female in the City of Norwood. The Norwood Police Department investigated the case involving Romero; this warrant was assigned to the U.S. Marshals Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) on January 31, 2017. During the course of the investigation Task Force Officers discovered that Romero was in the United States Illegally and had multiple deportations by U.S. Immigration Officials. SOFAST developed information that led them to believe Romero was hiding in Bloomington, CA. SOFAST Investigators contacted U.S. Marshals in CA to assist with arresting Romero. The U.S. Marshals (PSWRFTF) quickly located Romero in the Bloomington, CA area and arrested him without incident.

Romero is currently in custody at the Riverside County Sheriff's Office in CA awaiting extradition back to Cincinnati, Ohio. Romero could face new charges from the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas and the Federal Court Southern District of Ohio.

Cincinnati’s SOFAST is a fugitive focused, U.S. Marshals Service-led task force consisting of local, state, and federal authorities including the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Colerain Township Police

Department, Harrison Police Department, Newtown Police Department, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, St. Bernard Police and Warren County Prosecutor’s Office.

U.S. Marshals are the nation’s primary fugitive hunting organization and capture more federal fugitives each year than all other law enforcement agencies combined.