Union City Fugitive Captured Near Detroit

NEWARK—Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Michael B. Ward announced today the capture of Luis Colon, Jr., who was wanted for failing to appear in Newark federal court on November 14, 2011 to face arraignment on fraud and identity theft charges. The FBI credits the capture to the fugitive announcement that featured Colon, Jr., which appeared on ClearChannel Outdoor digital billboards on several major highways throughout New Jersey since November.

Colon, Jr. had been out on bail after being arrested and charged by federal criminal complaint in April 2011. Colon, Jr. was ordered to wear a monitoring bracelet as a condition of bail. On September 22, 2011, Colon, Jr. was scheduled to appear in court in Philadelphia on an unrelated matter and was granted permission by federal authorities in New Jersey to attend those proceedings. When Colon failed to appear in Philadelphia as scheduled and contact with him could not be established, a federal bench warrant was immediately issued. (See the U.S. Department of Justice news release: http://www.justice.gov/usao/nj/Press/files/Colon,%20Luis%20Arraignment%20News%20Release.html.)

Colon, Jr., was from Union City, New Jersey, but he had ties to East Lansing, Michigan and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In February this year, the Newark FBI was contacted by an individual who recognized Colon, Jr. in the digital billboard fugitive announcement as someone with whom the individual had been in contact through the Internet. Using this information, the FBI tracked Colon, Jr. to an apartment complex at 32600 Concord Drive in Madison Heights, Michigan. Colon, Jr. may have lived in this same apartment complex sometime during 2005 to 2006. The Detroit Division of the FBI maintained surveillance at this address for a period of two weeks.

This past Monday night, April 9, at approximately 8 p.m., Detroit FBI agents observed Colon, Jr. leaving the complex and getting into a vehicle. The agents approached and arrested Colon, Jr. without incident.

“I’d like to thank ClearChannel Outdoor for their substantial support of the FBI’s Fugitive Program,” said SAC Ward. “It’s imperative for the integrity of the legal process that individuals honor the terms of their authorized release, and when they flee, that law enforcement be diligent in their pursuit. The digital billboard program has been a tremendous success, and Luis Colon, Jr.’s capture is yet another example of that successful partnership.” SAC Ward also thanked the agents Detroit Division of the FBI for making the actual capture.

Colon, Jr. appeared in federal court in Detroit yesterday, April 10, 2012, and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals for transport to Newark, New Jersey to face his original charges. The exact date of Colon, Jr.’s appearance in Newark is unknown at this time.

It is important to note that Mr. Colon has not been convicted of the charges he faces. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.