Federal Inmate Pleads Guilty to Escape

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Louiz Pena-Hermosillo, age 26, appeared before U.S. District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol on September 20, 2012, and pled guilty to one count of a superseding indictment that charged him with escape. The maximum penalty upon conviction is five years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine.

In March 2012, Pena-Hermosillo left the confines of the Yankton Federal Prison Camp and was picked up by a woman parked in a car near the camp. The two went to a local hotel, and the defendant later sneaked back into the prison camp.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hendrickson.

A pre-sentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for December 5, 2012. The defendant was returned to custody pending sentencing.

Agents Arrest Man Who Escaped Reynosa Prison; 3 Other Felons

Edinburg, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Rio Grande Valley Sector arrested a man who had escaped from prison and three other convicted felons over the weekend.

The escapee was arrested Saturday by agents assigned to the McAllen Station. During processing at the station, agents discovered the man was part of a group of at least 85 people who escaped from a prison in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, Sept. 10, 2010. The inmates reportedly used ladders to scale the walls and flee into the surrounding area. According to Mexican officials the majority of the inmates had been convicted of, or were on trial for, federal charges, such as weapons possession or drugs. Two guards also disappeared at the time and are suspected of having assisted with the escape.

The escaped prisoner will be turned over to officials from Mexico.

McAllen Station agents arrested another illegal alien Saturday near Granjeno, Texas, who is a convicted sex offender with an outstanding warrant out of Dallas, Texas, for a probation violation. While performing a records check, agents learned that the man, who is a national of El Salvador, had been convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child and sentenced to 10 years probation. The man will be extradited by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department.

Additionally, agents assigned to the Rio Grande City Station arrested an illegal alien who had been convicted for sex with a minor, and agents from the Weslaco Station apprehended an illegal alien who had been convicted for attempted murder. The two men will be processed for return to Mexico.

“Removing violent and criminal aliens from American society is one of our highest immigration enforcement priorities,” Chief Patrol Agent Rosendo Hinojosa said. “By working together with other law enforcement agencies to aggressively target illegal activity and take wanted criminals off our streets, we make our communities and our nation safer.”

To report suspicious activity, call the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector’s toll-free telephone number at (800) 863-9382.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Escape from and Possession of a Weapon at FCI El Reno

OKLAHOMA CITY—Yesterday JOE G. VILLAREAL, JR., 39, was sentenced by United States District Judge David Russell to serve 46 months in prison for escaping from the Federal Correctional Institution (“FCI”) at El Reno, Oklahoma and for possession of a weapon, which is contraband at the prison, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

On January 6, 2012, VILLAREAL was charged with the August 16, 2011 possession of a homemade “shank” weapon at FCI El Reno. He was previously indicted on October 18, 2011 for a prior escape from FCI El Reno where he was serving a 147 month sentence stemming from federal charges of cocaine distribution and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in the Southern District of Texas. He was apprehended in the city of El Reno several hours following his escape and was returned to FCI El Reno.

In addition to being ordered to serve an additional 46 months following the remainder of his original federal sentence, VILLAREAL was ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release.

This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Arvo Mikkanen.

U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests Two Escapees From VOA Halfway House

Mansfield, OH – Early this morning members of the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force – Richland County Division and Officers from the Mansfield Police Department arrested Shawn Kouns, age 39, in an apartment on

South Home Road

in Mansfield. Yesterday morning, members of the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force – Richland County Division and Officers from the Marion Police Department arrested Shawn Stansberry, age 22, at a residence in the 500 block of

Davids Street

in Marion, Ohio.

Both Kouns and Stansberry were charged with felony escape after walking away from the Mansfield Volunteers of America (VOA) Halfway House on March 2, 2011. Kouns and Stansberry were both finishing out their state sentences at VOA after being placed there by the Ohio Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Kouns is also facing a sex offender registration violation.

Acting Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Drew Deserto stated, “I applaud the work of all the officers involved in these investigations and arrests. The partnerships of all agencies involved is what led to the successful apprehension of both of these escapees.”

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of a known fugitive is encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at: 1-866-4-WANTED. Callers may remain anonymous and a cash reward may be available. The Task Force’s “Dangerous Dozen” fugitives can be viewed at http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/oh-n/fugitives/pdf/dangerous_dozen.pdf, which is updated monthly.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force - Richland County Division is composed of the following federal, state and local law enforcement agencies: Ashland Police Department, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Ashland Municipal Probation, Bellville Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, Butler Police Department, Crestline Police Department, Galion Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Loudonville Police Department, Mansfield Municipal Probation, Mansfield Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ontario Police Department, Plymouth Police Department, Richland County Probation, Richland County Prosecutor’s Office, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Shelby Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Agents Arrest Wanted Individuals, Including Mexican Prison Escapee

Edinburg, Texas ─ U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Rio Grande Valley sector have arrested several individuals over the past three days who were being sought by other law enforcement agencies.

Monday morning Brownsville agents working along the Rio Grande apprehended a group of four people who were attempting to illegally enter the U.S. The group was transported to the station for processing. Once at the Border Patrol station all subjects’ fingerprints were submitted for query.

It was at that time agents determined one of the men is wanted by the Mexican authorities for escaping from La Paloma Prison in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. While charges in Mexico are pending on this individual, he will face charges of illegal entry into the U.S.

Sunday, agents from the McAllen station took custody of a Mexican man who was illegally present in the U.S. Checks conducted on the man indicated he was wanted in Waukegan, Ill., on three counts of murder. The man has been turned over to the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office pending extradition.

Saturday, agents working in Falfurrias arrested a Mexican national wanted for vehicular homicide with a warrant out of Atlanta, Ga. He was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“Agents from the Rio Grande Valley Sector continue to make our communities and nation safer by identifying these dangerous people before they have the opportunity to commit any other crimes against the American people,” Chief Patrol Agent Rosendo Hinojosa said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

U.S. Marshals Bring Final Closure to State Prison Escape Case After More Than 38 Years

Fled SCI Muncy in 1972 while serving a Dauphin County robbery sentence

Williamsport, PA – Acting U.S. Marshal Martin J. Pane announced today that U.S. Marshals in Williamsport have successfully brought closure to the oldest escape case in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Mitlean Wright, a fugitive who was on the run for almost four decades, had been sought for escaping from the State Correctional Institution at Muncy on the evening of August 12, 1972.

During an extensive investigation, the U.S. Marshals discovered Wright died at a Connecticut hospital August 6, 2003. She was 24 at the time of her 1972 escape and 55 when she died.

“The closure of the case against Wright sends a strong message to other fugitives, especially those who have eluded capture for so long,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Martin Pane. “It is vitally important fugitives are caught and held accountable for their actions or, as in this case, proper closure be made on cases where the fugitive is deceased. U.S. Marshals Service Cold Case Fugitive Investigators Alix Fils-Aime and James Cunfer did an outstanding job in locating Wright.”

Wright was serving a five-year prison sentence stemming from robbery charges. She had served only three months at the time of her escape in August 1972.

On May 30, 1972, Wright and another inmate escaped from custody at SCI Muncy. Wright was apprehended within 24 hours and charged in Lycoming County with escape. While facing prosecution on the May 1972 prison break, Wright again escaped from SCI Muncy with two other inmates on August 12, 1972. Wright’s whereabouts were unknown for more than 38 years.

Based upon Wright’s criminal activity during the summer of 1972, she was wanted on two fugitive warrants, one for her second escape and one for failure to appear for trial on her first escape.

In 2007, authorities in Williamsport requested the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and its Fugitive Task Force in the Middle District of Pennsylvania to investigate the whereabouts of Wright.

“The successful ending of the search for Mitlean Wright, wanted for 38 years, is an example of the value of federal, state, county and local authorities working together,” Pane said. “The U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force in the Middle District of Pennsylvania is dedicated to locating and apprehending those individuals who believe they are able to run and hide without being brought to justice”.

U.S. Marshals treated the fugitive investigation of Wright as a “cold case.” An extensive amount of time was spent reviewing old files, investigative notes and case reports. Wright’s use of many aliases in the past, her lack of established ties to any specific city or state, her lack of contact with any law enforcement since 1972, and her lack of employment history made the investigation very challenging.

U.S. Marshals did not discount or rule out any potential lead on Wright. All pre-existing case information had to be researched and re-analyzed. In March 2010, U.S. Marshals developed information Wright may have spent time in North Carolina. U.S. Marshals in Fayetteville investigated these leads, which met with negative results.

Recently, U.S. Marshals were able to locate previously unknown and unidentified family members. As a result, they developed several new investigative leads. Marshals were able to identify and confirm Wright used the alias Vernell Wright during the last four decades. The investigation also revealed Wright had a severe case of multiple sclerosis. U.S. Marshals identified several medical facilities in Connecticut where Wright had been hospitalized over the years; they confirmed she was bedridden in a hospital the last five years of her life. Wright died August 6, 2003 at The Hospital for Special Care in New Britain, Conn. The immediate cause of death was cardiac failure, due to severe bronchospasm, asthma and multiple sclerosis.

U.S. Marshals in Connecticut conducted interviews of persons who had dealings with Wright and were able to confirm and corroborate many details about Wright’s life from 1972 until her death in 2003.

Here are some highlights from the case:

Wright used an alias social security number from the mid 1970s until her death. U.S. Marshals confirmed the fugitive used this alias social security number to receive years of benefits while in medical facilities until her death.

Working closely with the Lycoming County Sheriffs Office, U.S. Marshals determined the fugitive had arrests dating back to 1967. During the late 1960s, police in Hartford, Conn., arrested Wright several times on charges of manifesting danger, destruction of private property, disorderly conduct and interfering with police. She used the names of Mitlean Bether and Mitlean Benjamin during these incidents.

In January 1971, Wright was charged with possession of stolen property by the Port Chester, New York Police Department. She provided her name as Wanita Hatton during this incident.

On November 24, 1971, Wright was charged by the Conrail Police Department in Dauphin County, PA., with aggravated robbery and aiding a prisoner to escape.

On December 1, 1971, Wright was arrested in Sheldon, S.C., on the felony charges from Dauphin County, PA. She was charged as a fugitive from justice. When arrested, she was using the name Omonly Shougossine. Wright was extradited to Harrisburg, PA., where she was processed and arraigned on the charges levied by the Conrail Police Department. She was sentenced to five years in state prison.

Personnel from the Lycoming County Sheriffs Office and the Northumberland County Adult Probation Office, two agencies that are active participants in the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, provided significant assistance on this case. The Lycoming County District Attorney’s Office, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, and Pennsylvania State Police provided assistance and support to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov/