Dozens of Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives Captured in 2015

January designated as Crime Stoppers Month

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced today that 29 fugitives sought through the Texas 10 Most Wanted Program – including a record-breaking 20 sex offenders – were arrested in 2015 by DPS and other agencies. In addition, $79,000 in rewards was paid for anonymous tips that resulted in arrests last year.

“The Texas 10 Most Wanted Program has proven to be a force multiplier in law enforcement’s efforts to get offenders off the streets and solve crimes – thanks to the tremendous work by local, state and federal law enforcement entities,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “The success of this program also depends on tip information from the public, and we are grateful for the vigilant citizens who continue to take a stand against criminals and sexual predators in their communities.”

The 20 apprehended sex offenders are the most ever apprehended in a year for the Texas 10 Most Wanted Program, exceeding the previous record of 19 set in 2013.

Other notable accomplishments in 2015 include:

• The $79,000 paid in rewards is the second-highest total payout in a year.
• Arrests in 16 of the 29 total apprehensions were the result of tip information provided by anonymous tipsters.
• Three of the fugitives apprehended were sexually violent predators who were currently part of the state’s Civil Commitment Program.
  (A fourth absconded sexually violent offender committed suicide before being apprehended.)
• Of the 29 fugitives apprehended, two sex offenders were extradited from Mexico, and three fugitives and four sex offenders were extradited from other states.
• Six of the fugitives apprehended were gang members from the following gangs: Texas Mexican Mafia, Crips, Bloods, Raza Unida and Texas Chicano Brotherhood.

For more information on the fugitives captured in 2015, see the captured fugitive archive at: http://www.dps.texas.gov/Texas10MostWanted/captured.aspx.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has declared January as Crime Stoppers Month in Texas. Crime Stoppers programs enable citizens to anonymously report information about crimes for cash rewards, helping put criminals behind bars and assisting in crime reduction efforts. See the entire proclamation at: http://gov.texas.gov/files/press-office/CrimeStoppersMonth012016.pdf.

“For more than 30 years, Crime Stoppers programs have provided citizens powerful tools in combatting crimes that disrupt the lives of Texans and endanger our communities,” said Gov. Abbott. “Because of the combined efforts of concerned citizens, law enforcement and the media, thousands of crimes have been solved, and I encourage all Texans to join in this effort to make Texas a safer place.”

Texas Crime Stoppers, which is funded by the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division, offers cash rewards to any person who provides information that leads to the arrest of one of the Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitives or sex offenders. All tips are guaranteed to be anonymous.

To be eligible for the cash rewards, there are five different ways to provide anonymous tips:

• Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).
• Text the letters DPS – followed by your tip – to 274637 (CRIMES) from your cell phone.
• Submit a web tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive you have information about, and then clicking on the link under their picture.
• Submit a Facebook tip at http://www.facebook.com/texas10mostwanted by clicking the “SUBMIT A TIP” link (under the “About” section).
• Submit a tip through the DPS Mobile App.

  The app is currently available for iPhone users on the Apple App Store: (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/texas-dps/id902092368?mt=8) and for Android users on Google Play: (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microassist.texasdps&hl=en).

All tips are anonymous – regardless of how they are submitted.

DPS investigators work with local law enforcement agencies to select fugitives for the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive and Sex Offender lists. You can find the current lists – with photos – on the DPS website at http://www.dps.texas.gov/texas10mostwanted/.