ICE ‘most wanted fugitive’ captured in Colorado following local news
report
Public tip helped officers capture Jose Victor Bonilla-Melendez, a previously deported convicted sex offender – and his brother, a previously deported convicted child sex offender
WASHINGTON – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Denver Fugitive Operations team officers arrested one of ERO’s most wanted fugitives Friday morning in Aurora, Colorado, making a second arrest in the process.
|
Jose Victor
Bonilla-Melendez, aka Anthony Garcia-Melendez, 48, a citizen of
Honduras, was located after ERO received a tip about his whereabouts from
someone who saw a social media post by the local Denver ABC affiliate regarding his
inclusion among ICE’s most wanted fugitives. Bonilla–Melendez was
wanted by ICE for removal from the U.S. as convicted sex offender, last seen in
Aurora.
Bonilla-Melendez has a criminal history that includes felony
convictions for assault causing serious bodily injury, sexual assault, and
unlawful re-entry of a deported alien. He has been removed from the U.S. on two
prior occasions, most recently on April 5, 2006. On Dec. 7, 2014, the Aurora
Police Department arrested him on local charges, but the subject posted bond
before an ICE detainer could be placed. Despite numerous attempts by ICE to
locate his whereabouts, he remained at-large.
“Protecting public safety by identifying and removing dangerous
criminal fugitives from our communities is the top priority of our fugitive
operations teams,” said Jeffrey Lynch, field office director for ERO Denver. “A
convicted felon and one of our most wanted fugitives, Bonilla-Melendez is a
threat no more and is in custody awaiting removal from the United States. I
commend the hard work and dedication of our officers.”
During Bonilla-Melendez’s arrest, ERO officers also encountered
another individual who they arrested – Bonilla-Melendez’s brother, German
Bonilla, who was convicted of sexual assault against a child and unlawful
re-entry after deportation following conviction for an aggravated felony.
German has also been removed from the U.S. twice previously.
“The unanticipated encounter of Jose Bonilla-Melendez’s brother, German Bonilla — another
criminal alien — demonstrates the dangerous nature of our Fugitive Operations
Teams,” said Lynch. “Our ICE officers
must stay vigilant to the unexpected.”
The ICE National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center (NCATC)
provided critical investigative support for this arrest, including criminal and
intelligence analysis from a variety of sources. The NCATC provides
comprehensive analytical support to aid the at-large enforcement efforts of all
ICE components.
Members of the public who have information about fugitives are urged
to contact ICE by calling the toll-free ICE tip line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or
internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by
completing ICE’s online tip form.
|