Concord,
NH – The United States Marshals Service is pleased to announce
that this week’s “Fugitive of the Week” for New Hampshire has been
arrested by the U.S. Marshals – NH Joint Fugitive Task Force. Luis
Mendoza Vazquez, 33 years-of-age, of Manchester, NH was arrested this
morning shortly after being featured as the “Fugitive of the Week.”
Mendoza Vazquez was being sought on a federal arrest warrant which was
issued after he was indicted in the U.S. District Court in Concord, NH.
This indictment alleges that Mendoza Vazquez possessed with intent to
distribute a controlled drug – fentanyl.
Mr. Mendoza Vazquez had
just been featured this morning as the “Fugitive of the Week,” which was
aired on WTPL-FM, The Union Leader, The Nashua Telegraph, The Patch,
Foster’s Daily Democrat, Manchester Information, the Manchester Ink
Link, the Rochester Voice and prominently featured on the internet. The
“Fugitive of the Week” continues to be a very successful tool that has
resulted in the location and arrest of over 500 fugitives since its
implementation in 2007. Additionally, the “Fugitive of the Week” was
distributed statewide to all law enforcement officers in New Hampshire.
This morning, several members of the US Marshals – NH Joint Fugitive
Task Force were conducting surveillance and interviews at multiple
locations throughout Manchester. During these interviews, it was learned
that Mr. Mendoza Vazquez was at a residence on Ahern Street in
Manchester and had expressed to friends that he knew he was wanted and
was considering turning himself into police. After a short period of
surveillance, Mendoza Vazquez was observed exiting the residence and
getting in a truck. This truck was stopped by the NH Joint Fugitive Task
Force and Mr. Mendoza Vazquez was arrested without incident. After
Mendoza Vazquez was arrested, it appeared that he was getting a ride to
turn himself in to the police.
Mendoza Vazquez was transported
to the Merrimack County Jail where he will be processed and held pending
his video appearance in U.S. District Court later today.
This
arrest was made by the investigative efforts of several member agencies
of the U.S. Marshals – New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force
including, the Belknap, Rockingham & Strafford County Sheriff’s Offices,
& the Manchester Police Department, along with deputy US Marshals.
Since the inception of the U.S. Marshals – New Hampshire Joint
Fugitive Task Force in 2002, these partnerships have resulted in over
8,218 arrests (Updated as of 12/16/2020). These arrests have ranged in
seriousness from murder, assault, unregistered sex offenders, probation
and parole violations and numerous other serious offenses. Nationally
the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out
with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive
task forces, 8 regional task forces, as well as a growing network of
offices in foreign countries.
Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found
at http://www.usmarshals.gov.
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America’s
First Federal Law Enforcement Agency