Last Updated on 1 month by Ashley Michael
Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, a 47-year-old Salvadoran national and Suspected senior member of the notorious MS-13 gang, has been captured, FBI Director Kash Patel announced on March 18.
Roman-Bardales, who was on the FBI’s “10 Most Wanted” list, is accused of orchestrating numerous acts of violence against civilians and rival gang members, as well as leading drug distribution and extortion schemes in the United States and El Salvador, according to his wanted poster.
“He was arrested in Mexico and is being transported within the U.S. as we speak, where he will face American justice,” Patel wrote on social media platform X. “This is a major victory both for our law enforcement partners and for a safer America.”
Charges and Allegations
Roman-Bardales faces multiple charges, including:
- Conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists
- Narco-terrorism conspiracy
- Racketeering conspiracy
- Alien smuggling conspiracy
The FBI had offered a reward of up to $250,000 for information leading to his arrest.
Recent Successes in Fugitive Apprehensions
Roman-Bardales is the third fugitive on the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list to be apprehended since President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.
- Donald Eugene Fields II, 60, was arrested on January 25 in Lady Lake, Florida. Fields faces federal charges of child sex trafficking, as well as state charges in Missouri, including statutory rape, statutory sodomy, child molestation, and witness tampering.
- Arnoldo Jimenez, 43, was arrested on January 30 in Monterrey, Mexico. Jimenez is accused of stabbing his wife to death in Illinois and has been charged with first-degree murder and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
A Major Win for Law Enforcement
The capture of Roman-Bardales marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to combat transnational crime and terrorism. His arrest underscores the importance of international cooperation in bringing high-profile criminals to justice.
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