Source: US Marshals Service
San Antonio, TX – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) is commemorating the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force’s 20 years of service as part of the Western District of Texas.
The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force (LSFTF) is a multi-agency task force focused on the reduction of violence within the Western District of Texas through the identification, investigation, and apprehension of fugitives wanted for egregious crimes against the community. Since its inception in March 2005, the task force has investigated and apprehended over 58,991 fugitives, including 1,795 wanted for murder.
The Western District of Texas consists of 93,000 square miles, 68 counties, 809 miles of border with Mexico, with eight divisions located in Austin, Alpine, Del Rio, El Paso, Midland, Pecos, San Antonio and Waco.
Notable historical cases, arrests, and awards in the Western District of Texas include:
In April 2017, the Austin division was presented the Outstanding Team Award at the 34th Annual 100 Club of Central Texas Awards Banquet.
June 2022, the Austin division conducted a fugitive investigation that led to the arrest of Kaitlin Armstrong, sought for the May 2022 murder of professional cyclist Moriah “Mo” Wilson. Armstrong was apprehended at a hostel in Costa Rica following a 43-day fugitive investigation with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Office of International Operations, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service.
February 2024, the Alpine division investigated the whereabouts of Ivan Ramos-Hernandez, who fled from Presidio Police, engaging them in a high-speed pursuit and firing gunshots. Ramos-Hernandez fled to Ojinaga, Mexico, where he was apprehended by Mexican authorities following a multi-agency collaboration with assistance provided from Homeland Security Investigations, Custom Border Protection, U.S. Probation, Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division, Presidio Police and Mexican officials. Ramos-Hernandez attempted a violent escape one last time during transport that was halted by authorities.
January 2022, the Del Rio division was contacted by the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force to locate and apprehend Oscar Rosales, who was wanted for capital murder, when he shot and killed Corporal Charles Galloway with the Harris County Constables Office during a traffic stop. Rosales fired multiple rounds from an assault rifle and fled from the scene. Rosales was added to the Texas10 Most Wanted Fugitive list and was believed to have fled to Mexico. Investigators in the Del Rio division worked directly with Mexican authorities and coordinated his apprehension in Acuna, Mexico.
August 2017, the El Paso division initiated a fugitive investigation to apprehend Javier Gonzalez and Manual Gallegos, members of the Kinfolk Outlaw Motorcycle Gang sought for multiple counts of engaging in organized criminal activity and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Gonzales and Gallegos were arrested in two separate incidents within a 10-day span with additional assistance from El Paso Police Department’s SWAT team.
April 2025, the Midland division adopted the apprehension of Noah Gilbert Olgin, who was wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, injury to a child, deadly conduct and a federal supervised release violation for possession of a firearm, following an incident where he was involved in a drive-by-shooting in Odessa, that resulted in a serious injury to a child. Olgin was arrested in Midland with assistance from the Midland SWAT team.
November 2022, the Pecos division arrested Jose Hernandez, a Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive apprehended in Monterey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, through a coordinated effort with the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force and Mexican authorities. Hernandez was sought on a bond violation for two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
January 2024, the San Antonio division joined efforts to apprehend Romeo Nance, who was wanted in connection with a mass shooting in Joliet, Illinois, that killed eight people and wounded one other person. The Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, Joliet Police Department, and the Will County Sheriff’s Department requested immediate assistance from the LSFTF who located and observed Nance at a gas station in Natalia, Texas. As members of the LSFTF attempted to contain Nance in his vehicle, he fled on foot, taking his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
June 2020, the Waco division was contacted by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division to locate 20-year-old Pfc. Class Vanessa Guillen, a Fort Hood soldier who had been reported missing under unusual circumstances in April 2020. Joining CID’s investigation, task force members determined Guillen had been murdered by another soldier. Less than 24 hours after Guillen’s remains were located in a shallow grave near a river, the LSFTF identified Spc. Aaron David Robinson and his girlfriend Cecily Aguilar as primary suspects in her murder. As task force members attempted to take Robinson into custody, he fatally shot himself. Aguilar pleaded guilty in federal court and was sentenced to 30 years of incarceration. In 2021, the Waco Division received the Distinguished Group Award for District Task Forces at the 40th United States Marshals Service Director’s Honorary Awards in recognition of locating Guillen’s remains and identifying those responsible for her death. In July of 2022, personnel in the Waco Division were recognized for their outstanding service, selfless pursuit of justice, and assisting in bringing closure for Guillen’s family and friends by being granted the 69th Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service.
On June 2, the Waco Division received the Distinguished Group Award for the District Task Forces at the 43rd United States Marshals Service Director’s Honorary Awards for a two-year-old cold case from Leon County, involving a missing child, and possible homicide of the child’s mother. The division conducted an intensive investigation that resulted in the recovery of the mother’s decomposed remains found buried in a field and completed a multifaceted arrest operation that resulted in the arrest of the suspect and safe recovery of the missing child. During the conclusion of the arrest, multiple firearms, ammunition, body armor, and narcotics were seized, and the suspect was indicted on capital murder.
“I am immensely proud of the Deputy U.S. Marshals and the numerous task force officers of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, men and women who are fully devoted to making their communities safer for their fellow citizens by apprehending offenders wanted for the most serious crimes such as murder and child abuse, while ensuring the equal application of justice for all,” said Marshal Susan Pamerleau, U.S. Marshal of the Western District of Texas.
U.S. Marshals task forces combine the efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to locate and arrest the most dangerous fugitives. Fifty-eight local task forces are dedicated to reducing violent crime by locating and apprehending wanted criminals. They also serve as the central point for agencies to share information on fugitive matters. Task force officers are state and local police officers who receive special deputations with the U.S. Marshals. While on a task force, these officers can exercise U.S. Marshals authorities, such as crossing jurisdictional lines.
Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force across the Western District of TexasSAN ANTONIO – The U.S. Marshals Service is commemorating the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force’s 20 years of service as part of the Western District of Texas.
The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force (LSFTF) is a multi-agency task force focused on the reduction of violence within the Western District of Texas through the identification, investigation, and apprehension of fugitives wanted for egregious crimes against the community. Since its inception in March 2005, the task force has investigated and apprehended over 58,991 fugitives, including 1,795 wanted for murder.
The Western District of Texas consists of 93,000 square miles, 68 counties, 809 miles of border with Mexico, with eight divisions located in Austin, Alpine, Del Rio, El Paso, Midland, Pecos, San Antonio and Waco.
Notable historical cases, arrests, and awards in the Western District of Texas include:
In April 2017, the Austin division was presented the Outstanding Team Award at the 34th Annual 100 Club of Central Texas Awards Banquet.
June 2022, the Austin division conducted a fugitive investigation that led to the arrest of Kaitlin Armstrong, sought for the May 2022 murder of professional cyclist Moriah “Mo” Wilson. Armstrong was apprehended at a hostel in Costa Rica following a 43-day fugitive investigation with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Office of International Operations, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service.
February 2024, the Alpine division investigated the whereabouts of Ivan Ramos-Hernandez, who fled from Presidio Police, engaging them in a high-speed pursuit and firing gunshots. Ramos-Hernandez fled to Ojinaga, Mexico, where he was apprehended by Mexican authorities following a multi-agency collaboration with assistance provided from Homeland Security Investigations, Custom Border Protection, U.S. Probation, Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division, Presidio Police and Mexican officials. Ramos-Hernandez attempted a violent escape one last time during transport that was halted by authorities.
January 2022, the Del Rio division was contacted by the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force to locate and apprehend Oscar Rosales, who was wanted for capital murder, when he shot and killed Corporal Charles Galloway with the Harris County Constables Office during a traffic stop. Rosales fired multiple rounds from an assault rifle and fled from the scene. Rosales was added to the Texas10 Most Wanted Fugitive list and was believed to have fled to Mexico. Investigators in the Del Rio division worked directly with Mexican authorities and coordinated his apprehension in Acuna, Mexico.
August 2017, the El Paso division initiated a fugitive investigation to apprehend Javier Gonzalez and Manual Gallegos, members of the Kinfolk Outlaw Motorcycle Gang sought for multiple counts of engaging in organized criminal activity and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Gonzales and Gallegos were arrested in two separate incidents within a 10-day span with additional assistance from El Paso Police Department’s SWAT team.
April 2025, the Midland division adopted the apprehension of Noah Gilbert Olgin, who was wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, injury to a child, deadly conduct and a federal supervised release violation for possession of a firearm, following an incident where he was involved in a drive-by-shooting in Odessa, that resulted in a serious injury to a child. Olgin was arrested in Midland with assistance from the Midland SWAT team.
November 2022, the Pecos division arrested Jose Hernandez, a Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive apprehended in Monterey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, through a coordinated effort with the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force and Mexican authorities. Hernandez was sought on a bond violation for two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
January 2024, the San Antonio division joined efforts to apprehend Romeo Nance, who was wanted in connection with a mass shooting in Joliet, Illinois, that killed eight people and wounded one other person. The Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, Joliet Police Department, and the Will County Sheriff’s Department requested immediate assistance from the LSFTF who located and observed Nance at a gas station in Natalia, Texas. As members of the LSFTF attempted to contain Nance in his vehicle, he fled on foot, taking his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
June 2020, the Waco division was contacted by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division to locate 20-year-old Pfc. Class Vanessa Guillen, a Fort Hood soldier who had been reported missing under unusual circumstances in April 2020. Joining CID’s investigation, task force members determined Guillen had been murdered by another soldier. Less than 24 hours after Guillen’s remains were located in a shallow grave near a river, the LSFTF identified Spc. Aaron David Robinson and his girlfriend Cecily Aguilar as primary suspects in her murder. As task force members attempted to take Robinson into custody, he fatally shot himself. Aguilar pleaded guilty in federal court and was sentenced to 30 years of incarceration. In 2021, the Waco Division received the Distinguished Group Award for District Task Forces at the 40th United States Marshals Service Director’s Honorary Awards in recognition of locating Guillen’s remains and identifying those responsible for her death. In July of 2022, personnel in the Waco Division were recognized for their outstanding service, selfless pursuit of justice, and assisting in bringing closure for Guillen’s family and friends by being granted the 69th Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service.
On June 2, the Waco Division received the Distinguished Group Award for the District Task Forces at the 43rd United States Marshals Service Director’s Honorary Awards for a two-year-old cold case from Leon County, involving a missing child, and possible homicide of the child’s mother. The division conducted an intensive investigation that resulted in the recovery of the mother’s decomposed remains found buried in a field and completed a multifaceted arrest operation that resulted in the arrest of the suspect and safe recovery of the missing child. During the conclusion of the arrest, multiple firearms, ammunition, body armor, and narcotics were seized, and the suspect was indicted on capital murder.
“I am immensely proud of the Deputy U.S. Marshals and the numerous task force officers of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, men and women who are fully devoted to making their communities safer for their fellow citizens by apprehending offenders wanted for the most serious crimes such as murder and child abuse, while ensuring the equal application of justice for all,” said Marshal Susan Pamerleau, U.S. Marshal of the Western District of Texas.
U.S. Marshals task forces combine the efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to locate and arrest the most dangerous fugitives. Fifty-eight local task forces are dedicated to reducing violent crime by locating and apprehending wanted criminals. They also serve as the central point for agencies to share information on fugitive matters. Task force officers are state and local police officers who receive special deputations with the U.S. Marshals. While on a task force, these officers can exercise U.S. Marshals authorities, such as crossing jurisdictional lines.
Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force across the Western District of Texas:
- Austin Police Department-Tactical Intelligence Unit
- Police Departments: Anthony, Buffalo, Crystal City, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, El Paso, Georgetown, Killeen, New Braunfels, Nolanville, Round Rock, San Marcos, Uvalde, and Waco, Texas.
- Sheriff’s Offices: Bexar County, Coryell County, Dimmett County, Ector County, Hays County, McLennan County, Maverick County, Midland County, New Braunfels, Real County, Travis County, Val Verde County, Williamson County, and Zavala County.
- District Attorney’s Offices: Bexar County, and Val Verde County.
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
- Midland Fire Marshals Office
- Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)
- Texas Attorney General’s Office
- Texas Board of Criminal Justice (TBCJ) – Office of the Inspector General (OIG)
- Texas Department of Public Safety
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Division
- Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force
- U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement
- U.S. DHS/Homeland Security Investigations