U.S. Marshals Arrest Puerto Rico Fugitive in Orlando, FL

San Juan, PR – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Florida Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force (FCRFTF) - Orlando Office and members of the Middle District of Florida, in collaboration with the USMS Puerto Rico Violent Offenders Task Force (PRVOTF), today apprehended a Puerto Rico woman wanted on charges of illegal deprivation of custody and parental kidnapping.

Aleishka Marie Martinez-Rios, 27, was arrested without incident in Kissimmee, Florida.

The Arecibo District Court in Puerto Rico issued an arrest warrant Aug. 23 against Martinez-Rios after a prosecutor filed charges against her in violation of Art. 121 of the Penal Code (Illegal Deprivation of Custody – Parental Kidnapping), a felony offense.

The Puerto Rico Police Bureau and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice requested assistance from the USMS District of Puerto Rico to locate and arrest Martinez-Rios, who took her child without the father's consent, triggering a missing minor alert. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that Martinez-Rioz traveled to the state of Florida with the child.

After locating Martinez-Rioz Oct. 1, the PRVOTF requested the assistance of the FCRFTF to arrest her and recover the child. After the recovery, the Florida Department of Children and Families took custody of the child. Prior coordination had been made between the USMS, the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, and the Florida Department of Children and Families to ensure that custody of the minor would be granted to the father.

“I want to recognize the members of the United States Marshals Service Missing Children Unit in Puerto Rico for their prompt response to return this child to his legal custody guardian,” said Wilmer Ocasio-Ibarra, U.S. Marshal for the District of Puerto Rico. “The USMS district of Puerto Rico will continue, along with our law enforcement partners, to be vigilant of anyone who wants to bypass the justice system process without consequences. Fortunately, an innocent victim was recovered. We will not stop in our effort to pursue those who believe they can evade the law. They may try to hide but they should know that the U.S. Marshals Service will not stop until we find you, and bring you to justice."

The USMS encourages the community to continue to collaborate with our deputies on tips that help find the whereabouts of a fugitive by contacting our local office at (787) 766-6297, calling the U.S. Marshals Service Communication Center at 1 (800) 336-0102, or submitting tips using the USMS Tips app.

The FCRFTF has experience in conducting complex, long- and short-term investigations utilizing all resources made available through partnerships with multiple law enforcement agencies. The task force’s longstanding success in the apprehension and prosecution of violent organized crime/gang members by FCRFTF personnel further enforces the positive relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice Office commitment to combat organized crime gang related violence in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

The mission of the FCRFTF is to locate and apprehend fugitives, with priority given to fugitives wanted for violent crime.  Founded July 1, 2008, the task force is supported by eight federal and 101 state and local agencies and operates within the southern, northern and middle districts of Florida, as well as the District of the U.S. Virgin Islands.   

Source: U.S. Marshals Service, usmarshals.gov