Neil Stammer, a former Albuquerque resident wanted by the FBI since 2000 on a charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, has been returned to the United States following his arrest in Nepal.

Special agents from the FBI and the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) escorted Stammer from Nepal to Albuquerque International Sunport on a flight that arrived Saturday afternoon (July 19, 2014).

An arrest warrant had been issued for Stammer on May 15, 2000, in New Mexico, for failure to appear for arraignment on multiple charges including sex abuse charges and kidnapping.

On June 9, 2000, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Stammer by the United States District Court, District of New Mexico, for the charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

DS special agents assigned as Assistant Regional Security Officer-Investigators (ARSO-Is) at the U.S. Embassies in London and Kathmandu, Nepal, identified Stammer using investigative photos from FBI files. Working with the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs and Nepali authorities, these agents determined that Stammer had entered Nepal using a fraudulent passport and assisted in locating him.

Stammer, 47, had been working in Nepal under a different name for approximately eight years.

“This is a great example of multiple government agencies and nations working together to capture a fugitive wanted for allegedly preying on children,” said Carol K. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the Albuquerque FBI Division. “I want to thank the government of Nepal for its excellent cooperation, as well as the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, units of the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and the Albuquerque Police Department.”

“With over 100 specially trained passport and visa fraud investigators in more than 65 countries around the world, Diplomatic Security works with our international and federal law enforcement partners to bring fugitives like Stammer home to face justice,” said Barry Moore, DS’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Domestic Operations.

Upon arrival, Stammer was turned over to local authorities to face state charges.

“We are pleased to work with the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department in the apprehension of Mr. Stammer,” said District Attorney Kari Brandenburg. “His extradition to New Mexico means that the state and the alleged victims will finally have their day in court. We have been able to locate each of the alleged victims. We will continue to work with them and, in the end, hope to bring them some measure of justice.”

“The Albuquerque Police Department is grateful for the hard work and perseverance of our federal law enforcement partners and the government of Nepal in locating this extremely dangerous fugitive,” said Police Chief Gorden Eden, Jr. “We can only hope that during his time as a fugitive that he did not commit similar terrible crimes on others.”