COLUMBUS—Special Agent in Charge Chris Hoffman, of the Cincinnati Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced today, May 30, 2020 that former fugitive Chaminda Prabhath Palliyaguru, who was wanted for allegedly raping a child victim in Franklin County, Ohio, is now in the custody of U.S. law enforcement.

Palliyaguru’s was arrested on May 28, 2020 after surrendering to authorities at approximately 9:40 p.m. (PST) at the Calexico-West Port of Entry. The self-surrender was coordinated through the FBI Cincinnati Division’s Columbus Resident Agency, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Albany Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Area Port of Calexico, and the FBI San Diego Division’s Imperial County Resident Agency.

Chaminda Prabhath Palliyaguru was wanted for his alleged rape of a six-year-old victim on March 7, 2020, in Franklin County, Ohio. On April 21, 2020, an arrest warrant was issued for Palliyaguru in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas after he was charged with rape of a minor child, under the age of 10, and three counts of gross sexual imposition of a minor child, less than 13. On April 22, 2020, Palliyaguru was charged federally with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, in Columbus, and a federal warrant was issued for his arrest.