LOS ANGELES—A fugitive wanted for his alleged involvement in a murder and attempted murder in 2009 was arrested and returned to Los Angeles this week, announced Don Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

On December 28, 2009, Steven Aguilar-Medina was allegedly driven to a rival gang area in Los Angeles by his girlfriend, Evelin Martinez. Martinez then allegedly stopped her van as Aguilar-Medina allegedly exited the vehicle and approached two individuals standing outside a home. Aguilar-Medina allegedly then shouted a gang term, then allegedly fired multiple shots at the two individuals, killing one.

Based on an investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Aguilar-Media was identified as a suspect following the murder. Aguilar-Medina was charged in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, with murder and attempted murder. A state warrant was issued for his arrest on January 8, 2010.

Detectives assigned to the case soon determined that Aguilar-Medina fled the state of California and enlisted the assistance of the FBI’s Fugitive Task Force to locate and apprehend him. A federal arrest warrant was issued by the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Los Angeles, on March 3, 2010, after Aguilar-Medina was charged federally with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution (UFAP).

In 2019, the FBI’s Fugitive Task Force, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and law enforcement counterparts in Mexico, publicized one dozen fugitives who had allegedly committed crimes in Los Angeles and then fled Los Angeles County; many are believed to have fled to Mexico. Aguilar-Medina and Evelin Martinez were among the cases publicized. That 2019 announcement can be found here: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/losangeles/news/press-releases/fbi-fugitivetask-force-in-los-angeles-and-mexican-law-enforcement-officials-seek-one-dozenfugitives-wanted-for-violent-crimes-in-unrelated-cases-who-are-believed-to-have-fledcalifornia-to-mexico-in-order-to-evade-capture.

The FBI’s Los Angeles Fugitive Task Force recently developed information as to Aguilar-Medina’s whereabouts and worked with Mexican law enforcement officials and the FBI’s Legal Attache in Mexico City to locate him. Aguilar-Medina was taken into custody on October 18th in the town of Progreso in the state of Merida, Mexico.

Aguilar-Medina was deported to Houston, Texas, on October 19th and detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department traveled to Texas to return him to Los Angeles.

The government is expected to dismiss the federal warrant charging Aguilar-Medina with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and Aguilar-Medina will await prosecution by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

The fugitive investigation, arrest, and deportation of Aguilar-Medina was a coordinated effort among multiple law enforcement agencies in the United States and Mexico, to include the FBI’s Fugitive Task Force in Los Angeles, which is comprised of FBI agents and officers with the Los Angeles Police Department; the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; the FBI’s Legal Attache in Mexico City; and Mexican law enforcement and government officials.

The return of Aguilar-Medina was sponsored by the United States government’s “Project Welcome Home,” which provides funding for the transportation of FBI fugitives to the United States, where the repatriation by the host country occurs through deportation or extradition.

The FBI continues to work with local law enforcement as well as counterparts in other countries to apprehend violent criminals charged with state crimes who then flee the jurisdiction interstate or internationally. Photos and descriptions of many fugitives wanted by the FBI can be found at www.fbi.gov. Reward money is offered in many cases.

Aguilar Medina’s wanted poster with a captured banner can be found here: AGUILAR-MEDINA

Evelin Martinez remains a fugitive and her wanted poster can be found here: EVELIN MARTINEZ