SEATTLE, WA—Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Raymond Duda of the Seattle Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today, September 2, 2020, that Andres Maurice Mendez was arrested without incident in Queretaro, Mexico, on Tuesday, September 1, 2020.

Mendez was wanted for his alleged involvement in the homicide of Saul Lucas-Alfonso in Tacoma, Washington, in 2010. On March 25, Lucas-Alfonso was shot and killed after confronting persons, to include Mendez, who were ransacking a vehicle for valuables. The case was investigated by the Tacoma Police Department.

Mendez was charged with murder in the second degree in the Superior Court of Washington for Pierce County, Washington, and a local arrest warrant was issued for him.

On May 4, 2017, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Mendez in the United States District Court, Western District of Washington, Tacoma, Washington, after he was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

“This arrest should send a message to individuals who choose to commit violent offenses in our communities, you can run but you can’t hide. In this case, thanks to strong international partnerships, Mr. Mendez learned that lesson first-hand.” said SAC Duda.

The FBI Seattle Field Office credits the FBI’s Legal Attaché office in Mexico City, Mexico, Policía de Investigación del Delito de la Fiscalía General del Estado de Querétaro, the Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM), the Guardia Nacional, and the Western District of Washington’s U.S. Attorney’s Office in coordinating the arrest of Mendez, who was deported to the United States where he will be tried in Pierce County, Washington’s Superior Court.

The public is reminded that indictments contain only allegations of criminal misconduct and that defendants are presumed to be innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.