Fugitive Wanted for Moreno Valley Murder Returned to U.S.

A suspect wanted for a June 2007 homicide in Moreno Valley, California was returned to the United States today following his capture on May 24, 2012 in San Pedro Lagunillas, Nayarit, Mexico, announced Steven Martinez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, and Riverside County Sheriff Stanley Sniff.

Detectives with Riverside County Sheriffs Department’s Central Homicide investigated the murder, which occurred June 13, 2007 in the city of Moreno Valley. Detectives identified Jovanny Rendon as a suspect and obtained an arrest warrant in August 2010. Once detectives had established that Rendon had fled the state’s jurisdiction, detectives worked with the FBI’s Inland Regional Apprehension Team (IRAT) to locate and apprehend Rendon.

On January 17, 2012, the FBI obtained a federal arrest warrant based on a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Riverside, charging Rendon with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. IRAT worked closely with the FBI’s Legal Attaché in Mexico City, Guadalajara Regional Office, to locate Rendon, a United States Citizen.

On May 24, 2012, Rendon was arrested in San Pedro Lagunillas, Nayarit, Mexico, by officers with the Nayarit State Police and Mexican Immigration Authorities. Rendon was found to be in violation of Mexican immigration laws and was deported back to the United States on May 25, 2012. Rendon was transported by FBI agents from Mexico City to Houston, Texas, where he was turned over to Houston-based FBI agents. Rendon is being held at the Harris County Jail pursuant to his arrest warrant for murder.

It is anticipated that the United States government will dismiss the federal warrant charging Rendon with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and that Rendon will be prosecuted for the state murder charge by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. Rendon is expected to be extradited to Riverside County at a future date.

The successful arrest and return of Rendon was the result of cooperative efforts by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department; IRAT members; the FBI’s Legal Attaché assigned to the United States Embassy in Mexico City; Guadalajara Regional Office, Nayarit, Mexico State Police; and Mexican Immigration Authorities.

The FBI’s Inland Regional Apprehension Team includes members from the FBI, the Riverside Police Department, the San Bernardino Police Department and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

The return of Rendon 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 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.

Media Contact: FBI Media Relations: 310 996-3343

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department: 760393-3500