One of America’s most wanted fugitives has been found in plain sight after nearly two decades on the run.
Antonio “El Diablo” Riano, 72, was arrested Thursday in Zapotitlan Palmas, ending a 20-year manhunt that featured him on “America’s Most Wanted.”
The fugitive was found working as a police officer in his hometown in Mexico, and told reporters he wanted to “help the people of Mexico.”
The Oaxaca, Mexico, native was charged with first-degree murder in connection with a 2004 shooting death of 25-year-old Benjamin Becarra at an Ohio bar.
He was accused of shooting Becarra to death at the Round House Bar in Hamilton, Ohio, after a brief disagreement.
Antonio ‘El Diablo’ Riano, 72, was arrested Thursday in Zapotitlan Palmas, ending a 20-year manhunt that saw him featured on ‘America’s Most Wanted’
The fugitive was found working as a police officer in his hometown in Mexico – and told reporters he wanted to ‘help the people of Mexico’
According to witnesses, he shot Becarra in the face at close range before fleeing.
He was identified when police discovered he had purchased ammunition at Walmart just 45 minutes before the shooting.
When police searched Riano’s home, they discovered a trove of false identities and the murder weapon: a Smith & Wesson .38 with two fired bullets.
But before justice could be served, ‘El Diablo’ disappeared into thin air.
He eluded the law for twenty years, even when his face was shown to millions on “America’s Most Wanted” in 2005.
But the law finally caught up with Riano.
“When Riano was arrested in Mexico, he was found to be working as a local police officer,” the U.S. Marshals Service said in a press release.
The Oaxaca, Mexico, native was charged with first-degree murder stemming from a 2004 shooting in which he is accused of killing 25-year-old Benjamin Becarra at an Ohio bar
Riano was turned over to U.S. Marshals in Mexico City and flown to Cincinnati.
Video footage shows Riano being arrested at Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport.
When asked why he became a police officer, Riano told WKRC-TV in Spanish, “I wanted to help the people of Mexico.”
When asked if he killed Becerra, he replied, “No, I didn’t.”
Butler County District Attorney Michael T. Gmoser praised the collaborative effort.
Riano was turned over to U.S. Marshals in Mexico City and flown to Cincinnati
“These types of arrests would not be possible without the cooperation and diligence of investigators from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the United States Marshal Service, and the U.S. Department of Justice,” Gmoser said.
“The United States Marshal Service assists our state and local partners, through our violent fugitive task forces, in apprehending the most dangerous fugitives in the area,” said Michael D. Black, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Ohio.
“This arrest is the result of the continued sharing of information between the agencies and the determination of investigators who refused to give up on the case,” Black added.
