U.S. Marshals Service shows interest in Costa Rica

by crv.staff
23.08.09
7:28 AM UTC

Filed in Costa Rica

The U.S. Marshals Service is turning toward Costa Rica in its international effort to capture fugitives.

A representative of the Marshals Service met with Costa Rican law enforcement officials earlier this month. At the same time in Washington, D.C., the service outlined its participation in the first-ever worldwide manhunt for violent fugitives.

The Marshals Service provided support to the International Police Agency (INTERPOL) and Crime Stoppers International. The cooperative effort involved law enforcement agencies from four continents with contributions by Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Jamaica, the United Kingdom, as well as the United States, the agency said.

The success of the operation hinged on the exchange of information concerning violent fugitives who have fled internationally and are believed to be residing in other countries, said the service.

International fugitive cases are particularly difficult, and the international operation targeted the worst of the worst offenders. officials said. Among those nabbed was Christian Garro Chaves, who was taken into custody June 17 by the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force and personnel from INTERPOL.

Garro was wanted in Costa Rica for the alleged repeated sexual molestation of a child at knifepoint. He also was wanted for allegedly attacking a sleeping victim with a machete during a home invasion. His victim survived the attack and provided local authorities with Garro’s name and description, officials said.

Garro waived extradition and was returned to Costa Rica, where he faces 45 years in prison, the agency said.
Among those who may be in Costa Rica are Harold Rangel, 21, who is under investigation for his
alleged participation in a $35 million high yield investment and mortgage fraud conspiracy that targeted more than 600 Latino families in the Los Angeles area. He fled and may be in México or further south.

Another fugitive who may be in Costa Rica is Daniel Andreas San Diego, 31, who is wanted for his alleged involvement in the bombing of two office buildings in the San Francisco, California, area. San Diego has ties to animal rights extremist groups, according to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. He is among the FBI’s most wanted terrorists and there is a substantial reward. Law officers have said that his family members have visited Costa Rica since San Diego was on the run.

Costa Rica is a fertile field for U.S. criminal hunters. Local INTERPOL agents frequently find fugitive U.S. citizens in the Central Valley or at the beaches. The country’s lax immigration laws makes coming here easy for criminals.

Members of the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service also met with Costa Rican law enforcement officials this month. That agency also is charged with tracking down fugitives.

The Marshals Service has plans to provide training to Costa Ricans on the handling of high-security prisoners. The agency also is in charge of witness protection in the United States, and a new law now puts that responsibility here with the Judicial Investigating Organization, which is seeking applicants for a new branch.

The Costa Rican Constitution forbids the extradition of the country’s citizens regardless of the crime. So there are about a dozen Costa Ricans who are high profile criminal suspects in the United States. However, U.S. officials cannot touch them here.

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