CBP Press Release - Child Sexual Predator Apprehended

Press Release

Child Sexual Predator Apprehended

Wanted by FBI and the State of Wisconsin

11.12.04

Tucson, AZ -- On November 11, 2004, a Border Patrol agent assigned to the Douglas Station apprehended a dangerous illegal alien from Mexico wanted on sexual assault charges.

At approximately 1:00 a.m., a Border Patrol agent encountered 26-year-old Juan Cortez as he attempted to make an illegal entry into the country through the mountainous terrain eight miles west of Douglas, Az. Cortez was quickly arrested and transported to the Douglas Station where he was entered into the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). Cortez was positively identified as having two outstanding warrants for his arrest. Cortez was wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for "Flight to avoid Prosecution and Walworth County, Wisconsin, for three counts of "2nd degree sexual assault of a child. The Walworth County Sheriff,s Office confirmed the warrant and accepted extradition of Cortez.

An Immigration detainer was placed on Cortez before he was turned over to the Cochise County Sheriff,s Office for extradition to Wisconsin. With this detainer, Cortez will be set up for a Removal proceeding once released from Wisconsin state custody.

For the new Fiscal Year of 2005, which began on October 1, 2004, the Tucson Sector has apprehended over 2,000 illegal aliens with criminal records.

Last Fiscal Year, in Tucson Sector, agents apprehended 14,506 illegal aliens with criminal records. Of that number, 202 were for sexual offenses.

The Border Patrol is a division of the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, a new agency within the Department of Homeland Security, responsible for managing and securing our nation,s borders.

~CBP~