Attorney General Ken Paxton today commended the Fugitive Apprehension Unit of his office for reaching a major milestone since its inception in 2003. The unit – collaborating with the United States Marshals Service, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office – achieved its 11,000 arrest with the capture of 26-year-old Heriberto Casarez in Houston, Texas. Casarez had open felony warrants for sexual assault and aggravated assault-serious bodily injury.

“The Fugitive Apprehension Unit has successfully arrested 11,000 fugitives. This milestone is a testament to the dedication of our law enforcement officers to keeping Texas safe and just,” Attorney General Paxton said. “I am proud of the courage and integrity our officers demonstrate every day as they provide invaluable protection for Texans.”

The Fugitive Apprehension Unit’s mission is to locate and arrest convicted child sex offenders who violate conditions of their parole and to arrest sex offenders who fail to comply with the state’s mandated sex offender registration requirements. The Attorney General has established regional offices in Austin, Arlington and Houston, enabling the Fugitive Apprehension Unit to provide a localized and rapid response to the threat of these wanted individuals and other violent offenders who have a high probability of re-offending. The Fugitive Apprehension Unit also participates in four of U.S. Marshal Fugitive task forces (Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas/Ft. Worth).

To learn more about the Criminal Investigations Division and its efforts to keep Texans safe, visit the attorney general’s website at https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/divisions/criminal-justice. For more information about protecting your children online visit https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/initiatives/cyber-safety.

View Casarez’s mugshot here.

View Casarez’s arrest warrant here.