Fugitive Wanted for Sex Crimes in Maricopa County Returned to the United States After Apprehension in Mexico

Phoenix, AZ – This afternoon, Godfrey Diaz Romero, 63, was deported back to the United States after his arrest in Sonora, Mexico. Romero was wanted by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for Sexual Assault, Kidnapping, Sexual Abuse, and Fraudulent Schemes.

“The arrest of Romero is the result of a thorough investigation by Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office detectives with significant assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and Mexican law enforcement,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Van Bayless. “Although it is not unusual to track and arrest fugitives years after they flee to foreign countries, it is gratifying when people like Romero are arrested and returned to the U.S. to face their crimes.”

It is alleged that in July of 2020, Romero, was charged with (1) count of Sex Assault, (2) counts of Sexual Abuse, (1) count of Kidnapping, (2) counts of Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, and (2) counts of Unlawful Advertisement of Massage Therapy. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Romero charging him with multiple felonies and misdemeanors.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and Maricopa County Attorney’s Office requested the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service WANTED Violent Offenders Task Force in locating and arresting Romero. When the investigation pointed that he fled to Mexico, the U.S. Marshals Service contacted Mexican Law Enforcement and requested assistance in locating and returning Romero back to the United States.

On May 16, 2023, Romero was safely returned to Arizona due to the collaborative efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service District of Arizona Mexico Investigative Liaison (MIL), Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, and Mexican Law Enforcement.

The Arizona WANTED Violent Offender Task Force is a U.S. Marshals Service led multi jurisdictional fugitive apprehension unit responsible for more than 2,166 arrests in the last year. The task force is comprised of 21 agencies bringing together the resources of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate and arrest the community’s most violent offenders and sexual predators.