U.S. Marshals Coordinate Return of Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive from Mexico

Pecos, TX – The U.S. Marshals Service, working in coordination with Mexican officials, facilitated the July 31 return to the United States of a Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitive who was wanted on multiple state and federal charges.

Armando Adan Sotelo, 24, was wanted by the Pecos Police Department on charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated assault from July 2024. Sotelo was also wanted on separate charges in New Mexico.

In August 2024, the Pecos Police Department requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, Pecos Division, to locate and apprehend Sotelo, who was known to reside in Pecos. During the fugitive investigation, it was learned that Sotelo had fled the United States and was believed to be in Mexico.

In April 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas obtained a federal indictment charging Sotelo with sexual exploitation of a child and distribution of child pornography following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Federal authorities from Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Marshals Service collaborated efforts and conducted a joint investigation on the whereabouts of Sotelo. 

In March 2026, the U.S. Marshals Service, Investigative Operations Division approved the fugitive investigation as a Major Case, providing additional resources and investigative support to assist in locating and apprehending Sotelo. 

May 27, 2026, as investigative efforts continued, on, the Texas Department of Public Safety added Sotelo to the Texas 10 Most Wanted list and offered a cash reward up to $7,500 for information leading to his arrest. 

On July 30, members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, developed information regarding Sotelo’s whereabouts in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua and coordinated with Mexican officials, who detained Sotelo on an immigration violation. 

On July 31, Sotelo was deported from Mexico and turned over to U.S. Marshals at the port of entry in El Paso, Texas. 

On Aug. 7, Sotelo appeared before a U.S. magistrate judge in the Western District of Texas, Pecos Division, where he remains in custody pending further judicial proceedings.