Federal authorities are still seeking a twice-deported Mexican national accused of hauling 18,000 rounds of ammunition through Wyoming while being in the country illegally, the U.S. Marshals Service for Wyoming told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday.
Ricardo Paez-Quinones, 35, skipped court in Cheyenne on April 25 after a federal magistrate had released him on an appearance bond after his arrest in March.
That court hearing was scheduled so that the case prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Cook, could ask for a higher bond and dispute whether it had been appropriate for the magistrate judge to release the man in the first place.
Cook claimed the details of Paez-Quinones’ case indicated a connection to cartel activity.
The case judge issued an arrest warrant for Paez-Quinones’ arrest the same day the man skipped court.
Wanted
As of Thursday, Paez-Quinones was still at large, Acting Chief Deputy William Kaulfers of the U.S. Marshals Service of Wyoming told Cowboy State Daily.
The search became the duty of the U.S. Marshal the day the warrant was issued, said Kaulfers.
The agency assigned it to one of its deputies, but is working with a multi-agency group, the Wyoming Fugitive Task Force. That includes federal, state, county and police department personnel, plus the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he said.
Because the alleged crime involves ammunition, it falls into the category of “violent offenses” for the purposes of the search effort, Kaulfers added.
Kaulfers said anyone with information can submit an anonymous tip online.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
