WASHINGTON, D.C., January 18 — A man on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted” list, wanted for a 2016 murder in North Carolina, has been arrested in Mexico and will be extradited to the United States. The arrest comes amid heightened security discussions between the US and Mexican governments.
Alejandro Rosales Castillo, a fugitive on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted” list since 2017, was arrested in Mexico on Friday. US officials confirmed he will be extradited to North Carolina to face charges for the 2016 murder of a former coworker. The arrest marks a significant capture in a nearly nine-year-old case.
What happened in the 2016 case?
Castillo, 27, is accused of killing Truc Quan “Sandy” Ly Le, 23, in August 2016. Police said Le was Castillo’s former girlfriend and coworker at a North Carolina restaurant.
Authorities found Le’s vehicle at a bus station in Phoenix, Arizona, on August 15, 2016. Her body was discovered two days later in a wooded area in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. She had died from a gunshot wound to the head. The case was later featured on the television show “In Pursuit with John Walsh” in 2020.
Why does this arrest matter now?
The arrest and planned extradition occur during a period of focused security dialogue between the US and Mexico. President Donald Trump recently spoke with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and has threatened action against Mexican drug cartels.
US officials noted this is the second high-profile fugitive apprehended in Mexico recently. In March, Mexico handed over Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, an alleged senior leader of the MS-13 gang, after his arrest in Veracruz.
- Castillo was added to the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted” list in 2017.
- He is a US citizen who fled to Mexico.
- Authorities have brought in five people from that list in the past year.
What happens next?
Castillo will be formally extradited to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, to face justice. Another person involved in the case, Ahmia Feaster, had previously fled to Mexico and turned himself in to authorities there in October 2017.
FAQs
Q: Who is Alejandro Rosales Castillo?
A: He is a 27-year-old American citizen who was listed on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted” list in 2017 for killing Sandy Ly Le in North Carolina in 2016.
Q: How was he caught?
A: He was arrested by authorities in Mexico on Friday, January 17, 2025, following collaborative efforts. The specific location was not disclosed.
Q: What is the connection to US-Mexico relations?
A: The arrest demonstrates ongoing law enforcement cooperation. It comes as both governments engage in high-level talks concerning cross-border security and cartel activity.
