A multi-year manhunt for a San Antonio fugitive wanted for the aggravated sexual assault of a child ended Friday when authorities tracked him down across the border. Isaac James Garcia, 34, is back in Texas custody after being apprehended in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, through a joint operation involving the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force and Mexican law enforcement.
The arrest on April 10 marked the end of a long game of cat-and-mouse. Garcia had been on the run since violating the conditions of his pretrial release following a 2018 arrest for transporting undocumented immigrants.
While out on bond, he was charged in Bexar County with the sexual assault of a child. Despite numerous attempts by law enforcement to pin him down, Garcia managed to evade capture for years.
His flight from justice took a violent turn in April 2024. When Mexican authorities spotted him in Piedras Negras, Garcia reportedly jumped into a vehicle and led police on a high-speed chase through the city, narrowly missing bystanders before managing to disappear again.
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The breakthrough finally came when Deputy U.S. Marshals in Del Rio provided critical intelligence to the Policia Civil Coahuila. After being detained by Mexican officials, Garcia was expelled through the International Port of Entry in Eagle Pass and handed over to U.S. Marshals.
The operation required a massive web of cooperation, spanning from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the FBI to the Instituto Nacional de Migración and the U.S. Department of State.
“Our deputies never stopped looking for this fugitive,” said Susan Pamerleau, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas. “Working hand in hand with our Mexican law enforcement partners, we remained relentless in our pursuit, sending a clear message that no matter how far you run or how long you hide, we will find you and bring you to justice.”
Garcia is currently awaiting transport back to Bexar County to face his pending criminal charges. Local authorities continue to urge the public to come forward with information on other fugitives by contacting the U.S. Marshals Service at (210) 657-8500 or through the USMS Tips App.
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