The FBI has captured a fugitive accused of murder who spent nearly a decade hiding in Mexico, marking another major win for federal law enforcement under President Donald Trump.
Alejandro Rosales Castillo, 27, was arrested Friday in Pachuca, Mexico, following a coordinated sting operation, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
Castillo had been on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted list since 2017.
Castillo is accused of murdering his former girlfriend, 23-year-old Truc Quan “Sandy” Ly Le, in North Carolina in 2016. Her body was later found in a wooded area with a gunshot wound to the head.
Federal authorities say Castillo fled the U.S. shortly after the killing, crossing the southern border into Mexico in August 2016. Surveillance footage captured his escape.
Patel announced the arrest on X, calling it the fifth Top Ten fugitive capture since the start of 2025. He credited aggressive law enforcement and political leadership for the results.
Patel said the FBI has now captured more Top Ten fugitives in one year than during the previous four years combined. He thanked President Trump and the Department of Justice for allowing agents to do their jobs.
Castillo is currently being held in Mexico City and is awaiting extradition to North Carolina, where he faces a charge of first-degree murder.
Authorities allege Castillo owed Le roughly $1,000 and agreed to meet her under the pretense of paying her back. Instead, investigators say he drove her to a secluded area and killed her.
The FBI described Castillo as armed and extremely dangerous while on the run. A reward of up to $250,000 had been offered for information leading to his arrest.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Police and FBI task force agents worked the case for years, tracking leads that ultimately exposed where Castillo had been living quietly in Mexico.
James Barnacle Jr., the FBI’s Charlotte special agent in charge, said Castillo believed he had escaped justice and was living a normal life.
Barnacle said the arrest should bring some level of solace to Le’s family, who have spent nearly ten years waiting for accountability, per the Daily Mail.
Two additional suspects were charged in connection with the murder. Felipe Ulloa was accused of accessory after the fact, while Ahmia Feaster fled to Mexico before later surrendering.
Feaster was extradited and charged, but was released on bond in 2017. Castillo remained the primary fugitive until his capture.
U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson said the arrest proves violent criminals cannot outrun justice forever. He said authorities will never stop pursuing accountability.
The arrest underscores a renewed focus on law and order as the FBI intensifies efforts to track down the nation’s most dangerous fugitives.
