“Under President Donald J. Trump, the message to criminals who bring harm and destruction to our communities is simple: you will be found, and you will face justice,” the White House declared Wednesday, announcing the arrest of one more of the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted.”
On Tuesday, FBI Director Kash Patel reported the arrest Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, a suspected leader of the Latin America criminal gang and terrorist organization, known as MS-13:
“BREAKING: I can now confirm that last night, working with @TheJusticeDept and other interagency partners, the FBI has extradited one of our “Ten Most Wanted” from Mexico — one we believe to be a key senior leader of MS-13, Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales.
“He was arrested in Mexico and is being transported within the U.S. as we speak, where he will face American justice.
“This is a major victory both for our law enforcement partners and for a safer America.
“Thank you to our brave personnel for executing the mission. And thank you to Mexico’s SSPC and FGE teams for their support of the FBI in this investigation and arrest.”
“For those counting at home: This is the third arrest of a fugitive on the ‘Ten Most Wanted’ list since January 20, 2025,” FBI Assistant Director for Public Affairs Ben Williamson noted, referencing Trump’s inauguration date.
“Roman-Bardales was wanted ‘for his alleged role in ordering numerous acts of violence against civilians and rival gang members, as well as his role in drug distribution and extortion schemes in the United States and El Salvador,’” the White House website explains, detailing the three apprehensions:
“The cold-blooded criminal is the third fugitive on the FBI’s ‘Ten Most Wanted’ list apprehended since President Trump took office.
Last Friday, March 14, marked the 75th anniversary of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List. Created in conjunction with the nation’s news media, the list is a method of informing, and engaging the help of, the public.
Since its establishment, 496 of the 535 (93%) of the fugitives on the list have been apprehended.