AURORA, Colo. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Denver Fugitive Operations team officers arrested one of the most wanted fugitives Friday morning in Aurora, making a second arrest in the process.
Jose Victor Bonilla-Melendez, aka Anthony Garcia-Melendez, 48 of Honduras, was located after ERO received a tip about his whereabouts from someone who saw a social media post depicting him among ICE’s most wanted fugitives.
Bonilla–Melendez was wanted by ICE for removal from the U.S. as a convicted sex offender.
Bonilla-Melendez has a criminal history that includes felony convictions for assault causing serious bodily injury, sexual assault and unlawful re-entry of a deported alien.
He has been removed from the U.S. on two previous occasions, most recently on April 5, 2006.
On Dec. 7, 2014, the Aurora Police Department arrested him on local charges, but he posted bond before an ICE detainer could be placed.
Despite numerous attempts by ICE to locate his whereabouts, he remained at-large.
“Protecting public safety by identifying and removing dangerous criminal fugitives from our communities is the top priority of our fugitive operations teams,” said Jeffrey Lynch, field office director for ERO Denver.
“A convicted felon and one of our most wanted fugitives, Bonilla-Melendez is a threat no more and is in custody awaiting removal from the United States. I commend the hard work and dedication of our officers.”
During Bonilla-Melendez’s arrest, ERO officers also encountered another individual who they arrested, Bonilla-Melendez’s brother, German Bonilla.
Bonilla was convicted of sexual assault against a child and unlawful re-entry after deportation after conviction for an aggravated felony. Bonilla has been removed from the U.S. twice previously.
“The unanticipated encounter of Jose Bonilla-Melendez’s brother, German Bonilla — another criminal alien — demonstrates the dangerous nature of our Fugitive Operations Teams,” Lynch said. “Our ICE officers must stay vigilant to the unexpected.”
