Today's Featured Fugitive of the Week Arrested by U.S. Marshals

Concord, NH – The United States Marshals Service is pleased to announce that this week's "Fugitive of the Week" for New Hampshire has been arrested by the U.S. Marshals – NH Joint Fugitive Task Force. Luis Mendoza Vazquez, 33 years-of-age, of Manchester, NH was arrested this morning shortly after being featured as the "Fugitive of the Week." Mendoza Vazquez was being sought on a federal arrest warrant which was issued after he was indicted in the U.S. District Court in Concord, New Hampshire. This indictment alleges that Mendoza Vazquez possessed with intent to distribute a controlled drug – fentanyl.

Mr. Mendoza Vazquez had just been featured this morning as the "Fugitive of the Week," which was aired on WTPL-FM, The Union Leader, The Nashua Telegraph, The Patch, Foster's Daily Democrat, Manchester Information, the Manchester Ink Link, the Rochester Voice and prominently featured on the internet. The "Fugitive of the Week" continues to be a very successful tool that has resulted in the location and arrest of over 500 fugitives since its implementation in 2007. Additionally, the "Fugitive of the Week" was distributed statewide to all law enforcement officers in New Hampshire.

This morning, several members of the U.S. Marshals – New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force were conducting surveillance and interviews at multiple locations throughout Manchester. During these interviews, it was learned that Mr. Mendoza Vazquez was at a residence on Ahern Street in Manchester and had expressed to friends that he knew he was wanted and was considering turning himself into police. After a short period of surveillance, Mendoza Vazquez was observed exiting the residence and getting in a truck. This truck was stopped by the New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force and Mr. Mendoza Vazquez was arrested without incident. After Mendoza Vazquez was arrested, it appeared that he was getting a ride to turn himself in to the police.

Mendoza Vazquez was transported to the Merrimack County Jail where he will be processed and held pending his video appearance in U.S. District Court later today.

This arrest was made by the investigative efforts of several member agencies of the U.S. Marshals - New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force including, the Belknap, Rockingham and Strafford County Sheriff's Offices, and the Manchester Police Department, along with deputy U.S. Marshals.

Since the inception of the U.S. Marshals - New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force in 2002, these partnerships have resulted in over 8,218 arrests (Updated as of 12/16/2020). These arrests have ranged in seriousness from murder, assault, unregistered sex offenders, probation and parole violations and numerous other serious offenses. Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, 8 regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.