Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
Richard Charles Sanchez, 31, was detained on February 10, 2021 without incident in Patzcuaro, Michoacán, by Mexican authorities, announced Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Donald M. Voiret of the Seattle Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Sanchez was wanted for his alleged involvement in a February 2010 incident where multiple shots were fired into a random car killing Camille Love and seriously wounding her brother. Sanchez is also wanted for his alleged role in a March 2010 incident where Saul Lucas-Alfonso was shot and killed after confronting persons, including Sanchez, who were ransacking a vehicle for valuables. These cases were investigated by the Tacoma Police Department.
Co-defendant Mendez was arrested in September 2020, and co-defendant Mederos, a Ten Most Wanted Fugitive, was arrested in June 2020.
Sanchez was charged with murder in the second degree in the Superior Court of Washington for Pierce County, Washington, and a local arrest warrant was issued for him in March 2010. Sanchez was charged with murder in the first degree, attempted murder in the first degree, and conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree in the Superior Court of Washington for Pierce County, Washington, and a local arrest warrant was issued for him in December 2010. On May 4, 2017, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Sanchez in the United States District Court, Western District of Washington, Tacoma, Washington, after he was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
“Even though these crimes occurred a decade ago and the fugitives fled to other countries, the FBI never quit pursuing justice for Mr. Lucas-Alfonso and Ms. Love and their families. With Mr. Sanchez’s capture, the FBI and our international partners have now apprehended the last remaining defendant wanted in these cases,” said SAC Voiret.
The FBI Seattle Field Office credits the FBI’s Legal Attaché office in Mexico City, Mexico, Dirección de Reacción Operaciones Estrategicas del Estado de Michoacán, Policía de Investigación del Delito de la Fiscalía General del Estado de Michoacán, the Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM) del Michoacán, and the Western District of Washington’s U.S. Attorney’s Office in coordinating Sanchez’s deportation to the United States to face charges in Pierce County.
The public is reminded that indictments contain only allegations of criminal misconduct and that defendants are presumed to be innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.