Wisconsin’s Most Wanted Fugitive Captured in Mexico 20 Years After Ordering Deadly Gas Station Shooting
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN — One of Wisconsin’s Most Wanted fugitives, Armando Barragan, has been captured in Mexico nearly 20 years after allegedly ordering the killing of an innocent man at a Cudahy gas station, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
Barragan, a notorious leader of the Latin Kings gang, was located and arrested in Garcia, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, following a coordinated effort between the U.S. Marshals Eastern Wisconsin Violent Offender Task Force, the Monterrey Consulate General Office, and Mexican federal authorities.
Fugitive Tied to 2005 Federal Racketeering Case
Barragan, now 39, had been on the run since 2005, when he was indicted alongside 50 Latin Kings members on federal racketeering (RICO) charges. He was accused of ordering a fatal shooting that claimed the life of an innocent bystander during a gang confrontation at a Cudahy gas station.
Investigators said the shooting occurred after Barragan began fighting with a rival gang member, and when a man stepped in to break up the altercation, Barragan allegedly ordered his execution.
“Just an innocent bystander trying to do his part and break up the fight,” a U.S. Marshal involved in the case said. “So, a true victim.”
Life on the Run and Capture in Mexico
According to officials, Barragan rose through the ranks of the Latin Kings during the early 2000s, living a life “embedded with violence.” By age 16, he was already ordering hits and overseeing criminal activity throughout Milwaukee, authorities said.
After his indictment, Barragan vanished in late 2005, believed to be hiding in Mexican border towns under aliases including “Mondie” and “Jose Deanda.” He also bears a tattoo of his mother’s name, “Slyvia,” on his left ankle.
The U.S. Marshals Foreign Field Office in Mexico confirmed his arrest after receiving a tip about his location. Officials credited strong partnerships with Mexican law enforcement for helping bring the fugitive to justice.
“He can run, but he can’t hide,” the U.S. Marshal said, adding that Barragan’s capture closes one of the oldest open fugitive cases in Wisconsin’s modern history.
Awaiting Extradition to the U.S.
Barragan is currently in custody in Mexico while extradition proceedings are underway to return him to Wisconsin, where he faces murder and federal racketeering charges tied to the early 2000s Latin Kings network.
Authorities said his arrest represents a major victory in the ongoing effort to dismantle transnational gang operations that have plagued the Midwest for decades.
As federal prosecutors prepare to bring Barragan back to U.S. soil, law enforcement officials say the arrest serves as proof that time and distance do not erase justice. For ongoing updates on crime and fugitive captures across Wisconsin, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.