McKinney Fugitive Sought for Child Sex Crime Caught at Laredo Border

Rafael Bello-Solis, a 60-year-old Mexican citizen wanted by the Collin County Sheriff's Office on a felony warrant for indecency with a child by sexual contact, was intercepted March 5 at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo as he rode a commercial bus out of the United States into Mexico.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers conducting outbound operations stopped the bus for secondary inspection and determined Bello-Solis did not possess the documents required to enter or remain in the U.S. Biometric verification through law enforcement databases confirmed he carried an outstanding felony warrant for "indecency with a child by sexual contact" issued by the Collin County Sheriff's Office in McKinney. He was turned over to the Webb County Sheriff's Office to await criminal proceedings.

The arrest is one of several fugitive apprehensions made by CBP officers assigned to the Laredo Field Office area of responsibility in recent weeks, with biometric checks serving as the common thread in catching suspects who might otherwise have slipped across the border undetected.

Other arrests from the same operational period illustrate the breadth of what officers are encountering at Texas ports of entry. On February 27, CBP officers at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge referred bus passenger Emilio Vega Aguado, 30, a U.S. citizen, for secondary inspection. Using biometric verification and federal law enforcement databases, officers confirmed Aguado was the subject of an active felony warrant for first-degree murder issued by the Chicago Police Department. A separate individual identified only as Pulido was confirmed as the subject of an active felony warrant for sexual assault of a child issued by the Alamo Police Department and was turned over to Alamo police officers for the warrant to be adjudicated.

On June 28, officers at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge referred Maria Carmean Chavez Barrajas, 44, a U.S. citizen, for secondary inspection. Biometric verification confirmed she carried an outstanding felony warrant for sexual assault of a child and continuous sexual abuse of a child, issued by the Navarro County Sheriff's Office in Corsicana. Chavez Barrajas was transported to Webb County Jail for adjudication of the warrant.

CBP also arrested three U.S. citizens over a single weekend at ports of entry in Laredo, Del Rio, and Hidalgo on child sex crime warrants. Rito Bueno, 64, was referred for secondary inspection at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge, where officers confirmed he was wanted in Bexar County for aggravated sexual assault of a child; he was taken to Webb County Jail. Anthony Magana Mendoza, 22, was arrested at the Anzalduas International Bridge connecting Mission, Texas, with Reynosa, Mexico, on a warrant for alleged assault and injury to a child, elderly or disabled person. Jose Kaleb Juarez, 19, was taken into custody at the Del Rio International Bridge on a warrant for alleged sexual abuse of a child.

"These three apprehensions in short succession highlight the critical role CBP plays in protecting the most vulnerable among us," said Donald R. Kusser, director of field operations for CBP's Laredo Field Office. "The apprehension of individuals wanted for heinous crimes, such as the sexual assault of a child or injury of a child, elderly or disabled individual underscores our dedication to public safety and our collaborative efforts with law enforcement partners to ensure justice is served and to protect our communities."

Port Director Albert Flores of the Laredo Port of Entry echoed that point in a separate statement: "Our frontline officers maintain strict vigilance when screening arriving travelers and that mission dedication this time resulted in the apprehension of a woman wanted in connection with a sex crime involving a child. Apprehensions like these exemplify CBP's tireless border security work that helps keep our communities safe."

For Collin County, the case closes one chapter: the man wanted by the McKinney-based sheriff's office was within miles of crossing into Mexico when federal officers pulled him off the bus. Whether he will face extradition proceedings back to North Texas remains an open question, as the sources only confirm he was handed to Webb County authorities to await criminal proceedings.