FBI captures Top Ten Most Wanted fugitive in Mexico sought over 2016 murder of NC co-worker

The FBI announced connected Saturday that it had arrested Alejandro Rosales Castillo, who has been a Ten Most Wanted Fugitive since 2017. 

FBI Director Kash Parel said Castillo was arrested successful Mexico connected Friday. He had been wanted successful transportation to the 2016 execution of his erstwhile co-worker, 23-year-old "Sandy" Ly Le, successful Charlotte, North Carolina.

"Alejandro Castillo is the 5th FBI Ten Most Wanted fugitive captured since past year, much than the full erstwhile 4 years combined. That reflects leadership, not luck," Patel said successful a statement. "When instrumentality enforcement is fixed wide backing and the state to act, results follow. The enactment of the FBI Charlotte tract office, our authorities and section partners, and Mexican authorities was exceptional, and this apprehension yet opens the doorway to long-overdue justness for Sandy Ly Le’s family."

Rep. Pat Harrington, R-N.C., praised the seizure and thanked the FBI's Charlotte tract bureau for moving to prosecute Castillo.

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Alejandro Rosales Castillo was arrested successful Mexico connected Friday. He has been wanted connected charges for the 2016 execution of his erstwhile coworker, 23 twelvemonth aged "Sandy" Ly Le successful Charlotte, North Carolina. (FBI)

"Nearly 9 years aft a Charlotte murder, the antheral liable is yet successful custody," Harrington wrote connected X. "Grateful for the persistence of [FBI Charlotte], CMPD, and our national partners who ne'er stopped moving to bring justness location to North Carolina."

FBI Charlotte said successful a property merchandise that Castillo was captured successful Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, connected Friday. The tract bureau said Castillo is detained successful Mexico and is awaiting extradition to North Carolina.

"The FBI and our partners astatine the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department person worked tirelessly to find and apprehension Alex Castillo. For much than 9 years, helium lived a mean life, apt believing helium would ne'er beryllium captured, but our experienced investigators ne'er gave up the hunt for justice," FBI Charlotte Special Agent successful Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. said successful a statement. "Sadly, Sandy’s household began different caller twelvemonth without her, we anticipation knowing her accused slayer is successful custody volition supply immoderate level of solace now."

FBI Director Kash Patel announced that they had arrested Alejandro Rosales Castillo connected Friday, January 16, 2026. (Getty Images; FBI)

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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Chief of Police Estella D. Patterson said the lawsuit showed the powerfulness of instrumentality enforcement cooperation.

"This associated effort sends a wide connection that those who perpetrate convulsive crimes cannot outrun justice. Bringing this fugitive to justness makes Charlotte and different communities safer, and portion thing tin heal the nonaccomplishment Sandy’s household has endured, we anticipation this measurement brings them immoderate peace," Patterson said successful a statement.

Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, besides commented connected the arrest, vowing that "those who prosecute successful unit volition not get distant with it — nary substance however hard they try."

Castillo seemingly owed Le $1,000, and she disappeared aft agreeing to conscionable with him astatine a state station. Authorities aboriginal recovered her conveyance successful Phoenix.

Castillo was added to the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" database successful October 2017. Two different suspects were charged successful transportation to the execution successful 2017, according to WJZY.

The FBI's J. Edgar Hoover office gathering successful Washington connected Nov. 2, 2016.  (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)

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Ahmia Feaster, who was initially listed arsenic missing, turned herself successful to authorities successful 2017 and was extradited from Mexico to North Carolina, WTXF-TV reported astatine the time. The outlet said Feaster faced respective charges, including accessory charges related to the murder.

A 3rd person, Felipe Ulloa, was charged with accessory aft the information of execution successful March 2017 successful transportation with the execution of Le, WTXF-TV reported.

This is simply a processing story. Please cheque backmost for updates.

Fox News Digital reached retired to CMPD and the Justice Department for comment.