A convicted meth trafficker who skipped a scheduled check-in at a San Antonio halfway house is now the focus of a U.S. Marshals manhunt, and authorities are calling on the public to help track him down. Officials say Juan Ramirez-Vasquez was in federal custody and traveling by Greyhound bus to a halfway house in the city when he failed to report as required. He is now considered a fugitive, as reported by FOX San Antonio.
What Officials Are Saying
The U.S. Marshals released a physical description and urged anyone with information to come forward, according to FOX San Antonio. Ramirez-Vasquez is described as about 5 feet 4 inches tall and roughly 190 pounds. He has several distinctive tattoos, including the name "Gabby" on his right ankle, an angel on his left arm and a Houston Rockets emblem on his right hand.
FOX San Antonio reports that Ramirez-Vasquez was convicted in 2022 of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and received a 120-month federal prison sentence, followed by five years of supervised release.
How To Report Tips
Anyone who believes they have seen Ramirez-Vasquez or has information about where he might be is asked to contact the U.S. Marshals in San Antonio. The Marshals’ Western District of Texas lists a San Antonio tip line at (210) 657-8500 and a 24-hour national tip line at 1-888-869-4589 for fugitive information, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. Residents are urged not to approach anyone they suspect may be dangerous and instead call law enforcement immediately.
Case Background
According to FOX San Antonio, Ramirez-Vasquez traveled by Greyhound to report to the San Antonio halfway house as part of his federal sentence but failed to appear. That no-show triggered his classification as a fugitive and placed his case squarely on the Marshals’ radar.
Legal Implications
Walking away from or failing to return to federal custody can bring an entirely new set of legal problems. The Justice Department’s U.S. Attorneys’ Manual outlines prosecution policies under the federal escape statutes, 18 U.S.C. §§ 751 and 752, and notes that the U.S. Marshals Service has investigative jurisdiction over federal escape cases.
