Two Chilean nationals who have overstayed their visas were arrested in Missouri for criminal offenses committed in the Northern District of Mississippi and other states, United States Attorney Scott F. Leary announced on June 1.
The arrests followed an investigation by the Oxford Police Department that began after officers responded to a burglary and retrieved evidence allowing them to track the suspect’s vehicle. Investigators determined that the vehicle was linked to burglaries in Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois. Law enforcement located the vehicle in Missouri, where two suspects were taken into custody.
Fabian Ignacio Navarro-Aliaga, 27, and Marcelo Alejandro Telechea-Droguett, 36, were apprehended after a brief pursuit by Howell County sheriff’s deputies with assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Items of investigatory value were recovered both from the scene of arrest and from the suspects’ vehicle.
The case involved collaboration among Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Howell County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri Highway Patrol, Oxford Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi. Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen said, “This case is a testament to what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together toward a common goal. The Oxford Police Department is grateful for the outstanding support provided by Homeland Security Investigations and our other law enforcement partners. Through intelligence sharing, technology, and relentless investigative work, we were able to identify those responsible, recover stolen property, and hold these offenders accountable.”
Howell County Sheriff Matt Roberts said, “I am extremely proud of the work done by our deputies and our partner agencies in bringing this situation to a safe conclusion. This case is a strong example of what happens when criminals try to operate across jurisdictions and underestimate the coordination between local, state, and federal partners. Because of that teamwork, two individuals believed to be responsible for crimes across multiple states are now in custody.”
John Herzog Jr., Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, is prosecuting this case. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.