HIDALGO, Texas—
    U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge arrested a 54-year-old male Nicaraguan citizen that was wanted on charges of sexual assault of a child and a 79-year-old male Cuban citizen who had an outstanding arrest warrant dating back to 1992.
    “This alleged child molester along with the other fugitive were identified and arrested as they attempted to enter the U.S. from Mexico as a pedestrians,” said Acting Port Director Javier Cantu. “Our ability to access all law enforcement databases enables our officers to detect those persons who have outstanding arrest warrants pending.”
    CBP officers working at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge on Oct. 5 encountered Marco Antonio Gomez Paramo, a citizen of Nicaragua and legal resident of the U.S. as he attempted to enter the U.S. through the pedestrian lanes. After a CBP officer at primary discovered the subject may have a possible arrest warrant, officers escorted him to secondary for further inspection. With the use of biometric verification, his identity was confirmed along with the active arrest warrant from the Edinburg, Texas Police Department for aggravated sexual assault of a child, a first-degree felony.  Gomez Paramo is alleged to have had inappropriate sexual contact with a female relative in 2001 when the victim was only six-years-old, although the charges weren’t filed until 2007, when the child finally came forward with the information.
    The second arrest occurred at the same border crossing on the same date after Pedro Almeida Sanchez, age 79, also arrived as a pedestrian and advised CBP officers that he had no valid documents to legally enter or reside in the U.S., but wanted to turn himself in. Utilizing biometrics, CBP officers confirmed his identity and the arrest warrant from the U.S. Marshal Service for an arrest warrant dating back to 1992. Almeida Sanchez is alleged to have fled after being charged with drug smuggling in Florida, to avoid service of sentence.
    CBP Field Operation issued an immigration detainer on both individuals. Gomez Paramo was released to the custody of the Edinburg, Texas Police Department and Almeida Sanchez was turned over to U.S. Marshal Service deputies.