HOUSTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers processed a cartel member, here, July 31, who is wanted in the murder of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian A. Terry. The suspect, who was in the custody of FBI agents, was traveling through Houston to face charges in a federal court in Arizona.
Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes is the lone remaining member to face charges related to the December 14, 2010 killing of Terry.
The murder occurred during a gunfight between USBP agents and five members of a cartel “rip crew”. This crew allegedly patrolled the desert along the U.S.-Mexico border looking for opportunities to rob drug dealers. Four members of this rip crew have already been sentenced in the U.S.
“We have never ceased in our efforts to bring those involved in that gunfight to the U.S. to face charges for their heinous actions,” said CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan. “I am thankful to our partners in the law enforcement community both here and in Mexico who joined us in bringing this criminal to face charges in a U.S. court.”
This extradition will allow Osorio-Arellanes to charges related to Terry’s murder. A multi-agency effort including the U.S. Marshals, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and CBP provided critical information to Mexican law enforcement effecting Osorio-Arellanes’ arrest April 2017 in Mexico.
CBP officers and U.S. Border Patrol agents joined FBI agents in guarding Osorio-Arrellanes during the three-hour layover before he was escorted aboard a flight to Arizona.
Terry was a member of the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) in the Nogales, Arizona area of operations. He entered on duty as a member of the 699th Session of the Border Patrol Academy on July 23, 2007 and assigned to the Tucson Border Patrol Sector. Before joining the Border Patrol, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a police officer in his home state of Michigan.
