A fugitive wanted in Easton, Pennsylvania, for sex crimes against a child has been returned to the United States following his extradition from El Salvador, announced Michael T. Harpster, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division, District Attorney John M. Morganelli, Northampton County , and Chief Carl Scalzo of the Easton Police Department.
Cristobal Alfaro Ayala, 47, was located in San Salvador, El Salvador, and taken into custody on November 13, 2017, by Task Force Officers with the FBI’s Trans-National Anti-Gang Task Force, to await extradition. He was handed over by Salvadoran authorities yesterday, June 30, 2019, to special agents from FBI Philadelphia’s Allentown Resident Agency, who escorted Alfaro back to the United States and transported him to Northampton County, arriving early this morning, July 1, 2019.
It is anticipated that the United States Government will dismiss the federal warrant charging Alfaro with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and he will remain in custody while he awaits prosecution on the state child rape and related charges by the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office. Inquiries regarding his detention and pending prosecution can be referred to the DA’s Office.
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Alfaro was charged on October 24, 2011 by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, and other related offenses.
When the Easton Police Department determined that Alfaro had fled the state of Pennsylvania and the country, the FBI’s assistance in locating and apprehending Alfaro was requested.
On December 13, 2011, a federal warrant charging Alfaro with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution (UFAP) was filed in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
His successful arrest and return was based on cooperation between the Easton Police Department, the Northampton County District Attorney’s office, FBI Philadelphia’s Allentown Resident Agency, and the FBI’s Legal Attaché assigned to the United States Embassy in San Salvador.
The return of Alfaro was funded by the United States Government’s “Project Welcome Home,” which provides funding to assist in the transportation of federal fugitives to the United States, where the repatriation by the host country occurs through deportation or extradition.
