Federal authorities confirmed Friday the arrest of Alejandro Rosales Castillo, a suspect who spent nearly a decade on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list in connection with a 2016 homicide in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is currently being held in Mexico as U.S. officials prepare formal extradition requests.
Arrest Follows Years-Long International Search
Castillo was taken into custody in the city of Pachuca, Hidalgo, after a coordinated effort between U.S. law enforcement partners and Mexican authorities. The FBI elevated Castillo to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in 2017, citing his suspected involvement in the killing of 23-year-old Truc Quan “Sandy” Ly Le, a former co-worker and romantic partner.
Federal officials said Castillo managed to evade capture for nearly nine years before Friday’s operation. According to investigators, he fled the United States in 2016 after Le’s body was found in a wooded area in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, suffering from a fatal gunshot wound.
Timeline of the 2016 Case
The case began in August 2016 when Le agreed to meet Castillo at a Charlotte gas station. At the time, investigators later learned Castillo owed Le approximately $1,000. Le disappeared shortly after the meeting. Her vehicle was later discovered in Phoenix, Arizona, two days before her body was located in North Carolina.
Authorities believe Castillo traveled west shortly after the killing and crossed the border into Mexico, where he remained until his capture last week.
Other Individuals Linked to the Case
Two additional suspects faced charges related to Le’s murder in earlier years. In 2017, Felipe Ulloa was charged as an accessory after the fact. Another associate, Ahmia Feaster, turned herself in to officials in Aguascalientes, Mexico, later that same year and was subsequently extradited to face charges in North Carolina.
Officials Praise Joint Effort
In a statement released Saturday, FBI Director Kash Patel described Castillo’s apprehension as a significant milestone for the agency, noting that the capture marks the fifth Ten Most Wanted fugitive arrested since early 2025 – surpassing total arrests from the previous four years combined.
“This arrest reflects extraordinary cooperation between law enforcement agencies and brings the family of Sandy Ly Le one step closer to long-delayed justice,” Patel said. The FBI credited its Charlotte field office, the bureau’s Legal Attaché in Mexico, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their persistence throughout the case.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson acknowledged the arrest as a message to violent offenders: “International borders will not protect those attempting to escape accountability.”
Awaiting Extradition to North Carolina
Castillo, a U.S. citizen, remains in Mexican custody as extradition proceedings begin. North Carolina prosecutors are expected to pursue murder charges once he is formally returned to the state.
U.S. Representative Pat Harrington (R-N.C.) also weighed in on social media, praising the multi-agency effort and expressing hope that the arrest provides relief to those connected to the case.
The Castillo investigation received national exposure in 2020 when it was featured on the true-crime television program In Pursuit with John Walsh. Officials say public visibility and intergovernmental cooperation were critical to the eventual breakthrough.
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