Alejandro Rosales Castillo, a name etched on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, has finally been apprehended in Mexico after nearly a decade evading justice for a 2016 killing in North Carolina.
Alejandro Rosales Castillo, 27, was arrested in Pachuca, located in the central Mexican state of Hidalgo, following a prolonged international manhunt for the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Truc Quan “Sandy” Ly Le in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The arrest, based on a red notice and an extradition order tied to U.S. murder and federal flight charges, was a coordinated effort involving the FBI’s Legal Attache Office in Mexico City, Mexico’s Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, and INTERPOL. Castillo, who had been on the run for over nine years, is now in custody in Mexico City awaiting extradition to Charlotte to face first-degree murder charges.
The issue of cross-border crime and fugitive evasion has long stirred debate over the effectiveness of international law enforcement collaboration. While some question the time it took to apprehend Castillo, others see this arrest as a testament to persistent efforts across jurisdictions. Let’s dig into what this case reveals about justice and accountability in a world where borders can’t shield the guilty.
Back in August 2016, Truc Quan “Sandy” Ly Le disappeared in Charlotte, only for her body to be found in a wooded area of Cabarrus County, North Carolina, Newsmax reported. Investigators allege that Castillo, a former co-worker who briefly dated Le and owed her money, shot her during a meeting before fleeing the country. Court records paint a grim picture of a teenager spiraling into violence, ultimately crossing into Mexico via Nogales, Arizona, to evade capture.
For over nine years, Castillo lived outside the United States, dodging a manhunt that spanned continents. His addition to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list in October 2017, as the 516th name on a roster dating back to 1950, came with a reward of up to $250,000 for tips leading to his arrest. This program has located over 530 fugitives, often through public tips and relentless agency work.
The arrest in Pachuca wasn’t a stroke of luck but the result of gritty, sustained coordination between U.S. and Mexican authorities. FBI Director Kash Patel hailed it as the fifth capture from the Ten Most Wanted list since early 2025, outpacing the previous four years combined. It’s a number that begs the question: why aren’t we seeing this kind of momentum more often?
“The work of our agents, federal, state and local partners and the cooperation of Mexican law enforcement brought this fugitive to justice,” Patel declared.
If that sounds like a victory lap, it’s hard to argue otherwise when a case this cold finally heats up. But let’s not forget the family still grieving a loss that no arrest can fully mend.
“We hope this brings some measure of solace to the family of Sandy Ly Le,” Patel added. Solace, yes, but full closure remains tied to a trial and a verdict in Charlotte. The extradition process, still ongoing, must navigate Mexico’s legal hurdles before Castillo faces the music in North Carolina.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella D. Patterson echoed the sentiment of triumph, noting the case proves violent offenders can’t outrun justice by skipping borders. Her words hit hard in an era where some seem to think geographic lines are get-out-of-jail-free cards.
It’s a reminder that accountability doesn’t stop at the edge of a map.
This arrest isn’t just about one man; it’s a signal that shared intelligence across borders can yield results, even if it takes years. Critics of bloated bureaucracies might scoff at the nearly decade-long delay, but the complexity of tracking someone like Castillo—who was born in Arizona yet fled to central Mexico—shows why patience and partnerships matter. The system isn’t perfect, but it’s working here.
Other suspects tied to Le’s death, including a former girlfriend and another charged in 2017 with accessory offenses, have already faced legal action. Castillo’s capture ties up a major loose end, but it also raises questions about how many others are still out there, hiding behind international lines. Justice delayed isn’t always justice denied, though it sure feels that way sometimes.
Some might argue that cases like this expose flaws in how we handle fugitives who exploit porous borders or overburdened systems. Without tighter controls or faster extradition protocols, how many more Castillos will slip through the cracks for years? It’s a policy debate worth having, minus the usual progressive hand-wringing over enforcement.
