The FBI has made significant strides in recent months, capturing three fugitives from its Most Wanted list since the beginning of 2025 under the new leadership of Director Kash Patel. The arrests, made possible through collaboration with local and international authorities, underscore the agency's renewed focus on violent criminals—a commitment backed by President Trump.
Since January 20, 2025, the FBI has apprehended Donald Eugene Fields II, Arnoldo Jimenez, and Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales. These high-profile captures are seen as a testament to the effectiveness of the new director who has been vocal about the administration’s commitment to law enforcement.
Former FBI agent Nicole Parker, who served during Trump's first administration, expressed excitement about the agency's recent performance. "This is the FBI that I was proud to work for, and I'm really excited to see that they have already arrested several of the FBI's Most Wanted fugitives," Parker told Fox News. She recalled Trump's dedication to fighting violent crime during his first term, noting that his focus remains strong in his latest term.
On January 25, 2025, 60-year-old Donald Eugene Fields II was apprehended during a routine traffic stop in Lady Lake, Florida. Fields was wanted on serious allegations of child sex trafficking, child molestation, and abuse, charges that span several years and are deeply concerning to the community. "Thanks to proactive policing by the Lady Lake Police Department, one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted fugitives has been captured," stated Ashley Johnson, FBI St. Louis Special Agent in Charge, highlighting the role of local law enforcement in the capture.
A few days later, on January 30, Arnoldo Jimenez was arrested in Mexico after being a fugitive for years. Jimenez was found guilty of murdering his wife just days after their wedding in 2012 in Burbank, Illinois. The case had gone cold for a long time, but collaborative efforts by the FBI and Mexican authorities led to this significant capture. "The FBI is extremely appreciative of the Burbank Police Department, our law enforcement partners in Mexico, and the public for their tremendous investigative efforts and collaboration in the capture of Ten Most Wanted Fugitive Arnoldo Jimenez," said Douglas S. DePodesta, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Chicago Field Office.
Then, on March 18, 2025, the FBI captured Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales in Mexico. As an alleged senior leader of MS-13, Roman-Bardales faces severe charges, including racketeering and human trafficking. His apprehension is pivotal as MS-13 has been notorious for extreme violence and criminal activities across North America. Leslie Backschies, Acting Assistant Director in Charge for the New York Field Office, emphasized the importance of this capture: "FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive Roman-Bardales has been extradited to the United States to be held accountable for the extreme and depraved violence and terror his leadership of MS-13 allegedly brought to the streets of the United States and across North America."
As these critical arrests demonstrate the potential of the refurbished FBI, Parker remains optimistic about what the future might hold. She believes that the new leadership is setting the Bureau on a path to regain its status as the ‘premier' law enforcement agency in the nation. She remarked, "To take several of them off of the streets within two months is absolutely phenomenal. I am so excited to see what is in store for the FBI over the next three and a half years. Again, we're only two months into it, and for this to have already occurred shows me that Kash Patel is serious when he says, ‘Let good cops be good cops.’"
Director Kash Patel has been a proponent of enhanced resource allocation for the FBI and the Justice Department under U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. "When you let good cops be good cops, this is what happens. This administration is giving the new FBI and AG Bondi the resources to get the job done — and we won’t stop," Patel stated on the platform X, referring to the agency’s recent success.
Law enforcement experts and former agents expect that with this renewed focus on crime, particularly violent crime, the FBI will continue its mission to eradicate major criminal organizations operating within the U.S. and beyond. The successful arrests represent not only triumphs in justice but a message to the criminal community that the FBI remains vigilant and capable.
The FBI's recent success in apprehending these dangerous fugitives marks a significant turn in its operations, reinstating confidence in its capabilities during a pivotal moment in U.S. law enforcement history. With the federal administration's ongoing pledge to prioritize violent crime, the Bureau is poised to further its successes as it works toward ensuring public safety.
