‘America's Most Wanted' murder suspect nabbed at San Luis port

A Salinas, Calif., man wanted for murder and featured twice on the television show “America's Most Wanted” was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of San Luis.

Arrested was Raul Marin Sandoval, 26, who was featured on the show in episodes that aired March and December 2011 indicating he was wanted in Salinas for homicide.

Customs officers referred Sandoval for additional inspection when he tried to enter the U.S. through a pedestrian crossing Tuesday. He was later taken into custody after a routine record check disclosed the 2004 homicide warrant, which was confirmed through the Monterey County Sheriff's Office.

San Luis police subsequently took custody of Sandoval.

According to the TV show's website, in December 2004, Sandoval was one of three suspects in a Taco Bell restaurant robbery in Monterey County, Calif. The website states the during the robbery, an employee was brutally murdered and his body was left inside of a food freezer.

“This arrest demonstrates just one of the many roles CBP plays in keeping our communities safe by taking dangerous criminals off our streets,” said Acting Port Director Roque Caza. “I applaud our CBP officers in their role of ensuring this individual will be brought to justice.”

In fiscal year 2012, CBP officers at Arizona ports arrested 401 people wanted for crimes such as murder, rape, assault, robbery and other criminal activity. More than 6,000 individuals were identified as inadmissible due to national security, insufficient or fraudulent documents, and other inadmissibility concerns.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.