Concerted Effort by U.S. Marshals & Local Law Enforcement Leads to Arrest of Rape Suspect

Concord, NH – The United States Marshals Service – New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force is extremely happy to announce today's arrest of a Massachusetts rape suspect in Manchester, NH.

It was the concerted effort of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Forces from both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, along with members of the Manchester (NH) Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police that led to the location and arrest of a man suspected of raping two underage victims in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Walter Velez-Torres, 39 years-of-age, most recently of Manchester, New Hampshire was being sought on two outstanding arrest warrants; the first warrant was issued on March 3, 2022, by the Essex County (MA) Superior Court alleging; rape of a child – statutory with a 5-year age difference or more, and indecent assault & battery on a child under 14 (X2). The second arrest warrant was issued on March 24, 2022, by the Worcester (MA) District Court alleging; aggravated rape of a child with force, assault and battery, and witness intimidation.

Information developed by the task force revealed that Mr. Velez was residing in an apartment in the 600 block of Union Street in Manchester, NH and reportedly owned a business in the 400 block of Lake Avenue, in Manchester. After a period of surveillance this morning, Mr. Velez was observed arriving to his business on Lake Avenue, where he was arrested without incident. Velez was transported to the Manchester Police Department, where he was charged as a fugitive from justice based on the two arrest warrants out of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mr. Velez will be held without bail at the Hillsborough County Jail pending his court appearance in New Hampshire and eventual return to Massachusetts to face these very egregious allegations.

U.S. Marshal Nick Willard said, "Allegations of this nature strike a chord in both law enforcement and the public." Willard continued, "These cases are always the highest priority, and we are glad that we were able to get Mr. Velez off the streets as quickly as we did."

Since the inception of the U.S. Marshals - New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force in 2002, these partnerships have resulted in over 8,542 arrests (Updated as of 12/31/2021). These arrests have ranged in seriousness from murder, assault, unregistered sex offenders, probation and parole violations and numerous other serious offenses. Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, 8 regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.