U.S. Marshals Help Rescue Endangered Juvenile

Memphis, TN – U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller announces the recovery of endangered juvenile Karime Ruiz, age 12.

Investigators with the Memphis Police Department developed intelligence that Ruiz was with Raul Villanueva-Lopez, a non-family member adult male in Jackson, MS. Investigators with the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force were able to coordinate with the Deputy Marshals and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in that city. It was believed that Ruiz was in danger.

Last night Ruiz and Villanueva-Lopez were located by Marshals and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Villanueva-Lopez is currently being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on unrelated immigration charges, with other possible charges being investigated. Ruiz was found safe and will be reunited with her family.

"We're pleased with the outcome of a potentially, tragic scenario," said U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller.

The U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force is a multi-agency task force with divisions in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. The Western Tennessee Division of the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force has offices in Memphis and Jackson, and its membership is primarily composed of Deputy U.S. Marshals, Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies, Memphis Police Officers, Fayette County Sheriff's Deputies, Jackson Police Officers, and the Tennessee Department of Corrections Special Agents. The primary mission of the Task Force is to arrest violent offenders and sexual predators.