Southern Iowa Fugitive Task Force Brings End to Three-Week Manhunt

Des Moines, IA – A task force of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers in Des Moines arrested a man wanted by Alabama authorities for allegedly sexually abusing a child. The U.S. Marshals-led Southern Iowa Fugitive Task Force located the man, Kenil Leonel Iriarte-Banegas, 21, in the 900 block of E. Hull Ave. just after 3:00 p.m. today and arrested him without incident.

On January 4, 2021, investigators with the Shelby County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office obtained an arrest warrant and charged Iriarte-Banegas with two counts of rape in the first degree, two counts of electronic so citation of a child, and two counts of sexual extortion. The charges resulted from an investigation into allegations that Iriarte-Banegas forcibly raped a minor and then sent electronic messages of a sexual nature to the minor following the incident. It is further alleged that Iriarte-Banegas sent electronic messages to the minor threatening the minor and the minor's family if they reported the abuse.

Iriarte-Banegas was booked into the Polk County Jail and is awaiting extradition back to Alabama.

The Southern Iowa Fugitive Task Force (SIFTF) is a team of law enforcement officers led by U.S. Marshals in the Southern District of Iowa. The Southern Iowa Fugitive Task Force's objective is to seek out and arrest violent fugitives and sexual predators on outstanding federal, state, and local arrest warrants. The Southern Iowa Fugitive Task Force partner agencies include the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the Fifth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, the Fourth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Council Bluffs Police Department, and the Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office.