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Cartel Member Wanted for Border Patrol Agent’s Murder Lands in Texas

Release Date
Wed, 08/01/2018

Suspect in Border Patrol Agent Brian A. Terry case heads to U.S. court

WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers yesterday processed Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes, one of two remaining cartel members facing extradition to the United States for involvement in the murder of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian A. Terry. The suspect, who was in the custody of FBI agents, was traveling through Houston to Arizona to face charges in federal court related to the December 14, 2010 murder of Agent Terry.

“We never cease in our efforts to bring those involved in Agent Terry’s murder to the U.S. to face charges for their heinous actions,” said CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan. “I am grateful to our partners in the law enforcement community, both here and in Mexico, who joined us in bringing this criminal to face charges in a U.S. court.”

Agent Terry was murdered during a gunfight between Border Patrol agents and five members of a cartel “rip crew”. This crew allegedly patrolled the desert along the U.S.-Mexico border looking for opportunities to rob drug dealers. Four members of this rip crew have already been sentenced in the United States; one other member remains in Mexico awaiting extradition to the United States.

With this extradition Osorio-Arellanes will face charges related to Agent Terry’s murder. A multi-agency effort including the U.S. Marshals, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and CBP provided critical information to Mexican law enforcement effecting Osorio-Arellanes’ arrest in April 2017 in Mexico.

CBP officers and Border Patrol agents joined FBI agents in guarding Osorio-Arellanes during the three-hour layover before he was escorted aboard a flight to Arizona.

Agent Terry was a member of the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) in the Nogales, Arizona area of operations. He entered on duty as a member of the 699th Session of the Border Patrol Academy on July 23, 2007 and was assigned to the Tucson Border Patrol Sector. Before joining the Border Patrol, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a police officer in his home state of Michigan.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021