Kash Patel announced that Alejandro "Alex" Rosales Castillo, a fugitive on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, was arrested in Mexico last week and transferred to Charlotte to face charges in the 2016 killing of Truc Quan "Sandy" Ly Le. Ly Le's body was found in Cabarrus County in August 2016; investigators say footage showed Castillo crossing from Nogales, Arizona, shortly after. A federal warrant was issued in February 2017 and Castillo was added to the Ten Most Wanted list in October 2017. Patel noted the transfer followed the same-day return of another top fugitive and urged public support for law enforcement.
FBI Director: Ten Most Wanted Fugitive Alejandro Rosales Castillo Transferred To Charlotte After Mexico Arrest
Castillo was arrested in Mexico Jan. 16.(Getty Images)
FBI Director Kash Patel announced Friday that Alejandro "Alex" Rosales Castillo, a fugitive on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, was transferred to Charlotte, North Carolina, to face charges in the 2016 killing of his former coworker, 23-year-old Truc Quan "Sandy" Ly Le. Patel said the transfer followed Castillo's arrest in Mexico last week and was coordinated with Mexican authorities.
Patel said the transfer came within hours of returning another Ten Most Wanted fugitive, former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, to U.S. custody — a rare same-day recovery of two top fugitives.
Case Background
Authorities discovered Ly Le's body in a wooded area of Cabarrus County, North Carolina, in August 2016. Investigators later found her vehicle abandoned at a bus station in Phoenix, Arizona, and surveillance video reportedly showed Castillo crossing the U.S.–Mexico border from Nogales, Arizona, the following day.
A federal arrest warrant for Castillo was issued in February 2017, and he was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list on October 24, 2017.
"It is truly a historic moment when you can deliver not one, but two of the FBI's most wanted fugitives in one single day. I don't believe that's ever happened before, and I'm not sure if it'll ever happen again," Patel said at the Charlotte news conference.
At the press conference Patel praised the leadership, resources and commitment provided to law enforcement by the administration, and he urged the public to recognize and thank officers involved in these investigations.
Patel also posted on X about the victim, using the spelling "Sandy Ly Lee" in his message. The family name has also been reported as "Ly Le" in news accounts; officials have noted both spellings in public statements. In his post Patel said: "Her family will never get their daughter back — but I hope today can help further the healing process and bring them peace in knowing that her alleged killer will face justice."
The transfer to Charlotte moves the case forward toward prosecution in the U.S. and represents a significant step in a decade-long effort to bring the suspect to justice.
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