Salvadoran Fugitive Wanted for Sex Crimes Against Preteen Family Member Intercepted at Washington Dulles Airport
STERLING, Va. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Washington Dulles International Airport have arrested a 43-year-old Salvadoran national wanted on felony charges of sexually abusing a minor family member. The suspect, identified as Nelvis Gonzalez Prudencio, was taken into custody on Sunday while attempting to board a flight to El Salvador, effectively fleeing prosecution in Maryland.
Deep Search: Timeline of Allegations and Evasion
According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, the investigation into Gonzalez Prudencio began in October 2021. Detectives from the Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) received a report from a child under the age of 12 alleging sexual abuse by a family member. Authorities indicated that the abuse had reportedly occurred approximately one year prior to the disclosure.
Following a lengthy investigation, detectives obtained an arrest warrant in November 2022, charging Gonzalez Prudencio with sexual abuse of a minor and third-degree sexual offense. Police records indicate that the suspect initially agreed to surrender to custody on November 28, 2022, but failed to appear. He remained a fugitive for over three years until his capture this week.
Federal authorities confirmed that Gonzalez Prudencio has a significant immigration history. He is subject to a removal order dating back to September 2005, issued shortly after he unlawfully entered the United States. Additionally, a separate warrant was issued in February 2025 for his failure to appear for removal proceedings.
Background: Intercepting Fugitives at the Border
This arrest highlights the critical role CBP officers play in vetting outbound passengers. While much public attention focuses on entry into the United States, CBP also utilizes passenger manifests to screen travelers departing the country. Officers cross-reference passenger data against the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database, which alerts them to active warrants and fugitives.
“This arrest illustrates how Customs and Border Protection officers help victims, including our most vulnerable victims of sexual assault, to have a voice by working with our law enforcement partners to capture and return wanted fugitives to justice,” said Christine Waugh, CBP’s Area Port Director for Washington, D.C.
Legal Defense and Due Process
While the charges against Gonzalez Prudencio are severe, legal experts emphasize that an arrest warrant represents an accusation, not a conviction. Under the U.S. legal system, Gonzalez Prudencio retains the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law.
Furthermore, his status as a foreign national with a standing deportation order adds complexity to the legal proceedings. Immigration advocates often note that due process requires that individuals facing criminal charges be given the opportunity to defend themselves in court before any removal orders are executed. It remains to be determined how the federal removal order will interact with the local felony prosecution in Maryland.
Current Status
Gonzalez Prudencio was verified as the subject of the active warrant by CBP officers on the jetway before he could board his flight. He was subsequently turned over to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police and is currently being held in Loudoun County, Virginia, awaiting extradition to Montgomery County, Maryland.
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