U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

100 W. Capitol Street
Suite 1553
Jackson, Mississippi 39269

Contact: Deborah Madden
(601) 948-5000

For Immediate Release
June 26, 2006

FBI ARRESTS SUSPECTED SEX OFFENDER

At approximately 10:45 a.m. on June 23, 2006, Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, together with officers from the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force, Rankin County Sheriff's Office and the Pearl Police Department, arrested WILFREDO ADRIAN ZAPATARIVERA, age 30, at a mobile home park in Pearl, Mississippi, without incident.

ZAPATARIVERA, who is also known as Wilfredo Zapata, was arrested pursuant to a federal warrant issued on June 20, 2006, by the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. The warrant was obtained following investigation conducted by the FBI's Baltimore Division and the Baltimore County Police Department. As stated in the arrest warrant, ZAPATARIVERA is wanted for unlawfully leaving the state of Maryland "to avoid prosecution for the crime of Third Degree Sex Offense, Sex Abuse of a Minor, and Incest...." According to John G. Raucci, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi, ZAPATARIVERA, a former resident of Biloxi, Mississippi, who had been living with relatives in Baltimore as a result of Hurricane Katrina, is alleged to have forced sexual intercourse on a 15-year old female in the Fall of 2005. As a result of that forced sexual intercourse, the victim became pregnant and gave birth in May of 2006.

ZAPATARIVERA has been transported to the Rankin County Jail where he will await extradition to Maryland.

The Jackson Violent Crimes Task Force consists of officers and agents from the FBI, the Jackson Police Department, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Hinds County Sheriff's Department, and the Rankin County Sheriff's Department.

Mr. Raucci stressed that the charges upon which the arrest of ZAPATARIVERA are premised are accusations only and there is a presumption of innocence prior to any judicial proceeding.