In its ongoing pursuit of the country’s most dangerous criminals, the FBI has announced an increase in rewards for tracking down individuals on its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. The agency revealed on Thursday that it is now offering up to $250,000 for information that leads to the arrest of these high-priority fugitives, a significant increase from the previous reward of $100,000.
The individuals on this notorious list are considered a significant threat to society due to their extensive criminal backgrounds, as highlighted by the FBI. Since its establishment in 1950, the Most Wanted list has served as a crucial tool in the agency’s efforts to apprehend dangerous criminals. The inaugural person on the list was Thomas Holden, who was sought for the murder of his wife, her brother, and her stepbrother. Holden was eventually captured in 1961 following a tip received by the FBI.
Over the years, FBI agents have achieved remarkable success in their pursuit of fugitives, with a total of 494 individuals on the Most Wanted list being captured or located, including 163 apprehended with the aid of tips from the public. To further strengthen their endeavors, the FBI recently added Donald Eugene Fields II as the 531st fugitive on the Most Wanted list. Fields is wanted for alleged sex trafficking of at least one child in Missouri between approximately 2013 and 2017.
Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division expressed the agency’s recognition of the vital role played by public assistance in tracking down fugitives. Quesada stated, “Raising the rewards for the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives will ideally garner additional public tips resulting in the capture of these dangerous criminals.”
The FBI urges individuals with any information regarding a Ten Most Wanted Fugitive to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI, submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov, or reach out to their local FBI office. Those outside the United States can contact the nearest American Embassy or Consulate to provide information. The increased rewards aim to encourage greater public engagement in the pursuit of these elusive criminals and enhance public safety.
