Texas Trio From the Top 10 Most Wanted Are off the Streets

The streets are a little safer in the Lone Star State once again as the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Crime Stoppers announced today. Three of Texas's Top Ten Most Wanted fugitives are now back in custody.

Texas state authorities arrested Texas's 10 Most Wanted fugitives Juan Huerta and Jesse Vega at the end of March and just a few days ago the DPS revealed that Texas's top 10 most wanted sex offender Hayden Brince Abel III, was arrested once again. Texas DPS did confirm that Texas Crime Stoppers will be paying an anonymous tipster for the arrest of Hayden Abel III

While the streets in Texas are a bit safer now, the latter of the three arrests, Hayden was probably the most important catch of all the three arrests. Hayden is a registered sex offender affiliated with the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas and has also been convicted of possession of illegal substances.

See below how your tips to Texas Crime Stoppers pay off.

Hayden Brince Abel III, 40, - Capture Details: A Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offender affiliated with the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, was captured on April 2, 2024, in Ingleside, Texas. Working off tip information, Texas DPS Special Agents and Troopers, along with the Texas DPS Region 3 Special Response Team (SRT) located and arrested ABEL.

In 2022, ABEL was convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance and sentenced to 1 year of confinement. Later in 2022, ABEL was convicted of Burglary of Habitation with the Intent to Violate/Rape and Abuse the Victim Sexually and subsequently sentenced to 8 years probation. ABEL’s arrest was the result of tip information received through Texas Crime Stoppers, so a reward will be paid. More information on Abel’s arrest can be found here. Source: Texas DPS/Texas Crime Stoppers.

Juan Carlos Huerta, 35, - Capture Details: Juan was taken into custody in Amarillo, Texas, by members of the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force, including DPS Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Special Agents. The Amarillo Police Department assisted in the multi-agency apprehension.

In 2016, Huerta was convicted of burglary of a habitation and subsequently sentenced to four years’ probation. He had been wanted as multiple warrants were issued for his arrest out of Potter County: one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child, four counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact, and one count of indecency with a child by exposure. More information on Huerta’s arrest can be found here. Source: Texas DPS/Texas Crime Stoppers.

Jesse Mario Vega, 37, - Capture Details:  Jesse was taken into custody in San Antonio, by the the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, DPS CID Special Agents. The TDCJ Office of the Inspector General, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Homeland Security, and Immigration Customs Enforcement all assisted in Vega's apprehension.

In 2005, Vega was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and subsequently sentenced to two years. In 2009, he was convicted of aggravated robbery and sentenced to 25 years in a TDCJ prison. In May 2023, Vega was released on parole. Vega had been wanted since September 2023 after a parole violation warrant was issued for his arrest by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. More information on Vega’s arrest can be found here. Source: Texas DPS/Texas Crime Stoppers.

To be eligible for cash rewards, tipsters MUST provide anonymous information to authorities, and here's how:

• Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).
• Submit a web tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive you have information about and then clicking on the link under their picture.
• Submit a Facebook tip by clicking the "SUBMIT A TIP" link (under the “ABOUT” section).
• Tipsters will be provided a tip number instead of using a name. DPS website.
• Do not attempt to apprehend these fugitives; they are considered armed and dangerous.
  All tips MUST remain anonymous—regardless of how they are submitted.