Fugitive for Nearly 20 Years Returned to Syracuse to Serve Federal Prison Sentence

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Julio Recio, age 51, a fugitive from justice and a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was extradited from Spain and transported in the custody of the United States Marshals Service to Syracuse, on November 21, 2019, to begin serving a 30‑month prison sentence imposed in 1999. The extradition came about after Recio pled guilty in 1999 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and then became a fugitive, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and United States Marshal David McNulty.

In 1999, Recio and a co‑conspirator arranged for the transport of cocaine from New York City to Binghamton with the intent to distribute it there.  He was arrested in Binghamton and charged by federal indictment.  After Recio pled guilty to a drug conspiracy charge, Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy sentenced him to a 30‑month term of imprisonment and ordered him to self-report to the United States Bureau of Prisons to serve his term of incarceration.  Recio never surrendered to prison and instead fled the United States. He evaded law enforcement until the United States Marshals Service recently identified him traveling between the Dominican Republic and Spain under an assumed name.  With the cooperation of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and local law enforcement authorities, Recio was apprehended in Spain in January 2019.  Following extradition proceedings in Spain, Deputy United States Marshals transported Recio to Syracuse, from where he will be transferred to a federal prison.

United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith said, “Mr. Recio ran from the law, but he could not hide forever. Thanks to the exceptional work of the United States Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners overseas, Mr. Recio’s overdue debt to society will now be paid as he finally serves his sentence.  His case should highlight for fugitives everywhere that the long arm of the law is enduring, and we will enforce court orders and warrants around the globe, if necessary.”

United States Marshal David McNulty said, “Time and distance did not stop United States Marshals Service Investigators from catching this fugitive. I am very proud of them and their fine work on this case and thank all those law enforcement agencies from around the world who assisted us in returning Mr. Julio Recio to justice. This case is a great example of international cooperation and the long arm of the law at work in Syracuse New York.”

The drug case that led to the defendant’s 1999 conviction was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas P. Walsh (retired). The investigation that led to the international extradition of Julio Recio was conducted by the United States Marshals Service (Syracuse) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carina H. Schoenberger.