Joint Law Enforcement Operation Apprehends Fugitive Wanted for Central Park Sexual Assaults

NEW YORK - Today, a multi-agency fugitive task force successfully located and apprehended Dereck Rivera-Deleon in Miami, Florida, in connection with multiple sexual assaults committed in New York City’s Central Park.

New York Police Department (NYPD) Detectives assigned to the U.S. Marshals (USMS) NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force (NY/NJ RFTF) - with support from the U.S. Marshals Florida Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force - Miami Division, along with the USMS Southern District of Florida, and Miami Beach Police Department  - tracked the suspect to the Miami area.  

Rivera-Deleon was taken into custody on the 1100 block of Washington Avenue while he was working at a local business.  

Rivera-Deleon is a suspect in the Oct. 24 sexual assault of a woman in Central Park, and authorities confirmed he will also be charged with two separate sexual assaults that occurred in Central Park in 2023 and 2021.  

“The swift apprehension of this fugitive is a testament to the seamless coordination and tireless efforts of our NYPD detectives assigned to the NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force with support from the U.S. Marshals Florida Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force - Miami Division, along with the USMS Southern District of Florida, and Miami Beach Police Department.  When violent offenders flee to evade justice, we will ensure there is no corner of the country where they can hide,” said Ricky J. Patel, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of New York.

The NY/NJ RFTF began operations in April 2002 and was the first regional fugitive task force to become fully operational following the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000. The NY/NJ RFTF was the flagship that allowed seven other regional fugitive task forces to be created across the country. With partnership agreements with over 90 federal, state, or local agencies and 13 fully operational offices, the NY/NJ RFTF has successfully apprehended over 95,000 fugitives since inception.