U.S. Marshals Arrest Two Home Invasion Suspects who Posed as U.S. Marshals

Kent, WA — The U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force (PNVOTF) in Washington and the Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force in California conducted a coordinated arrest operation, arresting two suspects who allegedly posed as Deputy U.S. Marshals during a home invasion in Alabama. 

During the crime, the suspects allegedly entered the victims’ residence posed as law enforcement, held them at gunpoint, and stole valuables.

Zealand Adams, 41, and Ramiro Vasquez, 39, were wanted by the Auburn Police Department in Lee County, Alabama, on multiple counts of robbery, burglary, unlawful imprisonment, and impersonating a peace officer.

Investigators from the Auburn Police Department requested assistance from the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force (GCRFTF) in apprehending Adams and Vasquez. Investigators from the GCRFTF determined that Adams and Vasquez had fled to Kent, Washington, and Chico, California, respectively, after the home invasion.

The GCRFTF sent leads to the Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force in Washington and the Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force in California. The task forces worked together to conduct a simultaneous arrest operation on Monday.

Both Adams and Vasquez were arrested without incident and booked into local jails. They are awaiting extradition to Alabama.

In 2014, Adams held a 2-year-old hostage during a five-hour standoff with police in Utah after leading officers on a high-speed chase. During that incident, Adams was wanted in connection with a murder in Louisiana. He was later convicted of kidnapping in Utah and manslaughter in Louisiana.

“Impersonating law enforcement undermines public trust and threatens community safety,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Donrien Stephens for the Western District of Washington. “Our local and federal partners demonstrated exceptional teamwork, helping bring these dangerous offenders to swift justice.”

The PNVOTF is a U.S. Marshals-led partnership comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers from Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. The PNVOTF’s primary mission is to locate, apprehend, and return the most violent and egregious federal and state fugitives to the justice system.

Anyone with information on wanted fugitives is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office, the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102 or tips may be sent via email to usmstips@usdoj.gov.