Antonio Riano, notoriously known as “El Diablo” or “The Devil,” was captured on Thursday after evading U.S. authorities for two decades. The fugitive, wanted for a fatal shooting in Ohio, was discovered working as a police officer in Mexico, according to U.S. Marshals.
Riano had been on the Butler County Sheriff’s Office “Most Wanted” list since December 2004, following the shooting death of 25-year-old Benjamin Becerra in Cincinnati, Ohio. According to reports, Riano fled the United States to avoid prosecution after the incident.
The arrest of Riano concludes a 20-year manhunt. U.S. Marshals reported that he was found working as a local police officer in Mexico and was promptly extradited to Cincinnati after his arrest. He is currently being held in the Butler County Jail awaiting court proceedings.
Butler County Prosecutor Michael T. Gmoser highlighted the collaborative efforts that led to the arrest, stating, “This type of apprehension would not be possible without the cooperation and due diligence of the Prosecutor’s Office investigators, the United States Marshal Service, and the United States Department of Justice.”
Michael D. Black, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Ohio, commented, “The United States Marshal Service, through our violent fugitive task forces, assists our state and local law enforcement partners to apprehend the area’s most dangerous fugitives. This arrest is the result of ongoing information sharing between agencies and the determination of the investigators who refused to give up on this case.”
Riano has been charged with first-degree murder. In an interview with WKRC-TV, he claimed that he became a police officer because he “wanted to help the people of Mexico.”
The breakthrough in the case came from an unexpected source. Paul Newton, a former deputy who initially worked on Riano’s case in 2005, resumed his involvement in January 2024 after joining the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office. Newton’s persistence led him to search for Riano online, where he quickly located him on Facebook. Recalling the moment of discovery, Newton said, “At first, I was speechless. Then, I think the second thing that came to mind was, ‘I got you!’”
The original incident that triggered this two-decade pursuit occurred at the Roundhouse Bar in Hamilton, where Riano and Becerra got into an argument that escalated outside the establishment. Security camera footage allegedly captured Riano shooting Becerra in the face, resulting in his death.
Law enforcement officials reported finding the suspected murder weapon in Riano’s residence and claimed to have footage of him purchasing ammunition hours before the deadly confrontation.
This case underscores the persistence of law enforcement agencies in their pursuit of justice, even across international borders. It also raises concerns about the vetting processes for police officers in other countries and the potential for fugitives to assume positions of authority while evading capture.
As legal proceedings move forward, many will be watching closely to see how justice is served in this long-standing case.