U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
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U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation |
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| In Reply, Please Refer to Release No. |
219 South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60604 |
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March 25, 2002 Chicago Fugitive Arrested in Roscoe, Illinois Thomas J. Kneir, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today the arrest of MARGARET DeFRANCISCO, age 17, whose last known address was 728 West 21st Street in Chicago. DeFRANCISCO was arrested last night, without incident, by FBI Agents, who were assisted by the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office and the Roscoe, Illinois Police Department. DeFRANCISCO was taken into custody at a residence located at 5460 Grove Street in Roscoe, Illinois, which is located just north of Rockford. DeFRANCISCO and her sister REGINA, age 19, have been the subject of a nationwide manhunt since August of 2000, when they were charged in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago with Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution (UFAP). The DeFRANCISCO's case has been featured three (3) times on America's Most Wanted, most recently on January 5th of this year. According to the UFAP complaint, the DeFRANCISCOs were charged with first degree murder in Cook County Circuit Court for the June 6, 2000 shooting Oscar Velazquez, who was an acquaintance of REGINA DeFRANCISCO. Subsequent investigation by the Chicago Police Department indicated that the sisters might have fled the state in hopes of avoiding arrest and prosecution. Investigation is continuing in a effort to locate and apprehend REGINA DeFRANCISCO, whose whereabouts remains unknown. Additional information about her, including recent photographs, is available from the FBI's website, which links to the Chicago fugitives section. Anyone knowing the current whereabouts of REGINA DeFRANCISCO is asked to call the Chicago FBI at (312) 431-1333. The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. EDITOR'S NOTE: A copy of the UFAP filed against the DeFRANCISCO sisters is available from the Chicago FBI press office at (312) 786-2645. |
