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American wanted since 2016 arrested in Merida after arriving in Cozumel by cruise ship

Merida, Yucatan — Police from Sarasota, Florida, have reported the capture of an American man who had been running from the law since 2016. According to the Sarasota Police Department, 65-year-old John P was captured in Merida at 2:42 p.m. on June 11, and immediately deported back to the U.S.

John P was arrested and deported from Mexico by Mexican officials and transported to Miami. The U.S. Marshals Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested John P once on U.S. soil. He was booked into the Miami Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Center at 8:12 p.m. that same day.

He was wanted by a Sarasota court for possession of child pornography. The Miami task force developed information that John P was in Mexico. Agents coordinated with the U.S. Marshals Mexican Foreign Field Office and Mexican Immigration authorities and learned he had no legal status to stay in the country.

According to U.S. authorities, in 2016, John P was charged with 15 counts of Possession of Child Pornography with additional charges pending. He remains in custody in Miami, awaiting extradition back to Sarasota to face the charges.

John P is believed to have arrived in Mexico in 2017 via a cruise ship that docked the island of Cozumel. An arrest warrant was issued when he failed to appear for his October 21, 2017 hearing. He was known to be living in the state of Nuevo León in 2018. He was finally arrested in Merida, state of Yucatan, three days ago.

Earlier this month, an international pedophile ring leader was arrested from the central streets of Mexico City. The FGJ reported the capture of Nelson N of Danish origin, who was wanted by his country since 2020 after more than 10,000 images of child pornography were seized from his home.

He was allowed to remain free during his trial, during which time, he is believed to have relocated to Mexico City.