BILLBOARD PROFILING TOP TEN FUGITIVE EMIGDIO PRECIADO TO BE INSTALLED TOMORROW ON IMPERIAL BLVD. IN WHITTIER - REWARD OFFERED

The FBI has purchased a billboard in the city of Whittier as part of its ongoing publicity campaign to find and capture Emigdio Preciado, a fugitive on the FBI's national list of "Ten Most Wanted," announced J. Stephen Tidwell, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles. As of Friday, October 19th, the billboard will be visible to vehicles traveling on Imperial Highway in the city of Whittier, west of Leffingwell Blvd. The billboard, which will be posted for approximately sixty days, displays three photographs of Preciado and contact numbers for the FBI in Los Angeles including (888) CANT-HIDE, a special number established by the FBI's Fugitive Task Force to directly respond to tips.

This is the third publicity campaign launched by the FBI in Los Angeles utilizing a billboard. As a result of the previous campaigns, two fugitives have been arrested based on tips from drivers who had seen or heard about the billboard. The billboard will be installed in the city of Whittier where two Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies were brutally attacked during a routine traffic stop; one of them injured seriously.

Emigdio Preciado, Jr., a.k.a. "Junior," "Trigger," "Spooky," and "Snyper," is the alleged triggerman in the September 5, 2000 attack on Deputies Michael Schaap and David Timberlake who were on patrol in Whittier, California, in a marked Sheriff's patrol car. On that date, Schaap and Timberlake saw a 1979 Chevrolet van traveling toward them. As the van approached, the deputies noticed the van's headlights were not functioning properly and proceeded to stop the driver of the vehicle. When the van came to an abrupt stop, the deputies came under immediate attack from a burst of automatic gunfire. The gunman, one of four occupants traveling in the vehicle, appeared from an open door in the van, according to Sheriff's detectives. Preciado, an American citizen, was identified as the alleged shooter.
Deputy Timberlake was fortunate to escape the gunfire without injury; however, Deputy Schaap was shot in the forehead and was severely injured. Preciado and the other occupants of the van fled the scene after the shooting and although the weapon was not found, detectives did recover twenty-one rounds from an assault rifle at the crime scene.
On November 9, 2000, numerous local warrants were filed against Preciado, a documented member of the Southside Whittier Mexican street gang, and three other defendants in Los Angeles County Superior Court. On January 29, 2001, a provisional warrant for Preciado's arrest was filed in Mexico City by the United States Office of International Affairs at the United States Embassy, Mexico City.

In August 2001, after detectives with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department had determined that Preciado had fled the state of California, the FBI obtained a federal warrant after Preciado was charged with Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution, in violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 1073.

While Preciado has remained at large, three of the four occupants in the van have been captured; one in Mexico and two in South Whittier, California. At the time of the shooting, Preciado was wanted by the State Department of Parole for violation of the terms of his parole relative to a narcotics violation.

"The brutal assault on these deputies, or on any police officer, is an affront to every citizen who relies on law enforcement for protection," said Assistant Director in Charge, J. Stephen Tidwell. "The deputies victimized in this attack and their colleagues are the front line in combating street crime. Senseless attacks against them will not be forgotten - and the FBI will continue to search for Preciado until he is caught."

"This is an important step in bringing this criminal to justice," said Sheriff Lee Baca. "Deputy Sheriff Michael Schaap was shot in the face during a traffic stop seven years ago. Thankfully, Deputy Schaap survived this unprovoked attack, but it is another harsh reminder that there is nothing routine about law enforcement. Emigdio Preciado will be caught and prosecuted to the full extent under the law. Make no mistake about that. He will be apprehended."

Despite being featured in both local and national media outlets, Preciado has eluded capture. Preciado has an extensive criminal history including narcotics and firearms violations, a 1992 arrest for murder, robbery, grand theft and receipt of stolen property. Preciado is a career criminal and repeat offender.

Emigdio Preciado is described as an Hispanic male, 38 years old, with brown hair and brown eyes. Preciado is 5'5" and when last seen, 180 pounds. Although Preciado was last seen with a horizontal scar on his left ear, a black mole below his right eye, and tattoos of "Susana" and "Alexa" on his left chest, he may have had plastic surgery to remove the scars and tattoos.

The Los Angeles County Supervisor's Office recently raised the reward offered for information leading to the capture and conviction of Preciado to $50,000. As a member of the FBI's List of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, the FBI is also offering a reward of up to $100,000 for Preciado's capture. All information will be kept confidential. Preciado was added to the FBI's list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives earlier this year and is the 485th person to be added to the historic list which has been in existence for 57 years.

Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Emigdio Preciado is urged to contact their local FBI office or police department. Internationally, citizens with information about Preciado are asked to contact the nearest United States Embassy.

Additional information concerning Preciado and the FBI's List of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives can be found by visiting www.fbi.gov.

The FBI's fugitive task force in Los Angeles, comprised of agents with the FBI and detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department and the California State Department of Parole, Division of Adult Parole Operations, is conducting the fugitive investigation of Preciado. Placing an emphasis on subjects of homicide investigations, this task force combines the resources of local and federal law enforcement to track fugitives. The task force pursues fugitives of local crimes who flee the state of California and apprehends fugitives from other districts, including foreign countries, who surface in the Los Angeles area. The Southern California region, due to its diverse ethnic make-up and geographic territory, is an attractive destination for individuals evading capture.

The attempted murder case against Preciado is also being investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

CONTACT:
FBI: Laura Eimiller: 310 996-3343
ICE: Virginia Kice: 949 337-9594
PNC Media Relations in El Salvador (Spanish Speaker): 0115037140 - 4949