For Immediate Release: March 17, 2008
REWARD FOR LOS ANGELES GANG MEMBER ON FBI’S LIST OF TEN MOST WANTED FUGITIVES INCREASED TO $200,000
The reward for information leading to the arrest of fugitive from Los Angeles , Emigdio Preciado, wanted for a brutal attack on two Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies during a routine traffic stop, has been increased to $200,000, announced Salvador Hernandez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles . Preciado’s photograph is also being advertised on billboards throughout Los Angeles , courtesy of billboard space provided by Clearchannel, in an effort to draw attention to the reward.
Emigdio Preciado, Jr., a.k.a. “Junior,” “Trigger,” “Spooky,” and “Snyper,” the alleged triggerman in the September 5, 2000 attack in Whittier, California, was the 485th person to be placed on the FBI’s historic list when he was added in March 2007. On the date of the attack, Deputies Michael Schaap and David Timberlake were on patrol in Whittier , California , in a marked Sheriff’s patrol car when they 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.
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 a Hispanic male, 38 years old, with brown hair and brown eyes. Preciado is 5’5” and when last seen, weighed 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 is offering a reward of $50,000 for information leading to the capture and conviction of Preciado. The FBI is announcing an increase in the reward being offered of up to $150,000, for Preciado’s capture. The combined reward being offered by the FBI and Los Angeles County is $200,000.
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
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