Walter Yovany Gomez

Walter Yovany Gomez
FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive
Charges
Reward$100,000
Alias"Cholo"
Walter Rios Gomez
Walter Yovany Rios Gomez
"Geovany"
Jesus Lopez Centoreo
Description
BornHonduras
OccupationMS-13 gang member
Status
Convictions25 years in prison
AddedApril 12, 2017
CaughtAugust 11, 2017
Number513
Captured

Walter Yovany Gomez is a Honduran American criminal and member of the MS-13 gang who was added to the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List on April 12, 2017, for murdering Julio Matute in Plainfield, New Jersey on May 8, 2011. He was captured in August 2017 in Woodbridge, Virginia, and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.[1][2]

Early years

Gomez was born in Honduras in the 1980s.[3] At some point, he illegally immigrated to the United States and lived in New Jersey.[1] Sometime before 2008, Gomez joined the Plainfield Locos Salvatrucha (PLS) crew under the MS-13 gang, and soon befriended Julio Matute.[4] Beginning in December 2008, Gomez got involved in racketeering.[2]

Murder

On May 8, 2011, Gomez and Cruz "Bruja" Flores met Julio Matute, a fellow MS-13 member who was suspected of being an informant for a rival gang. The trio had several alcoholic drinks at the latter's home in Plainfield, New Jersey.[2][5] While they were talking, Gomez and Flores struck Matute with a bat, sliced his throat, and stabbed him 17 times with a screwdriver. The men then fled the scene. Matute's body was found on the afternoon of May 15 and was identified three days later.[6][7] Following the murder, Gomez went on the run.[2] He initially drove to Maryland, and hid variously between Maryland and Virginia. He was almost caught by officers but fled by jumping out of a window.[2][8]

Arrest

On August 11, 2017, FBI and ICE agents arrested Gomez in Woodbridge, Virginia. The FBI was able to track Gomez down using facial recognition technology and via a tip from an unknown individual.[9][8][10] Gomez was placed on trial for the racketeering and murder charges and was found guilty. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.[3][8]

References

  1. 1 2 "WALTER YOVANY GOMEZ". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Capenito, Craig (2011). "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. WALTER YOVANY-GOMEZ, a/ k/ a "Cholo"". United States Department of Justice. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEy.
  3. 1 2 Russell, Suzanne. "Plainfield gang member pleads guilty to killing city man". Courier News. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  4. ↑ "New Top Ten Fugitive". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  5. ↑ Press, Associated (July 31, 2019). "Former FBI most-wanted fugitive sentenced in MS-13 gang case". whsv.com. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  6. ↑ Hutchins, Ryan (May 17, 2011). "Unidentified body found in home adds to city's rising homicide toll". The Star-Ledger. p. 13. Retrieved January 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Elsewhere In New Jersey". The Star-Ledger. May 18, 2011. p. 17. Retrieved January 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 3 Lucas, Ryan (August 21, 2019). "How A Tip — And Facial Recognition Technology — Helped The FBI Catch A Killer". NPR. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  9. ↑ "513. Walter Yovany Gomez". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  10. ↑ "FBI's most wanted fugitive caught in Woodbridge". WTOP News. August 12, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
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