Man On FBI's Top 10 Fugitive List Could Be In Maryland Or Virginia

A man wanted for a brutal murder of a fellow gang member in New Jersey was added to the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list Wednesday, and authorities say he could be living in Maryland or Northern Virginia.

Fugitive Walter Yovany Gomez marks the 513th addition to the “Top Ten” list. Gomez, who is "considered armed and dangerous" is being sought for his alleged involvement in the murder of a Julio Matute of Plainfield, New Jersey on May 8, 2011.

Gomez was allegedly attempting to become a full member of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) transnational gang by carrying out a gang-ordered killing.

“To become a full-fledged member of MS-13, you have to kill someone on behalf of your local clique, or crew," said Special Agent Dan Brunner, who is investigating the case from the FBI’s Newark Division. "Only then can you get the MS-13 letters tattooed on your body. Gomez had not earned his letters yet.”

On the night of the murder, Gomez was at Matute's house drinking, smoking weed and watching tv with three other people. One person was Gomez's co-conspirator, and the other was not involved in the murder.

“They were all friends,” Brunner said. “The victim had no reason to suspect that he was going to be murdered.”

The four stayed up all night partying, the FBI said. Early the next morning, Gomez and his co-conspirator allegedly struck Matute in the head with a baseball bat, sliced his throat, and stabbed him in the back 17 times with a screwdriver, because Matute was suspected of socializing with a rival gang, the FBI reported.

“He was stabbed so many times that when his body was discovered a week later, police officers thought that he had been shot with a shotgun," Brunner said.

When police went to Gomez's house, he jumped out a rear window and fled into the woods. Investigation revealed Gomez drove to Maryland with assistance from fellow MS-13 gang members.

The co-conspirator was later arrested, charged, and found guilty for Matute's homicide. Gomez has not been seen in New Jersey since around the time of the murder, and is believed to have fled the the area to avoid prosecution, the FBI reported.

Gomez is a Honduran citizen who came to the U.S. illegally, the FBI said. Authorities believe Gomez is still in the country, and think he may be residing in Maryland or Northern Virginia "where there are thousands of MS-13 members," the FBI said.

“He would probably be considered a higher-ranking member of the gang now,” Brunner added.

On September 19, 2013, a federal arrest warrant was issued by the U.S. District Court of New Jersey charging Gomez with Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering (Homicide) and Conspiracy to Commit Murder in the Aid of Racketeering.

“It is unlikely that a fellow MS-13 member would turn Gomez in, but he works construction doing dry wall, and someone on a construction crew not involved with the gang could recognize him and do the right thing," Brunner said. "This is an extremely violent criminal who needs to be captured.”

Gomez is further described as follows:

• Name: WALTER YOVANY GOMEZ, a.k.a CHOLO
• DOB: October 3, 1987, October 3, 1988, October 31, 1983
• Height: 5' 39"
• Weight: 160 pounds
• Place of birth: Honduras
• Employment: Gomez was known to work in construction, hanging drywall, as well as working in a kitchen.

Anyone with information concerning Gomez should take no action themselves, but should immediately contact the nearest FBI office or local law enforcement agency.

For tips call 1-800- CALL-FBI (1-800- 225-5324). Tips can also be submitted online at https://tips.fbi.gov/. Individuals calling from outside of the United States should contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Photo: FBI