Undocumented Man Charged With Rape, Sex Abuse Of Minors

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — An undocumented man sought for the past 12 months by law enforcement has been arrested and charged with three counts of rape in the second-degree, three counts of sex abuse of a minor and three counts of sex offense third-degree.

U.S. Marshals teamed up with the Harford County Sheriff's Office, Homeland Security and the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force to arrest Yerlis Efrain Alvarez-Alvarez, 32.

Alvarez-Alvarez was apprehended without incident at approximately 6:15 a.m. on June 5 at a home located off S. Tollgate Road in Bel Air.

Following the arrest, Alvarez-Alvarez was taken to the Harford County Detention Center and held on the arrest warrant. Police said he is an undocumented person from El Salvador with a final order of removal, which is an order by an immigration judge that he can be deported.

According to court documents, Alvarez-Alvarez is accused of committing his crimes between 2021 and 2024.

“As alleged, Yerlis Efrain Alvarez Alvarez preyed on children and other vulnerable members of our community, carrying out sexual assaults that shatter the sense of safety every family deserves,” stated Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin for HSI Maryland. “This arrest underscores the strength of our partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service and the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, whose coordinated efforts with HSI Maryland ensured he could no longer hide in our neighborhoods.”

Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler added, "Partnerships between local law enforcement and our federal counterparts are paramount to protecting our citizens and keeping our communities safe. No single agency can take on fugitives who pose this level of danger alone. Our collaboration with the U.S. Marshals Service, HSI, and the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force ensures we can bring dangerous offenders to justice swiftly and safely. It is through the power of these partnerships that our communities become safer.”