Plainfield Man Named FBI's 'Ten Most Wanted Fugitives'

PLAINFIELD, NJ — A Plainfield man, wanted for the brutal murder of a fellow gang member, has been added to the FBI’s list of “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” on Wednesday, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Newark Field Office Timothy Gallagher announced.

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 on May 8, 2011.

Gomez allegedly worked with a co-conspirator, who are both members of the Plainfield Locos Salvatrucha (PLS) gang, a New Jersey branch of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) transnational gang.

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.

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 has ties to both Virginia and Maryland.

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.

“Walter Yovany-Gomez was indicted for taking part in the ruthless May 2011 murder of a young man and remains the only defendant charged in this case that has not been arrested and convicted,” Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick said. “I am confident that Yovany-Gomez’s addition to the FBI’s Most Wanted list will help bring this violent and dangerous fugitive to justice.”

Gomez is known to have used a variety of aliases to include: Cholo, Walter Rios Gomez, Walter Yovany Rios Gomez, and Geovany.

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.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading directly to the arrest of Gomez. 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.

Additional information concerning Gomez, including his wanted poster and the FBI’s list of “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives”, can be found by visiting the FBI’s website at https://www.fbi.gov.

(Poster via FBI)

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