Suspect was hiding out for nearly 40 years
Luis Archuleta, aka Larry Pusateri, a former Colorado resident wanted by the FBI since 1977 on a charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution/confinement, has been apprehended and is being returned to Colorado following his arrest in Española, N.M. on Aug. 5, about 43 years later.
Special Agents from the Albuquerque FBI Division, working with the Española Police Department, arrested Archuleta.
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Archuleta in 1977 on charges stemming from his escape from a Colorado Department of Corrections facility in 1974. At the time of his escape, Archuleta was serving a prison sentence resulting from his 1973 conviction for assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, which was prosecuted by the Denver District Attorney’s office. This warrant remained active until 2018.
On June 30, a new federal arrest warrant was re-issued for Archuleta by the United States District Court, District of Colorado, for the charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution/confinement and his associated escape from a Colorado Department of Corrections facility.
Archuleta, now 77 years old, had been residing in Española, N.M. for approximately four decades under the alias Ramon Montoya.
“This arrest should send a clear signal to violent offenders everywhere: The FBI will find you, no matter how long it takes or how far you run, and we will bring you to justice,” FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said. “I want to thank the Española Police Department for working closely with the FBI Denver and Albuquerque Divisions on this investigation and getting this dangerous fugitive off the streets.”
“In March of 1973, a Denver jury found Mr. Archuleta guilty of shooting a Denver Police officer in the 4400 block of Mariposa Street,” Denver District Attorney Beth McCann said. “Thanks to the excellent collaboration and tenacity of federal and local law enforcement agencies, Mr. Archuleta will at long last be held accountable for his actions.”
Staff Reports