A fugitive wanted in Oklahoma for crimes against a child was arrested Wednesday morning in Falls Township by federal authorities.
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Deputy U.S. marshals from the Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force arrested Ricardo Romo, 34, at approximately 7:45 a.m. at the Woodcrest Village Apartments on Lincoln Highway in Falls Township.
Romo has been wanted by authorities in Lawton, Oklahoma, on charges of improper touching of a 4-year-old girl and violating a protective order.
Credit: U.S. Marshals Service
The Comanche County District Court had issued a felony arrest warrant for Romo on June 24, 2024, for one count of lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16.
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According to investigators, Romo fled Oklahoma shortly after the warrant was issued, and his location remained unknown for months.
In December, the U.S. Marshals Western District of Oklahoma Metro Fugitive Task Force developed leads suggesting Romo was in Pennsylvania.
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Federal law enforcement in Philadelphia launched an investigation that led them to the apartment of a female associate on Wednesday, officials said.
Romo was taken into custody without incident, officials said.
“The Marshals Service remains steadfast in pursuing and apprehending child predators,” said Supervisory Deputy Robert Clark. “The arrest of Ricardo Romo demonstrates our commitment to keeping children safe.”
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Romo was brought before District Judge John Galloway and ordered to be held in the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10 percent of $250,000 bail awaiting an extradition hearing.
While the task force was in the area Wednesday morning, they conducted a traffic stop on Veterans Highway (Route 413) in Bristol Township, Clark confirmed to LevittownNow.com.
No arrests were made during the stop.
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The stop got attention after videos of the police activity began circulating on social media. The footage had sparked some concerns that the operation was related to immigration enforcement.
