Fugitive Long Sought In Deadly Heist Returns From Dominican Republic

MOUNT VERNON, NY — A long-sought fugitive wanted in connection to a deadly heist in Westchester County has been brought to the U.S. to face charges, according to DOJ officials.

Matthew Podolsky, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of NY, and Leslie R. Backschies, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the NY Field Office of the FBI, announced that Marco Tulio Fernandez-Rodriguez was extradited from the Dominican Republic and arrived in the U.S. Wednesday afternoon.

He was extradited on murder, narcotics, and firearms charges in connection with an attempted gunpoint robbery of a Mount Vernon warehouse that feds say sold unlicensed marijuana and nicotine products. A warehouse employee and one member of the roughly 15-man robbery crew were shot and killed during the failed robbery attempt.

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"As alleged, Marco Tulio Fernandez-Rodriguez and his co-conspirators attempted a violent armed robbery that left two dead in Mount Vernon," Podolsky said. "The persistence and dedication of our law enforcement partners led to locating the defendant in the Dominican Republic, where he was arrested. This Office and our partners will not rest until every individual responsible for these senseless deaths is brought to justice."

According to court documents:

On March 18, 2024, around 10 p.m., two customers arrived at the wholesale warehouse in Mount Vernon that sold unlicensed marijuana products. The customers placed an order for a large quantity of merchandise, and it took warehouse employees about two hours to prepare the order. Shortly after midnight, after the order had been prepared, two employees from the warehouse helped the customers carry the boxes of merchandise from the warehouse to their vehicle.

At that point, at least 11 members of the robbery crew, including Fernandez-Rodriguez, got out of a large cargo van that had been parked near the warehouse, with many of them brandishing firearms. Some of the robbers, including Fernandez-Rodriguez, ran over to the employees and the customers. Some pointed firearms at them, and others forced them back inside the warehouse. Other robbers ran inside the warehouse to steal the merchandise, including marijuana.

Soon after the robbers entered the warehouse, a gunfight broke out between the robbers and a warehouse employee. As a result, the employee and one of the robbers were killed. The robbers then fled the scene, without stealing anything.

On December 4, Fernandez-Rodriguez was arrested in the Dominican Republic. The DOJ says that 12 people have been arrested so far in connection to the incident.

The 24-year-old Dominican Republic citizen is charged with one count of murder through use of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of death or life in prison; one count of firearms use, carrying, and possession, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

"Last year, Marco Tulio Fernandez-Rodriguez allegedly fled the country after participating in a robbery and massive gunfight which culminated in the murder of two individuals," Backschies said. "Not only did his alleged involvement contribute to a highly violent episode which threatened the community’s safety, but Fernandez-Rodriguez also attempted to avoid responsibility by running. Today’s extradition and indictment reflects the FBI’s tireless commitment to ensuring all criminals face accountability for their behavior, regardless of where they may hide."

Podolsky praised the work of the FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and the Mount Vernon Police Department. He also thanked the Westchester County District Attorney's Office, the Westchester County Police Department, the NYPD, the Westchester Real Time Crime Center, the FBI Legal Attaché in Santo Domingo, and the Dominican authorities for their assistance.

The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in the Dominican Republic to secure the arrest and extradition of Fernandez-Rodriguez.

This case is being handled by the Office's White Plains Division, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared D. Hoffman and Justin L. Brooke in charge of the prosecution.