Adalberto Rodriguez was returned to Arizona after authorities located him in Jalisco, where investigators said he had been involved in music.
TUCSON, AZ— An Arizona man convicted in absentia of child sex crimes has been returned to the United States after authorities captured him in Mexico, ending a search that lasted more than nine years, according to the U.S. Marshals Service and local reports.
Adalberto Rodriguez, 45, was detained Nov. 10 in Tequila, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, authorities said. He was returned to Arizona and booked into the Pima County Jail, where he is awaiting sentencing. Authorities said Rodriguez faces a minimum of 50 years in prison following his convictions.
The case dates to April 2017, when a Pima County Superior Court judge issued an arrest warrant after Rodriguez failed to appear for a hearing concerning the conditions of his release. He had been charged in a case involving the sexual abuse of a family member who was younger than 12 at the time, according to authorities.
Rodriguez left before the case went to trial. Authorities said he was later tried in absentia and found guilty on all counts, including sexual conduct with a minor, indecent exposure involving a minor and continuous sexual abuse. Prosecutors then sought help from the Arizona WANTED Violent Offender Task Force, which works with the U.S. Marshals Service, to locate him.
Investigators eventually traced Rodriguez to Jalisco. While living in Mexico, authorities said, he played drums in a band, produced music and was associated with a music school that provided lessons to elementary school students. Officials did not immediately release a detailed account of how investigators identified his exact location after years of searching.
Mexican reporting said state authorities in Jalisco worked with U.S. law enforcement to locate Rodriguez in Tequila. Local security officials described an operation involving intelligence personnel and other specialized units. After authorities confirmed his identity, he was transferred to Mexican immigration officials before being transported back to the United States.
Van Bayless, the U.S. marshal for the District of Arizona, said the arrest reflected continued cooperation between authorities in Arizona and Mexico. He said investigators remained committed to locating Rodriguez despite the length of time he had been outside the country.
The investigation involved several agencies, including the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Pima County Attorney’s Office, Tucson police, the U.S. Marshals Service and Mexican authorities in Jalisco. The Marshals Service also worked through its Mexico-based personnel as the search moved across the border.
Rodriguez remained in the Pima County Jail awaiting sentencing as of the latest reports. Authorities had not publicly announced a sentencing date. His capture closes the fugitive phase of the case, but the court process remains active until a judge formally imposes his sentence.
Author note: Last updated November 13, 2026.