A man wanted in Indiana on multiple charges of child molestation and rape has been apprehended in Mississippi.

On April 8, the Forrest County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding the whereabouts of Yonson Meza Argueta, a fugitive believed to be in the region. Argueta was wanted by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana on several serious charges, including:

• Five counts of child molestation

• Subscribe to our free email newsletter

  Get the latest news sent to your inbox

  One count of rape

• One count of dissemination of matter harmful to minors (child pornography)

Following the tip from the FBI, authorities located Argueta in Picayune, Mississippi. He was taken into custody through a multi-agency operation involving the Forrest County Sheriff’s Office, Picayune Police Department, Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI.

Argueta was booked into the Forrest County Jail, where he is awaiting extradition to Indiana. According to investigators, Argueta was believed to be attempting to flee toward the U.S.-Mexico border in an effort to evade capture.

“This arrest is a testament to the power of interagency cooperation in the pursuit of justice,” the Forrest County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement, commending the swift and collaborative work that led to the fugitive’s arrest.