CLEVELAND – Members of the U.S. Marshals Service in Puerto Rico arrested Robert ‘Bobby Champagne’ Serina, 45, late Tuesday night.
Serina was wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI in the Northern District of Ohio for two open federal cases.
“This fugitive thought he would run and hide forever, that he could outsmart law enforcement,” U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated. “Our USMS NOVFTF is filled with incredible investigators who won’t give up looking for their fugitives until they are caught, no matter how far or how long they are on the run.
“We will find them.”
In September 2015 Serina, and eight others, were charged with money laundering and in September 2016 he was further charged, with 11 others, with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and numerous counts of distribution of cocaine.
After Serina was charged with money laundering, he was granted bond, but in January 2016 he broke the conditions of his bond and cut off his ankle monitor.
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) has been looking for him ever since.
Over the past 10 years investigators with the NOVFTF have followed up on leads and tips and conducted interviews across the country.
Recently, investigators received information that Serina may be hiding in Puerto Rico and using an alias. U.S. Marshals in Puerto Rico gathered further information about Serina over the past couple of days.
Late Tuesday night, Serina was arrested without incident in Rincon, Puerto Rico.
Serina will remain in custody and eventually be extradited back to Northern Ohio to face the two open cases against him.
Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can submit a web tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous. Follow the U.S. Marshals on Twitter @USMSCleveland.