by | Published
Three fugitives on Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders list are back in custody following arrests earlier this month in San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and Erath County, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Authorities announced the arrests of Andrew Anthony Lopez, Albert Merell Jr., and Kerry Jay Armstrong, all of whom were wanted for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements.
Officials said a Texas Crime Stoppers reward will be paid in connection with information leading to Merell’s arrest.
Lopez, 36, described by authorities as a documented Tango Orejon gang member, was arrested May 6 at an apartment complex in San Antonio.
The arrest involved members of the United States Marshals Service Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, including DPS Criminal Investigations Division special agents, the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, the Texas Attorney General's Office, the Texas Board of Criminal Justice Office of Inspector General, and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Lopez had been wanted since February 2026 after a warrant was issued in Bexar County for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements.
Authorities said Lopez was convicted in 2013 of aggravated sexual assault of a child involving a 7-year-old girl and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Merell Jr., 48, was arrested May 11 in downtown Corpus Christi after investigators followed up on tip information.
The arrest was carried out by members of the United States Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force, DPS special agents, and the Texas Board of Criminal Justice Office of Inspector General.
Merell had been wanted since August 2025 after a warrant was issued in Tarrant County for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements.
According to DPS, Merell was convicted in 2001 of:
He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and released from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in 2015.
Authorities said he was later convicted again in 2022 in Tarrant County for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements and received probation.
Armstrong, 57, was arrested in Thurber, located in Erath County, after investigators developed information on his whereabouts.
The arrest involved DPS special agents assigned to the United States Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force, the Texas Board of Criminal Justice Office of Inspector General, and the Erath County Sheriff's Office.
Armstrong had been wanted since October 2025 on warrants issued in Kinney County for:
Authorities said Armstrong was convicted in 1997 in Denton County of aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child involving a 12-year-old and 14-year-old girl.
He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
In 2019, Armstrong was again convicted for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements and sentenced to three years in prison.
