The two-year manhunt for a high-profile fugitive has come to a dramatic end
FBI’s Most Wanted List file photo
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Garfield NJ, The two-year manhunt for a high-profile fugitive has come to a dramatic end. Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 37-year-old Ricky “Angel” Vargas, a man once featured on the FBI’s Most Wanted List, for the 2024 stabbing murder of Richard Franceschi in Garfield, NJ.
Vargas, who had been evading justice since the initial charges were filed, was finally tracked down over 1,500 miles away in the Lone Star State.
The Crime: A Tragic Night on Monroe Street
The case dates back to the early hours of Sunday, February 4, 2024. Garfield Police responded to a report of a stabbing on Monroe Street, where they found 31-year-old Richard Franceschi suffering from multiple stab wounds to the chest.
Despite being rushed to HMH Hackensack University Medical Center, Mr. Franceschi was tragically pronounced deceased. A joint investigation between the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Garfield Police Department quickly identified five individuals involved in the fatal altercation.
The Manhunt: From New Jersey to the FBI’s Most Wanted
While four other suspects—Dante Moore, Jayson Rivera, Bryant Sanchez, and Erony Sanchez—were apprehended early in the investigation, Ricky Vargas managed to disappear.
His ability to evade capture led the FBI to add him to their Most Wanted List in March 2025. A federal arrest warrant was issued for “Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution,” turning the local murder investigation into a nationwide search.
The Capture: How “Angel” Was Finally Caught
The breakthrough came on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Detectives in Bergen County developed fresh leads on Vargas’s possible location. Working at lightning speed, NJ detectives and FBI agents coordinated with Texas law enforcement to pin his location to a private residence in Longview, Texas.
On Thursday, May 7, 2026, a massive joint operation involving the FBI and the Dallas and Longview Police Departments successfully took Vargas into custody.
Current Legal Status and Charges
Vargas is currently held at the Gregg County Jail in Longview, TX, awaiting extradition back to Bergen County, NJ. He faces a litany of serious charges, including:
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First-Degree Murder
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Third-Degree Possession of a Weapon
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Third-Degree Endangering an Injured Victim
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Fourth-Degree Possession of a Weapon
Prosecutor Musella highlighted the “invaluable assistance” of federal and interstate partners in bringing this fugitive to justice, noting that while these are merely accusations, this arrest marks a major step in the pursuit of justice for the Franceschi family.
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