U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation

In Reply, Please Refer to Release No.

219 South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60604

December 21, 2006 DRUG FUGITIVE ARRESTED IN FLORIDA Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today the arrest of CELESTE MELENDEZ, age 20, whose last known address was on West 33rd Place in Chicago. MELENDEZ was arrested by Deputies from the Osceola County, Florida Sheriff's Office, without incident, in Kissimmee, Florida on Sunday. She was subsequently turned over to FBI Agents from the Orlando, Florida office. MELENDEZ has been the subject of a nationwide manhunt coordinated by the Chicago FBI since evading capture and fleeing from the Chicago area in November of this year. MELENDEZ was charged in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, along with 15 other known and suspected members of the Satan's Disciples Street Gang, with numerous violations of federal drug laws. Information leading to MELENDEZ's location and arrest was obtained from a private citizen, who had seen local media stories about the search for her and a co-defendant in the case, CHARLES SPAULDING. A reward of up to $5,000 was previously offered for information leading to the location and arrest of MELENDEZ and SPAULDING. MELENDEZ appeared in U.S. District Court in Orlando on Monday, at which time she was ordered held without bond, pending her return to Chicago. A nationwide manhunt for SPAULDING, who is depicted on the attached wanted flyer, is still underway. Anyone recognizing SPAULDING or having any information about his current whereabouts, is asked to call the Chicago FBI at (312) 421-6700. EDITOR's NOTE: Additional copies of the attached reward flyer and the criminal complaint filed in this case are available from the Chicago FBI Press Office at (312) 829-1199.

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