HSI arrests international fugitive wanted for murder

MIAMI – A Cuban man wanted by law enforcement authorities in Spain for murder and robbery was arrested U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents and the U.S. Marshals Service on Dec. 30 following a routine traffic stop on the Florida Turnpike.

Abdel Roca Teijelo, 37, is the subject of an international warrant issued on Aug. 30, 2011.

According to the provisional arrest warrant filed with the court, an investigation by Spanish authorities revealed that on June 30, 2011, neighbors of a coffee shop located at Calle Navas de Tolosa No. 5 in Saragossa, Spain called the fire department because of a strong smell emanating from the premises. Firemen responded to the café and discovered a large sarcophagus containing the body of Ruben Joaquin Fauste Elvira, Teijelo's boss, and an ax. An examination of the body determined that cause of death was multiple ax wounds to the head.

An investigation by Spanish authorities into the victim's death revealed that Teijelo and an accomplice both worked for the victim at a number of coffee shops. Authorities also reviewed cell phone records for Teijelo and his accomplice and discovered a meeting between Elvira, Teijelo and Teijelo's accomplice at the café sometime between 7:30 p.m. on June 10, 2011, and 12:30 a.m. on June 11, 2011, when according to court records, the victim was never heard from again.

Spanish authorities also discovered that, on June 13, 2011, the accomplice rented two vans and purchased building materials, and with the assistance of Teijelo, brought these materials to the café. The authorities later discovered that some of those building materials were intended to construct the sarcophagus that would eventually be used to hide the victim's body and the ax used to kill him.

Teijelo will be held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until he can be turned over to law enforcement authorities in Spain.