Three fugitives listed among Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders are back in custody following arrests in different parts of the state earlier this month, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Authorities arrested Andrew Anthony Lopez in San Antonio, Albert Merell Jr. in Corpus Christi, and Kerry Jay Armstrong in Erath County. DPS also announced that a Texas Crime Stoppers reward will be paid in connection to the arrest of Merell Jr.
Andrew Anthony Lopez, 36, was captured on May 6 in San Antonio. Lopez, a documented Tango Orejon gang member, was arrested by members of the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force after investigators tracked him to an apartment complex. Agencies involved in the arrest included 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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Lopez had been wanted since February 2026 after authorities in Bexar County issued a warrant accusing him of failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements.
Court records show Lopez was convicted of burglary in 2007. In 2013, he was convicted in Bexar County for aggravated sexual assault of a child involving a 7-year-old girl and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Albert Merell Jr., 48, was arrested May 11 in downtown Corpus Christi. Investigators with the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force located him walking along a street after receiving tip information. DPS Special Agents and the Texas Board of Criminal Justice Office of Inspector General assisted in the arrest.
Merell Jr. had been wanted since August 2025 after Tarrant County authorities issued a warrant alleging he failed to comply with sex offender registration requirements.
According to DPS, Merell Jr. was convicted in 2001 on charges including aggravated sexual assault, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, and burglary. He received a 15-year prison sentence and was released from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in 2015. In 2022, he was again convicted in Tarrant County for violating sex offender registration requirements and was placed on probation.
Kerry Jay Armstrong, 57, was taken into custody in Thurber, located in Erath County. DPS Special Agents assigned to the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force worked alongside the Texas Board of Criminal Justice Office of Inspector General and the Erath County Sheriff’s Office to locate and arrest Armstrong.
Armstrong had been wanted since October 2025 on warrants issued out of Kinney County for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements and for bail jumping/failure to appear.
DPS said Armstrong was convicted in 1992 for delivery of marijuana and sentenced to five years in prison. In 1997, he was convicted in Denton County for aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child involving a 12-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl. He received a 15-year prison sentence. In 2019, Armstrong was again sentenced to prison after being convicted of failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements.
Texas Crime Stoppers, funded through the Governor’s Public Safety Office, continues to offer cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of individuals listed on Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Fugitives, Sex Offenders, and Criminal Illegal Immigrants lists.
DPS reported that so far in 2026, authorities have arrested 33 individuals from those lists, including 26 sex offenders and four gang members. Reward payments totaling $50,500 have been issued for tips leading to arrests.
Officials remind the public that anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-252-TIPS (8477), through the DPS website, or through the Texas DPS Facebook page.
