A Mexican national wanted for child rape out of Fort Smith has been on FBI radar for over two decades

The FBI has intensified its efforts to locate Jose Antonio Barroso, a 52-year-old fugitive wanted for the alleged rape of a young girl in Fort Smith over a six-year period starting when she was five, with the crimes reported when she was 11.  

This led to a state arrest warrant from the Sebastian County District Court on November 30, 2004, and a federal warrant for unlawful flight from the U.S. District Court, Western District of Arkansas, on February 1, 2005, after Barroso fled the country.  

Now over two decades on the run, he is believed to be hiding in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, though earlier intelligence suggested Guadalajara, Jalisco.

Barroso, a 5’7” Mexican national with black hair, brown eyes, a 150-pound build, and a scar on his left cheek near his mouth, is known by aliases including Juan Antonio Barroso, Jose A. Barroso, and Jose A. Barroso Martinez.  

The FBI considers him armed, dangerous, and an escape risk, urging the public not to approach but to report tips to local FBI offices or the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate.

The case gained renewed attention in May 2022 when Mexican authorities detained a man in Ensenada mistaken for Barroso, who was released after confirmation of his innocence, highlighting cross-border tracking challenges.

 The FBI’s Little Rock Field Office, leading the investigation, confirmed his continued status as a fugitive.  Collaboration with Mexico’s State Citizen Security Force remains active, with officials expressing optimism about public assistance.

The case underscores the FBI’s broader mission to address violent crimes against vulnerable populations, with the Victim Services Division supporting survivors, notably during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in April 2025.  

Tips can be submitted anonymously via www.fbi.gov or by calling (501) 221-9100, reflecting community hopes in Fort Smith for justice.