FBI Seeks Accused Molester

The FBI on Friday added to its 10 most-wanted list a Long Beach man wanted on suspicion of molesting six girls under the age of 13.

From January through May 2001, Richard Steve Goldberg, 56, is suspected of luring the girls to his home in the north Long Beach area, gaining their trust by allowing them to play with his pets and computers, and then committing sex acts with them. Sometimes, authorities said, he took the girls on short trips.

He also allegedly kept computer images showing him having sex with the girls.

Richard Garcia, special agent in charge of the criminal branch in the Los Angeles FBI office, said that Goldberg, an aerospace engineer, has fled to escape prosecution and is believed to have visited relatives in New Jersey and traveled elsewhere.

He should be considered armed and dangerous, Garcia said, and people sighting him should notify authorities, not try to apprehend him themselves.

The FBI and Long Beach police released two photos of Goldberg, who has black hair and brown eyes, is 6 feet tall, weighs about 160 pounds, wears a mustache and has distinctive facial features they believe render him quite recognizable.

Garcia said 474 names have been on the most-wanted list since the FBI originated it in 1950, and 445 of those people have been arrested. Others died or were taken off the list for various reasons.

California authorities issued an arrest warrant for Goldberg last July.

A reward of $50,000 has also been offered for information leading to the fugitive’s arrest.

Garcia said Goldberg is believed to be skilled in the use of weapons and noted that while working for a major aerospace firm in the Long Beach area, he was president of a gun club there.