Fugitive white supremacist captured in wine country
A search for one of Texas’ most-wanted gang fugitives ended in California wine country Monday, authorities said.
Deputies from the Windsor Police Department and Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office went to the Hampton Inn in Windsor, searching for Paul Rasco. Rasco, 45, was wanted on two Texas felony warrants on assault charges, according to the sheriff’s office.
Hotel staff initially called police, saying that a fraudulent credit card may have been used to rent two hotel rooms. When Windsor police officers ran Rasco’s name, they found he was on a gang fugitive list. He’s listed as a member of the Aryan Brotherhood on StopHoustonGangs.org.
Because he was known to be part of the white supremacist gang, additional deputies and a K-9 unit were brought in, sheriff’s Sgt. Cecile Focha said. After ensuring the hotel rooms around Rasco’s room were empty, authorities called Rasco’s room and he came out voluntarily.
Rasco had rented two rooms, for himself and another man, Eli Bratt. Inside the rooms, authorities found equipment to forge checks and make fake credit cards, they said.
Both men were arrested, and Rasco is awaiting extradition to Texas to face charges.
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