A Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitive is back in custody after investigators located him at a Midland residence, and a Crime Stoppers reward will be paid for the information that led authorities to him.

Ronnie Matthew Velarde, 37, was arrested Aug. 18, 2026, in Midland. The Texas Department of Public Safety identified him as a documented West Texas Tango gang member. Although the arrest occurred outside Brownwood, the case is part of the statewide public-safety and fugitive activity followed by Texas law-enforcement agencies.

How the arrest happened

Authorities acted after following up on tip information. Members of the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force—including Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division special agents—worked with Midland Police Department officers and Midland County Sheriff’s Office deputies to find and arrest Velarde at a residence.

Midland Crime Stoppers and the Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) – Permian Basin Center also assisted with the investigation.

Why Velarde was wanted

Velarde had been wanted since May 2026 for a parole violation connected to earlier charges of burglary of habitation and engaging in organized criminal activity. The report said his criminal history in the Midland area dates to 2008 and includes convictions for burglary of a habitation, engaging in organized criminal activity, evading arrest or detention, theft of property, criminal mischief, failure to identify, manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance.

He has served multiple terms in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and was most recently released on parole in April 2025. The Texas Department of Public Safety said additional information about Velarde is available through its fugitive information resources.

How Texas Crime Stoppers rewards work

Funded by the Governor’s Public Safety Office, Texas Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to people who provide information that leads to the arrest of individuals on Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Fugitives, Sex Offenders or Criminal Illegal Immigrants lists.

Tipsters can submit information through any of these methods:

  • Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).
  • Submit a web tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive and using the link below the person’s photograph.
  • Submit a Facebook tip through the “SUBMIT A TIP” link in the page’s About section.

All tips are anonymous. People who submit information receive a tip number rather than providing their names.

So far in 2026, DPS and other agencies have arrested 53 people listed as Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitives, sex offenders or criminal illegal immigrants, according to the report. That total includes 37 sex offenders and nine gang members, while $74,000 in rewards has been paid for tips that produced arrests.

DPS investigators work with local law-enforcement agencies to select people for the Texas 10 Most Wanted lists. Current lists and photographs are available on the DPS website.