The information and photograph below provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
AUSTIN, TX – A Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) 10 Most Wanted Fugitive is back in custody after his capture last week in Midland. A Crime Stoppers reward will be paid.
Ronnie Matthew Velarde, 37, a documented West Texas Tango gang member, was taken into custody on Aug. 18, 2026, in Midland. Following up on tip information, members of the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, including Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Special Agents, Midland Police Department officers and Midland Co. Sheriff’s Office deputies, located and arrested Velarde at a residence. The Midland Crime Stoppers and Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) – Permian Basin Center assisted in the investigation.
Velarde had been wanted since May 2026 for a parole violation, stemming from prior charges of burglary of habitation and engaging in organized criminal activity. He has an extensive criminal history out of the Midland area dating back to 2008, consisting of convictions for burglary of a habitation, engaging in organized criminal activity, evading arrest/detention, theft of property, criminal mischief, failure to identify, manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. Velarde has served time in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) multiple times and was last released on parole in April 2025. More information about Velarde can be found here.
Funded by the Governor’s Public Safety Office, Texas Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to any person who provides information that leads to the arrest of one of Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Fugitives, Sex Offenders or Criminal Illegal Immigrants. So far in 2026, DPS and other agencies have arrested 53 Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives, Sex Offenders and Criminal Illegal Immigrants, including 37 sex offenders and nine gang members – with $74,000 in rewards being paid for tips that yielded arrests.
To be eligible for cash rewards, tipsters MUST provide information to authorities using one of the following three methods:
- Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).
- Submit a web tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive you have information about then clicking on the link under their picture.
- Submit a Facebook tip by clicking the “SUBMIT A TIP” link (under the “About” section).
All tips are anonymous — regardless of how they are submitted — and tipsters will be provided with a tip number instead of using a name.
DPS investigators work with local law enforcement agencies to select fugitives for the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives, Sex Offenders and Criminal Illegal Immigrants Lists. You can find the current lists — with photos — on the DPS website.