Career
Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Richard Fass was murdered while acting, in an undercover capacity, as a buyer of methamphetamine from Vásquez Mendoza. He was arrested in Puebla by Mexican authorities on July 9, 2000. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, on June 30, 1994, Vásquez Mendoza and associates, Rafael Rubio Méndez, Juan Vásquez Rubio and Eduardo Aceves Vásquez, shot Special Agent Richard East. Fass in Glendale, Arizona, and robbed him of United States$160,000 believed to be used for the purchase of methamphetamines.
He was indicted in Phoenix, Arizona, on July 11, 1994 and was entered into the Federal Bureau of Investigation Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" database on August 3, 1996 at place 445.
He remained on the run for four years until his arrest. On January 29, 2005, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced Vásquez Mendoza’s extradition from Mexico to stand trial.
He was transported to Phoenix, Arizona, to be tried for First Degree Murder, Conspiracy/Armed Robbery, Attempted Murder, Attempted Armed Robbery, Kidnapping and First Degree Burglary.