US citizen arrested in Mexico for alleged fraud and identity theft

Mexican authorities have arrested Richard Panas, a 68-year-old United States citizen, in Mérida, Yucatán. Panas is wanted in Florida on four active arrest warrants related to allegations of fraud and identity theft.

The arrest was the result of a coordinated operation involving the Mexican Navy (Semar), the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), the Attorney General's Office (FGR), and the National Institute of Migration (INM). Officials noted that Panas was considered a priority target for the United States government.

Investigators linked the individual to a criminal cell allegedly involved in identity theft and fraud, though specific details regarding his role, the methods used, or the total number of victims have not been disclosed. The operation involved surveillance and security perimeters deployed by federal agents in the Mérida municipality to locate and verify his identity.