Shaunavon RCMP were at the centre of an investigation that led to the arrest of Gene Paul Hooks - also known in the area under the alias Jamie Garza - a U.S. national and a wanted fugitive in Texas.
In a combined joint agency operation, investigators from both the RCMP and Canada Border Services (CBSA) arrested the 46-year-old Hooks on January 10 in Shaunavon. He was taken into CBSA custody for immigration violations and was issued a deportation order on January 13.
The arrest culminated a lengthy investigation originally launched in Shaunavon.
Late last year, RCMP Prairie Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) officers - who have an Eastend office - were notified by members of the Shaunavon Detachment regarding Hooks (Garza).
Local IBET investigators began to research Hooks’ history and determined that he had resided throughout western Canada since first entering the country in 2008 at Edmonton and has resided in all four western provinces over the past three years.
It is believed the fugitive had been in Shaunavon for at least the past six months - living  with his wife and children - and had also been working in the area for an oilfield company that has an office in the community.
Throughout his stay in Canada he used several different birth dates and names, including the alias Jamie Klassen Garza.

Hooks was taken into custody by CBSA and transported to Regina for processing.
Shaunavon RCMP levied a number of Criminal Code charges against the Texas fugitive relating to incidents that occurred in the area over the past six months ranging from fraud and possession of property obtained through crime to using a forged passport and falsifying employment records.
Some of the charges relate to allegations that he used forged documents to sell a vehicle that was owned by the oilfield company he was working for. Other charges stem from incidents between November and December when he allegedly defrauded the business for about $8,300 using a company credit card.
During their investigation police uncovered property exceeding $5,000 in value, including an air compressor, propane heater, tool cabinet and assorted tools, which they say was obtained through criminal activity.
Hooks also faces numerous charges related to allegations he came into Canada illegally with a forged passport, as well as using fraudulent identification and a false social insurance number.
“We certainly have to give credit to the Shaunavon officers for uncovering a lot of this,” said Sgt. Paul Dawson, “F” Division Media Relations Officer. “One thing that I think this incident shows is that when you start investigating anything, it can impact other agencies, or other offences. When you look at it, these were all occurrences that took place in Shaunavon, but files were cleared down in Texas as well as through CBSA. I think there is a lesson there in terms of how different crimes have layers to them and how different agencies are affected.”
“This is a perfect example of a very small detachment that investigated these fraud offences, which happen every day in the province, but it had a much bigger impact in terms of holding this person accountable not only for these offences, but also for the infractions south of the border,” he added.
Hooks made his first appearance in a Regina court last Thursday and will make another court appearance in Swift Current this Wednesday.
It has been reported that he was also wanted in the U.S. on fraud related charges.