California Fugitive Facing Fourteen Million Dollar Bond Arrested at Chicago Area Restaurant Following Multiyear Search

Cook County officials arrest Jorge Martinez-Trejo, a California man wanted on a $14 million warrant for felony crimes against minors, in a Chicago suburb.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 30, 2026, 8:44 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from FOX 32 Chicago

Apprehension of High Profile Fugitive in Glendale Heights

A significant law enforcement operation in the Chicago suburbs resulted in the capture of a California man wanted on a series of severe felony charges. Jorge Martinez-Trejo, 59, was taken into custody on March 24 while working at a local restaurant in Glendale Heights. According to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, the arrest was executed without incident following a successful investigative lead that placed the fugitive in the west suburban region. Martinez-Trejo had been the subject of an intensive search since fleeing the West Coast to evade prosecution for alleged crimes against children.

Legal History and the Fourteen Million Dollar Warrant

The legal pursuit of Martinez-Trejo dates back to June 2023, when the Salinas Police Department in Monterey County, California, issued a formal arrest warrant. The severity of the allegations was reflected in the extraordinary 14 million dollar bond set by California judicial officials. Investigative reports indicate that the suspect abandoned his residence in Monterey County shortly after the charges were filed, leading to a multiyear effort by the Salinas Police and federal partners to track his movements across state lines.

Detailed Felony Allegations and Criminal Charges

The charges facing Martinez-Trejo involve a harrowing series of alleged acts against minors, including victims under the age of ten and those over 14 years old. Specifically, the California warrant cites multiple counts of sex and sodomy with a child, forcible lewd acts, and aggravated sexual assault. Additionally, the suspect faces charges of oral copulation and sexual penetration with young children. These felony counts represent some of the most serious violations under California's penal code, carrying the potential for life imprisonment if a conviction is secured.