Published: 1:08 PM, 11/06/2009

Last updated: 12:52 PM, 11/17/2009

By: staff reports

The Watauga County Sheriff's Office apprehended two Banner Elk residents sought by Miami-Dade, Fla., detectives as fugitives from justice.

On Nov. 4, the sheriff's office received information from the Florida detectives that two individuals were wanted by Miami-Dade authorities as fugitives from justice and were in Watauga County.

This information was part of a multi-state "coordinated arrest effort" to locate and, if possible, apprehend individuals as fugitives from justice. The location and apprehension effort was alleged to be part of a fraudulent mortgage/investment operation.

Deputies with the Watauga County Sheriff's Office were able to locate and apprehend, without incident, the two suspects.

Rosemary Jocelyn Gomez, 43, of 499 Leslie Lane, Banner Elk, was charged as a fugitive from justice. Gomez was taken before a Watauga County magistrate and given a $100,000 bond and a court date of Dec. 3.

Jorge Luis Villanueva, 44, of 499 Leslie Lane, Banner Elk, was charged as a fugitive from justice. Villanueva was taken before a Watauga County magistrate and given a $100,000 bond and a court date of Dec. 3.

The sheriff's office anticipates that authorities from Miami-Dade will coordinate the return of Gomez and Villanueva to Florida within the next few days.