Philadelphia Fugitive on “America’s Most Wanted” Captured After Decades on the Run

A fugitive once featured on “America’s Most Wanted” has been apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ending a decades-long pursuit that began after a violent armed robbery in Philadelphia. According to ICE, Yehia Elham Badawi, a 48-year-old Egyptian national with a violent criminal record, was arrested in Philadelphia on July 30, 2025. His capture brings resolution to a case that has lingered since the 1990s, when a police officer was seriously wounded in a shootout linked to Badawi and an accomplice.

Badawi’s crimes date back to 1994, when he and another individual conducted a masked, rifle-wielding robbery at a Philadelphia supermarket. The pair attempted to flee on bicycles, resulting in a chase that culminated in gunfire and a police officer sustaining serious injuries. While the accomplice was captured at the scene, Badawi escaped and was later apprehended in Salt Lake City, Utah. Over the years, he accumulated numerous convictions, including aggravated assault, robbery, and criminal conspiracy. He remained a wanted individual and was listed on “America’s Most Wanted” in 1996.

Authorities stated that Badawi’s arrest is part of a broader crackdown under the current federal administration, which includes President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Officials have emphasized renewed efforts to locate and deport individuals residing illegally in the U.S. with violent criminal histories. In addition to Badawi, several other individuals were arrested the same day for crimes including child sexual abuse, aggravated assault, and drug trafficking, all involving non-citizens convicted of serious offenses.

Among the other arrests highlighted by ICE were Juan Ocana-Sanchez, a Mexican national convicted of lewd acts with a child under 14 in California; Ivan Perez-Puac, a Guatemalan citizen convicted of aggravated assault in Texas; Tamio Domnick from the Marshall Islands, convicted of sexual assault in Arkansas; and Fernando Aranda-Esparza of Mexico, convicted of cocaine trafficking in South Carolina. These arrests are part of an ongoing federal initiative focused on removing individuals who pose a significant threat to public safety.

Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

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