Theresa Fass would now sleep a little easier. Her husband Richard was a decorated Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Special Agent. Stationed in Phoenix, Arizona, the thirty-seven-year-old father of four had undertaken one of the agency’s most dangerous duties: going undercover to identify and arrest drug dealers. Many of these individuals were violent, but Agent Fass was cool under pressure. Now, after eight years on the streets, he was being rewarded with a promotion to an administrative position in the agency in Monterrey, Mexico.

On June 30, 1994, DEA Agents gathered at a Phoenix restaurant to honor their colleague. They told stories, shared a few laughs, and good naturedly ribbed Richard about moving upstairs.

Within a week, the same group, along with hundreds of more people, gathered to share more memories of Richard. But whereas the lunch at the restaurant was one of smiles, this gathering was full of tears as it was held at a funeral home.

Richard Fass had one final act to perform as an undercover agent. Sadly, it proved fatal.

DEA Agent Richard Fass

Richard and his partner, Agent Michael Pelonero, had infiltrated a group of drug dealers. They met them at an automotive repair shop in Glendale, ten miles northwest of Phoenix, where a man the agents knew as “Fernando” had arranged a sale of twenty-two pounds of methamphetamine, AKA speed, for $160,000 in cash.

The agents, posing as drug dealers, arrived at the shop, shortly after 6:00 p.m. on June 30.

DEA Agent

Michael Pelonero

Fernando was not at the shop. Instead, his cohort Juan Vasquez went to the agents’ car where he was shown the money. Vasquez did not count it, but he seem assured that it was all there. He then telephoned someone, most likely Fernando, to tell him the money was good. Agent Fass went to the garage’s back room to conclude the deal. Two other DEA Agents posing as drug buyers were already there.

The plan was to arrest Vasquez and Rubio as soon as the transaction was completed. Once in the back room, however, the drug dealers turned the table on the agents as they took them at gunpoint, demanding the money as they beat and kicked the agents. As Vasquez and Rubio attempted to handcuff Agent Fass, he thought fast and shot at them several times, with one bullet hitting Rubio.

The drug dealers returned fire, striking Fass six times, before fleeing. He died before help could be summoned. The other agents were unharmed.

Agent Fass Dies

DEA agents stationed outside the garage quickly apprehended Vasquez and Rubio. Both were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

A third conspirator, Eduardo Acevas-Vasquez, was captured six days later in Los Angeles. After cooperating with police, he was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison as an accessory.

                                           Rafael Rubio    Juan Vasquez

“Fernando” was learned to be Agustin Vasquez-Mendoza, a twenty-one-year-old Mexican citizen living in Phoenix and heading a major drug operation based out of Senora, Mexico, which smuggled meth into the United States.

The mastermind of the rip-off resulting in Agent Fass’s murder, Vasquez-Mendoza eluded the dragnet and was placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List in 1998. He remained at large for six years before being captured in Tehuacan, in Mexico’s state of Puebla, in July 2000.

Agustin Vasquez-Mendoza

Vasquez-Mendoza fought extradition all the way to the Mexican Supreme Court. In January 2005, when the high court finally denied his request, he was returned to the United States. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Captured In Mexico

Agent Richard Fass was posthumously awarded the DEA’s Award of Valor.

http://www.odmp.org/officer/671-special-agent-richard-e-fass

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/198604361/richard-e_-fass

Agent Fass Is Honored And Remembered

SOURCES:

• Arizona Republic
• CNN
• DEA
• FBI
• Los Angeles Times
• New York Times
• Unsolved Mysteries