One of SWFL Crime Stoppers’ most wanted captured in Tampa area

A convicted felon who had been evading Southwest Florida law enforcement since March 10 was caught Thursday morning in the Tampa area.

Eliseo Mata, 30, was wanted on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, the possession of a firearm with an altered serial number and grand theft auto.

The search for Mata began in Bonita Springs and led the Lee County Sheriff’s Office’s Fugitive Warrants Unit and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Warrants Task Force to a duplex in the Tampa area.

LCSO said Mata was arrested without incident Thursday morning at the duplex.

Crime Stoppers placed Mata on its 10 Most Wanted list on March 16. He is a registered convicted felon with a lengthy criminal history, starting at age 13 when he was busted for burglary. Since then, he has been jailed for crimes including armed robbery, the sale of cocaine, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, and DUI, among others. He has also been sent to state prison four times for robbery and drug-related charges.

“Eliseo Mata’s arrest this morning is a testament to the fact that if you commit violent crimes in our community, law enforcement will not rest until justice is served,” said Trish Routte, Crime Stoppers coordinator. “We may be in the midst of a pandemic, but rest assured that members of the Fugitive Warrants Unit and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Warrants Task Force are working day and night to keep our community safe from perpetrators like Mata.”

Mata will be extradited back to Lee County at some point in the near future.