On Monday, March 31, 2025, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the U.S. Marshals Service regarding a wanted fugitive and previously deported felon believed to be in the Statesville area. Detective B. Padgett, assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit, began an investigation into the information provided and identified the suspect as 36-year-old Wilmer Perez Del Valle, a registered sex offender from Florida.
Del Valle was wanted on felony probation violation warrants related to sex offenses involving a minor. During the investigation, Detective Padgett obtained a possible description of the vehicle the suspect was believed to be driving.
On Tuesday, April 1, Detective Padgett located the vehicle on Salisbury Highway and conducted a traffic stop for a violation. The driver was confirmed to be Wilmer Perez Del Valle. He was arrested and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where Magistrate Nicholson issued a $1,000,000 secured bond.
Del Valle, identified as a previously deported felon currently in the United States without legal status, has been placed on an ICE detainer pending further federal processing.
