More than five years after the fatal shooting of an Illinois National Guardsman home from basic training, the Chicago FBI announced Tuesday that a reputed gang leader charged in the attack has been added to the agency’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, with a reward for his capture increased to $1 million, the Chicago Tribune reported.
The Hunt for Joseph Matos Shifts to the Global Stage
The fugitive, reputed Milwaukee Kings kingpin Joseph “Troubles” Matos, has eluded federal authorities for more than two years. FBI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Ryan Whalen stated at a news conference at the agency’s West Side headquarters that Matos is still believed to be hiding close to home with the assistance of his gang associates.
Whalen noted that despite evading capture, Matos is hard to miss. He stands 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 220 pounds, featuring gang-related tattoos on both sides of his neck, his forearms, and a tattoo reading “MOST WANTED” across his abdomen.
“As his tattoo predicted, his face and description will now be on every FBI-affiliated website and social media platform, and this case will now be on every phone around the world until he is caught,” Whalen said.
NBC Chicago noted that Matos is a 44-year-old Hispanic male with brown hair and brown eyes. His specific ink includes an “M-Town Kings” tattoo on the right side of his neck, a “1300” tattoo on the left side, “Move in Silence” on his right hand, “Trust No One” on his left hand, and the abdomen lettering.
The #FBI has added Joseph Matos to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List. He is #wanted for his alleged involvement in the murder of a National Guard member in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, on July 3, 2021. A reward of up to $1,000,000 is offered for… pic.twitter.com/wJHHMx5h0F
The FBI indicated that Matos maintains ties to Dallas and California, though authorities maintain he remains in the greater Chicago area.
The July 2021 Ambush in Belmont Cragin
Matos and another man, Gary Roberson, were indicted on racketeering charges alleging they participated in the July 3, 2021, slaying of 19-year-old Chrys Carvajal. Carvajal was fatally shot in the back and abdomen in the 2200 block of North Lockwood Avenue in the Hanson Park neighborhood on the Northwest Side.
The victim had recently completed Army basic training and was waiting to be assigned to a unit with the Illinois National Guard. He was walking to his car after leaving a house party over the Fourth of July weekend when he was ambushed.
The #FBI has added Joseph Matos to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List. He is #wanted for his alleged involvement in the murder of a National Guard member in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, on July 3, 2021. A reward of up to $1,000,000 is offered for… pic.twitter.com/YIQzh7TH1D
Relatives told the Chicago Tribune that Carvajal grew up in the Austin neighborhood before his mother moved the family to Portage Park out of fear of violence. His sister, Jennifer Ramirez, recalled his dedication to service.
“He was fighting for our country,” Ramirez said. “He comes to Chicago, and he gets killed in the streets of Chicago.”
The federal indictment alleged that the killing was part of a larger pattern by the Milwaukee Kings gang, which uses violence and intimidation to control turf and boost its reputation. According to an FBI search warrant affidavit, Matos, who heads the gang, and Roberson, his second in command, were out drinking at a restaurant in far north suburban Antioch the night of the shooting.
The pair drove back through rival gang territory and encountered Carvajal crossing an intersection. Private security cameras captured the moment Roberson allegedly jumped out of Matos’ red Audi and fired several rounds at Carvajal.
This morning, #FBIChicago Special Agent in Charge Ryan Whalen announced the addition of Joseph Matos to the @FBIMostWanted Fugitives list, Fugitives list, bringing the reward amount up to $1 million for information leading to his arrest. Matos is wanted in connection for his… pic.twitter.com/EgK9GLfaNw
A witness in the back seat told the FBI they were awakened by a loud sound. Roberson then jumped back in the car out of breath, and Matos fled with both men hyped up and laughing.
Arrest of a Co-Defendant and Family Hope for Justice
Federal agents arrested Roberson without incident in May 2024 when the charges were filed. Roberson, 42, is being held without bond, and his trial is scheduled for February. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty, meaning he faces up to life in prison if convicted.
When authorities searched for Matos on the day charges were filed, he was not found at his suspected residence. An affidavit stated that when agents questioned his girlfriend, she claimed she had not spoken to him, despite neighbors reporting otherwise. Agents seized her phone, which displayed an unanswered incoming call labeled “BF” with an orange heart emoji, and the girlfriend refused to provide information to unlock the device.
At Tuesday’s news conference, Ramirez and her mother, Lourdes Lara, stood beside the lectern wearing buttons featuring Carvajal in his National Guard uniform. Ramirez expressed hope that the expanded $1 million reward will finally compel someone to act.
“It seems like it’s never going to end,” Ramirez said. “Being added today to the Top Ten Most Wanted means more than words can explain. One million is a lot of money and it brings a lot of hope that someone will do the right thing and bring justice for us, not just for my brother and his memory but also for the future of the children in our city.”
Anyone with information regarding Matos is urged to contact the FBI’s toll-free tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.
