America’s Most Wanted: Who Is Washington Offering Millions to Find?
The United States uses reward programs to seek information leading to the arrest of fugitives, suspected terrorists, organized-crime figures and people accused of serious crimes. The FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives program offers rewards of up to $1 million, while the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program offers up to $10 million in selected terrorism, cybercrime and national-security cases.
Recent examples include Trung Duc Lu, wanted over alleged murders in Philadelphia, Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre, accused of leading an organized financial-crime conspiracy, and alleged al-Qaida leader Sayf al-Adl. Authorities note that inclusion on a wanted list does not establish guilt, and individuals’ legal statuses differ.
The United States maintains several official programs designed to locate fugitives, suspected terrorists, organized-crime figures and individuals accused of serious crimes. Some of these cases carry rewards reaching millions of dollars, reflecting the importance Washington places on obtaining information that can lead to arrests or disrupt major threats.
The FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list is among the best-known programs. In March 2026, the FBI increased the standard reward for information leading to the arrest of fugitives on the list to up to $1 million. The agency said the change reflected the seriousness of the crimes involved and the importance of public assistance.
One current example is Trung Duc Lu, who was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list in March 2026. The FBI says he is wanted in connection with the alleged torture, kidnapping and murder of two Vietnamese brothers in Philadelphia in 2014. A reward of up to $1 million is offered for information leading directly to his arrest.
Another high-profile case is Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre, whom the FBI alleges led an international conspiracy involving crews that stole millions of dollars from financial institutions in the United States in support of the Tren de Aragua transnational gang. He remains listed among the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives.
Beyond the FBI, the U.S. State Department operates the Rewards for Justice program, which focuses on information that can help counter terrorism, foreign threats and other serious security concerns.
Among the individuals listed by the program is Sayf al-Adl, described by the U.S. government as a senior al-Qaida leader. The United States offers up to $10 million for information about him. U.S. authorities have linked him to the 1998 bombings of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which killed 224 people and wounded thousands more.
The Rewards for Justice program also offers up to $10 million in other cases. These include information concerning individuals connected to malicious cyber activities against U.S. critical infrastructure and other threats to American national security.These reward programs reveal how the United States uses financial incentives as another tool in international law enforcement and national security.
Rather than relying only on intelligence agencies and police operations, authorities also encourage people with information to come forward.
However, being placed on a wanted list does not itself establish guilt. The allegations, charges and legal status of each person are different, and official agencies distinguish between suspects, fugitives and individuals who have been convicted.For the people on these lists, the message from Washington is clear: authorities continue to seek information that could lead to their arrest or help disrupt the activities associated with them. For the public, the millions of dollars offered in rewards demonstrate the scale and international reach of some of the cases facing U.S. law-enforcement and national-security agencies.
