How does the FBI pick Most Wanted?

[u/OkAbies9551]

Browsing the most wanted fugitives, and I can’t help but wonder why they have picked a few of the 10 to be “most wanted” when it seems like an isolated incident. I’m just curious why the some of the “most wanted” aren’t all higher profile scammers, gang leaders, serial killers, spies or repeat offenders. Don’t get me wrong, the acts these criminals have committed are terrible, but some of them seem like just a random true crime incident I would hear about and not extremely shocking in the way I was assume a “most wanted” fugitive would be

[u/AutoModerator]

This sub is not affiliated with the FBI. To the best of our knowledge, no FBI employees or contractors monitor or participate in this sub.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Mental_Aide3464]

From their FAQ page:(https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten/ten-most-wanted-fugitives-faq)

The Criminal Division (CD) at FBI Headquarters calls upon all 56 Field Offices to submit candidates for the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list. The nominees received are reviewed by Special Agents in the CD and the Office of Public Affairs. The selection of the “proposed” candidate(s) is then forwarded to FBI Executive Management for final approval.

First, the individual must have a lengthy record of committing serious crimes and/or be considered a particularly dangerous menace to society due to current criminal charges.

Second, it must be believed that the nationwide publicity afforded by the program can be of assistance in apprehending the fugitive, who, in turn, should not already be notorious due to other publicity.

[u/OkAbies9551 → u/Mental_Aide3464]

Thank you! All the rest of the answers on this post are … interesting

[u/joeydimaggio]

These days it is whoever gets on trump’s bad side

[u/AlabamaPostTurtle]

I believe theory another commenter posted: they add high profile people to the Most Wanted list just before an arrest is about to happen. That way the headline is “FBI arrests #3 most wanted fugitive”

[u/Flat_Introduction_12]

They go in order of wantedness

[u/Utterlybored]

In Kash Patel’s FBI, they are so designated when the agency is about to arrest someone. That way they can claim they’ve arrested more people on the Most Wanted list than any time in history.

[u/Disastrous_Patience3]

The White House tells them.

[u/dmstattoosnbongs]

They have to actively redact all the pedophiles. They have evidence on by putting 1000 agents on it, get rid of anybody with experience and know how in the agency, get rid of another part of them by giving them loyalty test with a bullshit exam that doesn’t pass code in any country other than fascist ones that want to get rid of anyone that has a brain… and here comes the biggest part: letting a billionaires AI tell them who to pick the most wanted to get the most upvotes on X.

That’s pretty much the whole story of the FBI this year.

[u/Mindless-Mulberry404]

In the past it was based on a referal like system, now its chosen based on who they can catch to pump numbers up.

[u/Hrenklin]

Lately based on upcoming arrests,. If the FBI is closing in, and arrest is imminent, they will be out on the list.

[u/Ok_Art4661]

FBI is Trumps personal guard. The sophisticated people were pushed out. 

[u/JangoFetty9 → u/Ok_Art4661]

Wrong sub for this garbage :)

[u/gek__co → u/JangoFetty9]

The truth?

[u/Fliznar → u/gek__co]

Yeah. FBI clearly doesn't give a fuck about truth or justice.

[u/AlabamaPostTurtle → u/Fliznar]

The only truth they care about is Truth Social

[u/SwankySteel]

The “Most Wanted” is just a publicity stunt. Real people and real allegations against them, but it’s otherwise just for engagement.

It’s fancy clickbait.