Two escape federal prison in Bastrop

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Federal agents are on a manhunt for two escaped prisoners out of a federal facility in Bastrop.

Authorities said Leandro Luna, 52, and Adan Chavez, 53, walked away from the Bastrop Federal Prison Camp on Friday. Both were serving sentences on drug-related charges.

It is unknown whether they are still together. Around 8 p.m. on Friday, someone spotted Luna 35 miles away in East Austin. U.S. Marshals said the two escapees are most likely no longer in Central Texas. Hector Gomez with the Lone Star Fugitve Task Force said the escape has probably been in the works "for a long time."

"We think Chavez was probably the ringleader," said Gomez. "He is originally from the Rio Grande Valley, so that makes sense that they would go that direction."

With their sights ultimately on Mexico, investigators are still scouring nearby airports and bus stops, hoping to find a clue left behind by Chavez and Luna.

Authorities said Luna has family living in the area near Martin Luther King Boulevard and Decker Lane.

"These two needed money," said Gomez. "They probably thought they could find help [with his family.]"

Gomez does not expect charges to be filed against any of Luna's family members at this time, thought the two escapees should expect additional charges related to their escape from prison.

Luna was serving a 10-year sentence for importing drugs but has an even bigger criminal history. Luna had been at the Bastrop facility for three years.

It took authorities two days to notify the public of the escape. Prison officials would not elaborate on the specifics of the escape or why the public was not notified sooner. People living near the place in Austin where someone saw Luna said, had they known earlier, they would have been more watchful.

"[I’m] really scared because there's a lot of children here who play,” said Javier Olivares, 12.

Olivares said his mom worries the prisoner could still be in their neighborhood.

"They may come at night or something,” he added.

The prison in Bastrop has a satellite camp located next to the main center. The area where Luna lived houses minimum-security male inmates.

Other residents near his sighting said he might be long gone and that with sooner notice, they might have helped stop him.

"They should have told them the same day he broke out or whatever,” said Henry Aldridge. “Try to give people a little warning."

Until they know for sure though, Olivares and his mom will remain mindful of the missing inmate.

“I hope they caught him and that he's not here,” he said.

The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force is heading up the search and said it's “committed with our law enforcement partners to return this pair back to prison where they belong.”

"We're still working on this," said Gomez. "We haven't given up."