After alluding capture by U.S. authorities in December 2012, the Cuban fugitive Raonel Valdez went on the run to the Caribbean before eventually getting arrested in Belize where he awaited justice for allegedly participating in a $2.8 million gold heist.

On Friday evening, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it had approved the U.S. Marshals Service bid for the parole of Valdez. His extradition back to the states was expedited, according to Fox News Latino.

"U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations approved the U.S. Marshals Service's request for the parole of Mr. Raonel Valdez to face criminal charges in the United States," Barbara Gonzalez, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman, told Fox in a statement.

The U.S. Marshals Service and the office of U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) headed up the negotiations to get Valdez extradited to the U.S. last week.

Debbie Zimmerman, the congresswoman's district chief of staff said Thursday that there were quite a bit of bureaucratic tape that stood in the way.

"We're looking forward to answers," Zimmerman said. "They've got a reason why they're delaying this issue right now, but we're not sure what it is."

According to Fox, Valdez qualified for a U.S. Social Security card and driver's license in Florida back in 2005 as part of the Cuban Adjustment Act, which allows undocumented immigrants from Cuba to become legal citizens.

Soon after obtaining citizenship, Valdez turned to a life of crime and was arrested multiple times under various charges including drug possession, aggravated assault and robbery.

After Valdez skipped out on bail in 2008, he fled to Mexico where he continued conducting criminal activity. While in Mexico, Valdez reportedly took people from Cuba to Mexico in which he was arrested on human smuggling charges.

However, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration recruited Valdez in an attempt to capture a high-ranking Zetas drug cartel member but the plan failed because they caught the wrong person, Fox reported.

Upon arriving at Miami International Airport, U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrested Valdez for missing his 2008 court date. The Florida judge let him walk free for time served, but soon after he was arrested on multiple occasions for a sting of similar previous offenses.

He was sentenced to wear a GPS tracker on his ankle, which authorities used to monitor his whereabouts that found him in connection with the gold heist, Fox reported.

A courier named George Villegas was delivering 110 pounds of gold flakes, valued at almost $3 million, to a precious metals refinery when Valdez allegedly swiped the gold from Villegas at an apartment complex. During the course of five days following the heist, Valdez was monitored going to several pawn shops in Miami-Dade County selling off the gold.

He used the money to pay for a 2008 Toyota Yaris that he gave to his girlfriend before Valdez went on the lam again.