Washington – The U.S. Marshals Service has concluded a
high-impact fugitive apprehension initiative aimed at combating violent
crime in 10 cities with a significant number of homicides and shootings.
This 30-day initiative, called Operation North Star (ONS), resulted
in the arrest of 1,501 fugitives, violent criminals, sex offenders, and
self-identified gang members in Baltimore, Chicago, Houston,
Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Memphis, New Orleans, New York City,
Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
Operation North Star focused on fugitives wanted
for the most serious, violent, and harmful offenses, including homicide,
sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated assault. Operation North Star
investigators prioritized their efforts to include individuals using
firearms in their crimes, or who exhibited risk factors associated with
violence.
“The Justice Department is committed to doing
everything we can to protect our communities from violent crime and end
the plague of gun violence,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
“Operation North Star reflects the approach we are taking across the
Department to work in partnership with law enforcement agencies and
communities to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the
greatest violence. I am grateful to the U.S. Marshals Service and the
many federal, state, and local task force partners who carried out this
operation, and who continue to work to keep the American people safe
each and every day.”
Throughout the month of June, the U.S. Marshals
Service used its broad arrest authority and network of task forces to
arrest individuals wanted on charges, including 230 for homicide; and
131 for sexual assault. In addition, investigators seized 166 firearms,
more than $53,600 in currency, and more than 33 kilograms of illegal
narcotics.
“The Marshals remain committed to assisting state
and local law enforcement with reducing violent crime in our most
vulnerable communities,” said U.S. Marshals Service Director Ronald
Davis. “Operation North Star was focused on areas where local law
enforcement has seen a large number of homicides and shootings. By
partnering with our local and state partners, we are able to hone in on
the most dangerous criminals who cause the most harm. I am very proud to
lead an agency that is always willing and ready to do the work necessary
to quell the violence affecting so many of our cities.”
Notable arrests resulting from Operation North
Star:
On June 4, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task
Force (GLRFTF) members arrested Jose Galiano-Meza, 28, who was
wanted out of Douglas County, Kansas, for homicide. Galiano-Meza was
the suspect in a hit-and-run that resulted in the death of a
10-year-old girl from Eudora, Kansas. A collateral lead was sent by
the District of Kansas to the GLRFTF in Indianapolis where
Galiano-Meza was located and arrested.
On June 6, members of the Eastern
Pennsylvania Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force (EPVCFTF) arrested
Rashaan Vereen, 34, for attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and
firearms charges. Vereen was one of the suspects in a mass shooting
incident on June 4 on South Street in Philadelphia in which three
people were killed and 11 injured. Also arrested in connection with
the shooting were Quran Garner, 18, and a 15-year-old suspect.
On June 8, members of the New York/New Jersey
Regional Fugitive Task Force (NY/NJRFTF) arrested Dionte Mitchell,
22, on two counts of homicide and possession of a weapon during a
violent crime. Mitchell allegedly shot and killed two female victims
after a dispute at a party.
On June 9, members of the NY/NJRFTF arrested
Jaden Baskerville, 21. He was wanted in New York for attempted
homicide in connection with a drive-by shooting that resulted in the
injury of a seven-year-old girl. Task Force members located
Baskerville at a residence in Brooklyn and arrested him without
incident.
On June 14, GLRFTF members arrested Prince
Cunningham, 49, for homicide. Cunningham was wanted by the Aurora,
Illinois Police Department on two counts of first -degree murder on
a cold case homicide from May 9, 2003. After conducting countless
hours of surveillance at multiple locations, investigators spotted
Cunningham getting into the driver’s seat of a pickup truck. They
broke surveillance, approached Cunningham and safely arrested him.
On June 16, Capital Area Regional Fugitive
Task Force (CARFTF) members arrested Robert Bakersville, 28, for
homicide. At the residence where Bakersville was arrested, a search
warrant was conducted and ammunition and parts consistent with
building a “ghost gun” were seized.
The concept behind interagency law enforcement
operations such as Operation North Star evolved largely from regional
and district task forces. Since the 1980s, the Marshals Service has
combined their resources and expertise with local, state, and federal
agencies to find and apprehend dangerous fugitives. Operation North Star
continued this tradition.
District News Releases:
Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found
at http://www.usmarshals.gov.
####America’s
First Federal Law Enforcement Agency