"Operation Safe Treats" Conducted During the Halloween Season

U.S. Marshals Join Forces with State, County and Local Law Enforcement Agencies to Ensure the Safety of Children 

Harrisburg, PA – The United States Marshals Service, working with the Pennsylvania State Police Megan’s Law Unit and communities throughout the Middle District of Pennsylvania (M/PA), conducted Operation SAFE TREATS. The operation was developed to help ensure the safety of children as they “trick-or-treat” for Halloween. The communities that joined with the U.S. Marshals Service are:

Carlisle – Cumberland County

Dillsburg – York County

Dover – York County

Dunmore – Lackawanna County

South Williamsport – Lycoming County

Steelton – Dauphin County

Waynesboro – Franklin County

York Springs – Adams County

During the week leading up to Halloween, the United States Marshals Service took the following actions:

Worked with local police officers to conduct 138 compliance checks of registered sex offenders living within those communities, in an effort to confirm their listed addresses

Provided funds to local police agencies to ensure extra officers patrolling during “trick-or-treat” supplemented those patrol officers by assigning Deputy U.S. Marshals to each community during “trick-or-treat” released a list of Most Wanted sex offenders, encouraging the general public to report tips regarding the location of these offenders.  As a result of the compliance checks, six (6) possible violators were discovered. In the coming days, U.S. Marshals and local police will be investigating the violations, and prosecuting the offenders as appropriate. In addition, two (2) individuals were arrested on pre-existing Megan’s Law warrants.

United States Marshal Michael R. Regan commented, “It’s rewarding for us to work with communities and our local law enforcement partners with the common goal of protecting children and keeping those who aim to harm them at bay.”

The individuals identified on the Operation SAFE TREATS’ Most Wanted List are listed below.

Joseph William Chapman (age-27) – In 2002, Chapman was convicted of Statutory Rape in Cameron County. In August 2007, while serving a prison sentence in the McKean County Prison on an unrelated case, Chapman learned that he was under investigation for molesting an 8-year old girl in Emporium, Cameron County. Shortly thereafter, Chapman escaped while on a work-release detail. The Emporium Police Department has since obtained an arrest warrant charging Chapman with Sexual Assault of a Child.

Alex Crofoot (age-71) – In 1991, Crofoot was convicted in Florida on charges of Lewd/Lascivious Acts in the Presence of a Child. Since then, Crofoot moved to Pennsylvania. He was listed on the Pennsylvania Megan’s Law website as living in Spring Grove, York County. In 2008, Crofoot failed to update his Megan’s Law registration information, and an arrest warrant was issued.

James Isbell (age-51) – In 1996, Isbell was convicted in Texas on charges of Indecency with a Child. Prior to 2008, Isbell was listed on the Pennsylvania Megan’s Law website as living in Pine Grove, Schuylkill County. Based upon Isbell’s failure to update his Megan’s Law registration information, an arrest warrant was issued in 2008.

Robert Lee Sviben (age-49) – In 2002, Sviben was convicted in Pennsylvania on charges of Incest. He had been listed on the Megan’s Law website as living in Steelton, Dauphin County. On October 1, 2010, an arrest warrant was issued due to Sviben’s failure to update his Megan’s Law registration information.

Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of these offenders is asked to call the following toll-free number – 1-866-437-9847. Callers can remain anonymous.

U.S. Marshals were assisted by many agencies during Operation SAFE TREATS. This included the Carlisle Police Department, Carroll Township Police Department, Franklin County Sheriffs Office, Lackawanna County Sheriffs Office, Latimore Township Police Department, Lycoming County Sheriffs Office, Northern York County Regional Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police – Megan’s Law Unit, South Williamsport Police Department, Steelton Police Department, and Waynesboro Police Department.

To search for sex offenders in Pennsylvania, review safety tips, and learn more about Megan’s Law, please visit www.pameganslaw.state.pa.us. By clicking on the tab indicated as “National Sex Offender Registry”, searches can be done for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and Indian Country.

The U.S. Marshals Service is the lead law enforcement agency responsible for investigating sex offender registration violations and related offenses in connection with violations of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. Enacted on July 27, 2006, this Act directed the United States Marshals Service to assist state, local, tribal and territorial authorities in the location and apprehension of non-compliant and fugitive sex offenders. Offenders who are found residing out of state can be charged federally and, often times, those charges carry more severe penalties. To ensure the safety of children across the country, the U.S. Marshals Service implemented an aggressive enforcement strategy. Since the law was enacted, the United States Marshals Service has arrested more than 37,200 fugitives for Sex Offenses, Failure to Register and Failure to Comply with Sex Offenders Registration Requirements. This resulted in the closure of more than 45,900 warrants. To learn more, please visit: www.usmarshals.gov.