CBP Officers Arrest Air Force Deserter

Grand Portage, Minn. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested an alleged deserter from the U.S. Air Force at the Grand Portage port of entry on Saturday, March 10.

Caleb May, 21, of Biloxi, Mississippi was taken into custody by CBP officers upon his entry into the United States after a check of his identification revealed that he was the subject of a National Crime Information Center warrant for military desertion. A U.S. Air Force Investigator confirmed his status as a deserter; custody of May was then turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for transport to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Detention Facility for extradition back to the custody of the U.S. Air Force.

“Our vigilance and diligence is resulting in the apprehension of more fugitives attempting entry into the United States,” said Area Port Director Mary Delaquis. “Desertion from the armed services is a very serious offense and I am very proud of the enforcement efforts of our officers.”

The National Crime Information Center is a centralized automated data base designed to share information among law enforcement agencies including outstanding warrants for a wide range of offenses. These warrants are for a wide range of offenses and include money laundering, robbery, narcotics distribution, the sexual abuse of children, violation of protection orders, fraud, failure to appear, larceny and military desertion.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of U.S. borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.