Fugitive of the Week Quickly Arrested

Concord, NH – Last evening, this week’s “Fugitive of the Week,” Todd Burke was arrested in Fitchburg, Mass. Burke was being sought on a federal arrest warrant for violation of his conditions of bail. Burke is on bail for charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute in excess of 100 kilograms of marijuana. Burke was last known to live northern Massachusetts, and he was arrested last night by members of the NH Joint Fugitive Task Force.

As part of the U.S. Marshals fugitive investigation, Burke was featured just yesterday as this week’s “Fugitive of the Week.” The “Fugitive of the Week” is broadcast on WTPL-FM, WMUR-TV, The Union Leader, The Nashua Telegraph, The Patch, Foster’s Daily Democrat and is prominently featured on the internet. The “Fugitive of the Week” continues to be very successful tool that has resulted in the location and arrest of numerous fugitives since its implementation in 2007.

Burke saw himself on WMUR and contacted his attorney and made indications that he wanted to surrender, but could not get to the U.S. District Court in Concord, NH yesterday. Members of the U.S. Marshals - NH Joint Fugitive Task Force already had a plan in place to attempt to arrest Burke last evening. In an effort to avoid any possibility that Burke might change his mind about surrendering, the task force continued with this plan and safely located and arrested Burke without incident in Fitchburg, Mass.

This arrest was a cooperative effort by several members of the U.S. Marshals – NH Joint Fugitive Task Force, including the Belknap & Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Offices, Greenfield (NH) & Fitchburg (MA) Police Departments and deputy U.S. Marshals from NH.

Following his arrest, Burke was transported to the Merrimack County Jail to be held overnight pending his initial court appearance at the U.S. District Courthouse in Concord, NH, which will be scheduled for later today.

Since the inception of the New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force in 2002, these partnerships have resulted in over 5,869 arrests (Updated as of 12/4/2014). These arrests have ranged in seriousness from murder, assault, unregistered sex offenders, probation and parole violations and numerous other serious offenses. Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, 7 regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.