At Expense of Felony Fugitives – U.S. Marshals Closeout

Another Banner Year in Hampton Roads

Norfolk, VA - The Norfolk-based U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force took more than 300 dangerous fugitives off the streets of Hampton Roads in 2015. Local fugitives who went on the run were tracked down and arrested in eighteen states across the country. The task force also captured numerous fugitives wanted outside of Virginia who attempted to hide out here in Hampton Roads. This year was highlighted by a three-week span over the summer that netted twelve homicide arrests.

“Our mission is simple—bring dangerous fugitives to justice,” said U.S. Marshal Bobby Mathieson. “Our task force brings together some of the best investigators from Hampton Roads law enforcement agencies onto one team.”

From these 300 arrests, more than 500 outstanding felony warrants were cleared this year. This includes fugitives who were wanted on both state and federal arrest warrants, with charges ranging from murder and assault, to drug and sex offenses. For a complete breakdown of the arrests made in Hampton Roads in 2015, see the table below.

Throughout the year, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force tracked down Hampton Roads fugitives that had fled the area seeking to evade capture. In addition to arresting fugitives across the state, local fugitives were located and apprehended across the country. Based off investigative leads sent by the U.S. Marshals in Norfolk, Hampton Roads fugitives were arrested in eighteen states this year. From Texas to California, Florida to Connecticut, and even in Ohio and Nebraska, local fugitives were captured and extradited back to Hampton Roads to face criminal charges.

“This highlights to anyone believing they can avoid apprehension by fleeing the area to be wrong. The U.S. Marshals will find you and bring you to justice wherever you may go. Our authority and apprehension capabilities are far reaching, extending throughout the nation, and across the globe” said Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia John Bolen.

The U.S. Marshals also led an operation to reduce violent crime from March 2 through April 10. Operation Violence Reduction7 targeted the most violent felony offenders, and resulted in the arrest of more than 40 gang members, sex offenders, and other violent felony fugitives wanted in Hampton Roads.

From Aug. 20 to Sept. 11, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force took twelve homicide suspects off the streets of Hampton Roads. Seven of the homicide suspects were wanted out of Portsmouth, three out of Norfolk, one out of Virginia Beach, and one from Georgia. In total, 29 homicide arrests were made this year.

Total fugitives arrested in 2015: 306

Total warrants cleared in 2015: 516

Offense               *Arrests Made Warrants Cleared

                                 

Homicide             29           29

Narcotics             90           104

Weapons             74           110

Robbery               42           66

Kidnapping         11           11

Sex Assault         26           36

Sex Offenses     17           31

Assault 59           81

Burglary               13           13

Fraud    16           18

Other    17           17

 *A single fugitive may have warrants for multiple offenses. In those cases, the fugitive will be tallied in multiple columns - for each offense for which he/she was wanted.

The U.S. Marshals-led Fugitive Task Force consists of law enforcement officers from the U.S. Marshals, Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office, Newport News Police Department, Portsmouth Police Department and Norfolk Police Department. The main objective of the task force is to seek out and arrest violent offenders with outstanding federal and state warrants.

The U.S. Marshals Service, America’s oldest federal law enforcement agency, arrested more than 33,700 federal fugitives, 71,000 state and local fugitives and 11,600 sex offenders in 2014. Our investigative network and capabilities allow for the unique ability to track and apprehend any fugitive who attempts to evade police capture, anywhere in the country.