U.S. Marshals Task Force Verifies Home Addresses of More Than 700 Registered Sex Offenders Residing in 15 Counties

Operation CHECKS AND BALANCES

Scranton, PA - Today, U.S. Marshal Martin J. Pane announced the completion of Operation CHECKS AND BALANCES – a month long endeavor to verify the home addresses of registered sex offenders living in 15 counties throughout Pennsylvania.

Beginning June 1st and concluding June 30th, deputy marshals and police officers from seventeen different law enforcement agencies visited the homes of registered sex offenders to verify the accuracy of information provided under Pennsylvania Megan’s Law. Out of the 720 address verifications/checks conducted in over 141 different municipalities from 15 counties throughout the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 710 were confirmed as being in compliance. Ten of those checks revealed possible violations of Megan’s Law and the investigation continues.

United States Marshal Martin J. Pane stated, “The public should know that the Marshals Service and the law enforcement community are committed to enforcing a blanket of protection which the Megan’s Law and the Adam Walsh Act provides to our citizens. Convicted sex offenders must know this mission is given the highest priority within our agency.”

The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 designated the U.S. Marshals Service as the federal agency responsible for working with local and state authorities to locate and arrest convicted sex offenders who fail to comply with Megan’s Law requirements. The act additionally designated the USMS as the lead law enforcement agency authorized to investigate and charge convicted sex offenders who move across state lines and fail to re-register.

The 141 municipalities were located in the following counties, Adams, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Northumberland, Pike, Susquehanna, Union, Wyoming and York.

Additionally, the U.S. Marshals Service partnered with the following members of their fugitive task force, Pennsylvania State Police Fugitive Unit, Pennsylvania State Police Megan’s Law Section, Berwick Police Department, Dauphin County Adult Probation, Harrisburg Bureau of Police, Lower Paxton Township Police Department, Lycoming County Sheriff’s Office, York County Sheriff’s Office, York City Police Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania Bureau of Probation and Parole, Swatara Township Police Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Williamsport Police Department, York County District Attorney’s Office, Northern York County Regional Police Department.