U.S. Marshals in Northern Virginia Apprehend Over 275 Felony Fugitives

Alexandria, VA - The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force based within the federal Eastern District of Virginia (E/VA), Alexandria division took over 275 dangerous fugitives off the streets of Northern Virginia in 2016. The task force also captured numerous fugitives wanted outside of Virginia who attempted to hide out in Northern Virginia.

“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 Northern Virginia law enforcement agencies onto one team.”

Due to these 275 arrests, nearly 340 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 Northern Virginia in 2016, see the table below.

Throughout the year, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force tracked down Northern Virginia 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, and extradited back to Northern Virginia to face criminal charges.

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) also oversees the Sex Offender Investigation Program in which Deputy U.S. Marshals across the country are specifically assigned to work with state and local law enforcement to investigate sex offenders suspected of violating their release conditions, such as registering for a state sex offender registry. This program was highlighted this year by Operation Caretaker conducted with the Virginia State Police (VSP) in June. Operation Caretaker was a sex offender operation in which the USMS and VSP verified the compliance status of 135 sex offenders. The USMS conducted follow-up investigations that led to the compliance verification of 33 additional offenders.

“While we are wrapping up another successful year of working with our law enforcement partners to track down and arrest the most violent offenders, our work is not done yet” said U.S. Marshal Bobby Mathieson.

Total fugitives arrested in 2016: 276

Total warrants cleared in 2016: 338

The U.S. Marshals-led Fugitive Task Force consists of law enforcement officers from the U.S. Marshals Service, City of Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, Fairfax County Police Department, Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, Prince William County Police Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Virginia State Police. 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, 66,300 state and local fugitives and 11,700 sex offenders in 2015. 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