Georgia Escapee on the Run for Almost 34 Years Captured

Lauderdale Lakes, FL - Willie Lee Austin was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service Florida Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force Wednesday after escaping from the Central State Correctional Institute on Dec. 27, 1981. Austin was serving a 15-year sentence for Armed Robbery after being convicted in Muscogee County, Georgia.

Georgia Department of Corrections Investigators assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (SERFTF) recently conducted a comprehensive investigation into the fugitive case and eventually uncovered a possible alias identity for Austin. Investigators then discovered an  address in Lauderdale Lakes, which was linked to the alias identity. Members of the U.S. Marshals Florida Caribbean Fugitive Task Force acted upon this information and took Austin into custody without incident.

Since its inception in 2003, investigations carried out by the SERFTF have resulted in the apprehension

of more than 20,000 violent fugitives in the state of Georgia. Of these arrests, more than 1,100 were fugitives wanted for homicide. The successful initiative is led by the U.S. Marshals Service and combines federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The SERFTF has offices in Atlanta, Macon, and Savannah that cover the entire state of Georgia. The task force objective is to seek out and arrest fugitives charged with violent crimes, gang members, sex offenders, and other felonies.