The US Marshals Service captured 833 fugitives in ten cities as part of Operation North Star II (ONS II), a high-impact fugitive apprehension initiative.
The 30-day operation focused on cities with the highest number of murders and shootings.
Fugitives include violent criminals, sex offenders, and self-identified gang members in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Buffalo, New York; Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Jackson, Mississippi; Kansas City, Missouri; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Oakland, California; and Puerto Rico.
“The results of this operation should make clear that the Department of Justice and our partners across the country will stop at nothing to find and bring to justice those responsible for violent crime,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Justice said in a press release. Dept. “The US Marshals Service and the entire Department of Justice will continue to work in partnership with community leaders and law enforcement professionals nationwide to protect our communities.”
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In addition to the arrests, the Marshals Service seized 181 firearms, more than $229,000 in currency and more than 160 kilograms of illegal drugs.
“The US Marshals Service remains steadfast in its commitment to assisting law enforcement and community leaders at all levels to combat violent crime,” said US Marshals Service Director Ronald Davis. “The success of ONS II is based on its laser focus on the most significant drivers of violence. We believe that arresting these criminals will bring a level of justice to their victims and contribute to efforts to reduce overall violence in every city and bring a level of justice to their victims.”
The Justice Department listed some notable arrests, including Gregory Kalwitz and Jessica Downing, who were arrested Jan. 20 in Cleveland by members of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force. He is wanted on an interference with custody warrant after running away with an 8-year-old girl in Henry County, Ohio.
“Jermaine Westbrook was arrested on January 26 in Parkersburg, West Virginia by officers from the US Marshals Service Southern District of West Virginia with the assistance of members of the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team,” the department said. “Westbrook is wanted in Franklin County, Ohio for felony assault, murder and parole violation.”
Another notable arrest was “Antonio Jenkins was arrested on January 13th in West Allis, Wisconsin by members of the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. Jenkins was wanted in Milwaukee on several charges including first-degree reckless endangerment of safety, felony possession of a firearm, battery and sale/possession/use/possession of a machine gun.
