U.S. Marshals National Operation Nets More Than 150 Fugitives in Chicago

Chicago, IL – The U.S. Marshals Service has conducted a high-impact fugitive apprehension initiative focusing on the country’s most violent offenders in 10 cities.

This 30-day initiative, called Operation North Star (ONS), resulted in the arrest of more than 156 fugitives, gang members, sex offenders and violent criminals in the Northern District of Illinois.

Operation North Star was concentrated on fugitives with arrest warrants, wanted for the most serious, violent, and harmful offenses such as homicide, forcible sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated assault. Operation North Star investigators prioritized the offenses with signals of firearm use in their crime, and those with a larger number of risk factors for violence.

The cities selected were New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Indianapolis, Memphis, Houston, Chicago and Los Angeles, each of which has seen a large increase in recent homicides and shootings.

“The Justice Department’s comprehensive violent crime reduction strategy is built on the principles of constitutional policing, strategic enforcement, and community engagement,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This data-driven operation targeted the most dangerous fugitives in communities grappling with rising levels of violence. We are grateful to the U.S. Marshals Service and the many federal, state and local task force partners who carried out Operation North Star, and who courageously protect the American people from violent crime each and every day.”

“The Marshals remain committed to assisting state and local law enforcement with reducing violent crime in our most vulnerable communities,” said U.S. Marshals Service Director Ronald Davis. “Operation North Star was focused on areas where local law enforcement has seen a large number of homicides and shootings. By partnering with our local and state partners, we are able to home in on the most dangerous criminals who cause the most harm. I’m very proud to lead an agency that is always willing and ready to do the work necessary to quell the violence affecting so many of our cities.”

“Violence has plagued our communities across the Northern District of Illinois,” said U.S. Marshal LaDon Reynolds. “The apprehension of offenders through Operation North Star is just one example of the benefit of our continued collaboration, at every level of law enforcement, in furtherance of community safety. The women, men and K9 teams of the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force work diligently every day, at great peril, to bring to justice those operate outside of the law.”

Throughout the month of June, the U.S. Marshals Service in the Northern District of Illinois used its broad arrest authority and task force partnerships to arrest 156 individuals wanted on charges including 14 for homicide, 21 for Robbery, 18 Weapons offenses, 38 Parole/Probation violations and 33 for sexual assault.

In addition, investigators seized 4 firearms, and more than 1.8 kilograms of illegal narcotics.

Notable arrests in Northern Illinois:

On June 15, 2022, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force (GLRFTF) members arrested Arvell Singletary, 23 years old, for homicide. Charges allege Singletary was the offender who stole a vehicle, crashed it into another vehicle, and then proceeded to shoot both occupants of the vehicle, killing one and severely wounding the other.

On June 21, 2022, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force (GLRFTF) members arrested Joel Cammon, 44 years old, for Kidnapping, Aggravated Sexual Assault, and Aggravated Unlawful Restraint. Cammon allegedly chained and handcuffed the victim to an attic wall and sexually assaulted her. The victim was unlawfully restrained for a period of four days until two people heard her banging on the wall and called police.

The concept behind interagency law enforcement operations such as Operation North Star evolved largely from regional and district task forces. Since the 1980s, the Marshals Service has combined their resources and expertise with local, state and federal agencies to find and apprehend dangerous fugitives. Operation North Star continued this tradition.