U.S. Marshals Arrest Non-Compliant Sex Offenders in Kansas City, MO During Operation Trick or Treat 2

Kansas City, MO – From October 1-28, the U.S. Marshals Service partnered with 112 law enforcement agencies in 22 states to conduct Operation Trick or Treat 2, an enforcement initiative during the Halloween season to investigate and arrest non-compliant and fugitive sex offenders.

Operation Trick or Treat 2 resulted in 331 total arrests, including 129 for failure to register as a sex offender, 74 sex offenders for other offenses, as well as 128 others for various criminal activities. During the operation, law enforcement personnel also conducted 3,334 sex offender compliance checks and seized 40 illegally possessed firearms.

U.S. Marshals in the Western District of Missouri partnered with state and local law enforcement investigators to keep sex offenders accountable in Kansas City, Missouri, St. Joseph, Missouri, and Springfield, Missouri. To make the Halloween season safer in these communities, operation personnel arrested non-compliant sex offenders and opened investigations for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Participating agencies included Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol, St. Joseph Missouri Police Department, Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Christian County Sheriff’s Office, and Branson Police Department. Law Enforcement agencies conducted compliance checks in Buchanan County and Greene County at registered sex offender addresses on Halloween to ensure compliance with Missouri’s state law (Section 589.426). Results of the operation are as follows:

Greene County

• Checks of 413 addresses
• 9 State Violation cases to be submitted for prosecution
• 1 Federal Violation case to be submitted for prosecution
  Buchanan County
• Checks of 247 addresses
• 5 State Violation cases to be submitted for prosecution

“Operation Trick or Treat 2 reaffirms one of our Agency’s highest priorities to ensure safety of children in our communities,” said Director Ronald L. Davis of the U.S. Marshals Service. “I applaud the women and men of the Marshals Service and all of the agencies who participated in this operation.”

Operation Trick or Treat 2 investigators initiated federal criminal cases for failure to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act; apprehended sex offenders in violation of registration requirements or wanted on active warrants; and utilized sex offender compliance checks to increase police presence and identify non-compliant sex offenders for further investigation.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

As the federal government’s primary agency for sex offender and fugitive investigations, the United States Marshals Service use its resources and investigative expertise to make neighborhoods safer. The agency has a key mission to help keep non-compliant sex offenders accountable.

Sex offenders are required to comply with federal, state, and local requirements to register as a sex offender. The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act (AWA) authorizes USMS to assist state, local, tribal, and territorial authorities in the location and apprehension of non-compliant and fugitive sex offenders; investigate violations of the AWA for federal prosecution; and assist in the identification and location of sex offenders relocated because of a major disaster.

The U.S. Marshals Midwest Violent Fugitive Task Force-Kansas City Division, operates in conjunction with members of the Kansas City and St. Joseph Missouri Police Departments, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol and other federal law enforcement partners. The task force objectives are to arrest fugitives charged with violent crimes, drug offenses, sex offenders and other serious felonies. It also provides direct support to law enforcement agencies in tracking down and recovering missing children.

Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 67 local fugitive task forces, 8 regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.

Tips can be submitted anonymously to the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers via the TIPS hotline at (816) 474-8477, on the internet at KCcrimestoppers.com, the free mobile app available at P3Tips.com.

Tips can also be submitted to the U.S. Marshals service directly by downloading the USMS Tips app to your Apple or Android device. Follow the latest news and updates about the U.S. Marshals Service on X: @USMarshalsHQ.