Tips Lead to the Arrest of U.S. Marshals Fugitive of the Week in Maine
For immediate release
Jeffrey White, Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal
Concord, NH – Once again good tips from members of the public has led to the arrest of a U.S. Marshals "Fugitive of the Week!" Shortly before 5 o’clock last evening, "Fugitive of the Week," Joshua Joseph George,39 years-of-age, who was last known to reside in Somersworth, NH was arrested by the U.S. Marshals – Maine Violent Offenders Task Force. Mr. George was being sought on a federal arrest warrant which was issued by the U.S. District Court in Concord, NH. This warrant alleges that George was in violation of his conditions of bail for the second time while awaiting trial on a conspiracy to distribute a controlled drug (fentanyl) charge.
Mr. George was previously arrested in November 2020 by members of the NH (New Hampshire) Joint Fugitive Task Force, when he was found hiding on the rooftop of an apartment building that he was living in. George was released on bail after that incident and court ordered to attend drug treatment. George fled the treatment facility, and this new arrest warrant was issued.
George had been featured almost a month ago as the "Fugitive of the Week" on February 24th. The "Fugitive of the Week" was aired on WTPL-FM, The Union Leader, The Nashua Telegraph, The Patch, Foster's Daily Democrat, Manchester Information, the Manchester Ink Link, the Rochester Voice and prominently featured on the internet. The "Fugitive of the Week" continues to be a very successful tool that has resulted in the location and arrest of over 500 fugitives since its implementation in 2007. Additionally, the "Fugitive of the Week" was distributed statewide to all law enforcement officers in New Hampshire.
This past weekend, the U.S. Marshals in New Hampshire had received multiple tips pointing investigators to a specific area of Lewiston, Maine. This information was forwarded to our counterparts with the US Marshals, Maine Violent Offenders Task Force who quickly went to the Montello Street area in Lewiston. After seeing Mr. George in the area, a team was assembled, and he was safely arrested without incident at a residence on Montello Street in Lewiston, Maine.
George was transported to the Cumberland County Jail, where he was booked and held pending his initial court appearance today.
This arrest was made by several member agencies from the U.S. Marshals - Maine Violent Offenders Task Force - including members from the Maine State Police, Biddeford Police Department, US Border Patrol along with deputy U.S. Marshals.
Since the inception of the U.S. Marshals - New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force in 2002, these partnerships have resulted in over 8,218 arrests (Updated as of 12/16/2020). These arrests have ranged in seriousness from murder, assault, unregistered sex offenders, probation and parole violations and numerous other serious offenses. Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, 8 regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.
Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at https://www.usmarshals.gov.
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