Two U.S. Marshals Fugitive of the Week Fugitives Back in Custody

Concord, NH – Monday night, last week's U.S. Marshals "Fugitive of the Week," Shawn Hartford was arrested by the Somersworth Police Department after fleeing on foot from law enforcement in a homeless encampment. Additionally, this morning, the U.S. Marshals – New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force was able to locate and arrest this week's "Fugitive of the Week," Jeffry Robtoy near a business on Front Street in Manchester, NH.

Shawn Michael Hartford, 36 years-of-age who was known to have ties in tri-city area of Strafford County had been featured as the "Fugitive of the Week" on June 28th. Mr. Hartford was being sought on a Strafford County arrest warrant for bail violations on an ongoing narcotics case involving both methamphetamines and heroin.

Jeffry Robtoy, 51 years-of-age, was last known to reside at a Manchester half-way house when he absconded from supervision in mid-June and the Federal court issued an arrest warrant. Robtoy was on supervised release due to a 2018 conviction and sentence in the U.S. District Court in Vermont for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute narcotics.

As part of the search for both Hartford and Robtoy, they were featured the past two Wednesdays as the "Fugitive of the Week". These features were aired on WTPL-FM, WNTK-FM, WTSN-FM, WEMJ-FM, The Union Leader, The Nashua Telegraph, The Patch, Manchester Information, the Manchester Ink Link, The Rochester & Lebanon 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.

Hartford was arrested Monday night, after the Somersworth Police Department developed information that Hartford was reportedly residing in a tent in a local homeless encampment. Members of the Somersworth Police Department went to the camp and immediately observed a person fleeing, who was later determined to be Shawn Hartford. Also located at this camp was James Hartford (Shawn's brother) who was arrested on an outstanding Somersworth Police Department warrant for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The Somersworth Police Department, along with their K-9 "Bravo" with the assistance of the New Hampshire State Police and the Rollinsford Police Department were able to successfully track and arrest Shawn Hartford bedded down in the wood line without further incident.

Hartford refused bail and was transported to the Strafford County Jail, where he will be held pending the resolution of his court case in the Strafford County Superior Court.

Mr. Robtoy was arrested this morning by members of the New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force. The task force conducted multiple interviews this morning in an attempt to locate Robtoy. These interviews provided the information needed to track down Robtoy near a business on Front Street in Manchester where he was arrested without incident. Mr. Robtoy was transported to the Strafford County Jail for processing and holding pending a hearing in U.S. District Court in New Hampshire regarding his return to Vermont. Once ordered returned to Vermont, Mr. Robtoy will have a hearing about his violations of his conditions of supervised release.

U.S. Marshal Nick Willard said, "The U.S. Marshals Service is incredibly grateful for all of the help that we continually receive in effort to track these fugitives down." Willard continued, "The support of the public, the media and law enforcement working together in New Hampshire are crucial to keeping our state one of the safest in America."

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.