U.S. Marshals National Operation Nets More Than 1,500 Fugitives

Indianapolis – 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 60 fugitives, gang members, sex offenders and violent criminals in the Southern District of Indiana.

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.

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

“Relieving our communities of violent crime is our top priority.” Said Dan McClain, United States Marshal for the Southern District of Indiana. “This operation, with the support of our state and local partners, has resulted in significant success towards that goal. Among the numerous arrests for violent crime, we were able to clear 14 homicide warrants.”

Between June 1 and June 30, the U.S. Marshals Service used its multi-jurisdictional investigative authority and fugitive task force network to arrest 1,500 individuals among the participating cities, including 230 for homicide and 131 for sexual offenses. In addition, investigators seized 166 firearms, $53,600 in currency, and more than 33 kilograms of illegal narcotics.

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.

For more information about Operation North Star, including photographs and B-roll footage, visit https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzWey3.