Category: US Marshals Service

Source: US Marshals Service

Madison County, TN – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) captured an Iowa fugitive, William Logan, Jr., age 56, in West Tennessee.

The USMS in the Southern District of Iowa was searching for William Logan for probation violation, violation of the sex offender registration, and escape, all of which occurred in Iowa. After developing information that Logan was possibly in West Tennessee, they sent a lead to the USMS Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force in Jackson.

On January 13, 2025, deputy marshals and task force officers tracked Logan to a camper on McKenzie Road in Madison County. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Madison County Criminal Justice Complex where he will await extradition back to Iowa.

The U.S. Marshals Service Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force (TRVFTF) is a multi-agency task force within Western Tennessee. The TRVFTF has offices in Memphis and Jackson, and its membership is primarily composed of Deputy U.S. Marshals, Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Gibson County Sheriff’s Deputies, Memphis and Jackson Police Officers, Tennessee Department of Correction Special Agents and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Since 2021, the TRVFTF has captured approximately 3,000 violent offenders and sexual predators.

Source: US Marshals Service

Memphis, TN –The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) arrested Austin Mobley, 22, for first-degree murder in Memphis, Tennessee.

On July 17, 2023, Damein Wilkerson was shot to death near the 5000 block of Scenic Pines Court in Memphis. On July 24, 2024, a first-degree murder warrant was issued for Mobley’s arrest. The case was adopted for a fugitive investigation by the USMS Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force (TRVFTF) in Memphis.

Earlier today, TRVFTF Investigators tracked Mobley to a house in the 4100 block of Alice Drive in Memphis. He was taken into custody without incident.

The U.S. Marshals Service Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force is a multi-agency task force within Western Tennessee. The TRVFTF has offices in Memphis and Jackson, and its membership is primarily composed of Deputy U.S. Marshals, Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Gibson County Sheriff’s Deputies, Memphis and Jackson Police Officers, Tennessee Department of Correction Special Agents and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Since 2021, the TRVFTF has captured approximately 3,000 violent offenders and sexual predators.

Source: US Marshals Service

Pittsburgh, PA – U.S. Marshal Stephen Eberle, Western District of Pennsylvania, announces the arrest of fugitive Daniel Lance Felo II, on January 9, 2025, in Connellsville, Pennsylvania.

Daniel Lance Felo II is charged by the Beaver Falls Police Department with criminal homicide, possession of a firearm, and robbery. These charges stem from an incident on December 30, 2024, in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania where a 48-year-old male was found deceased.

The U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force received a request from the Beaver Falls Police Department asking for assistance in locating and apprehending Felo. Through their investigation, the U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force developed information that Felo may be staying in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. On January 9, 2025, the U.S. Marshals Task Force members, assisted by the Connellsville Police Department and Beaver Falls Police Department, arrested Felo without incident at the 500 block of North Pittsburgh Street in the City of Connellsville.

The arrest of this fugitive is the direct result of the cooperative investigative efforts between, U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force, the Allegheny County Police Department, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, the Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.

“The partnerships we have with city, county, state, and federal law enforcement is key to the overall success of the U.S. Marshal Service and our mission of capturing the most violent and dangerous fugitives. The members of the Fugitive Task Force work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.”

Tips can be submitted to the U.S. Marshals service directly and anonymously by downloading the USMS Tips App to your Apple or Android device. You can also follow the latest news and updates about the U.S. Marshals Service on Twitter: @USMarshalsHQ.

Source: US Marshals Service

Chicago, IL – On January 8, 2025, Members of the United States Marshals Service, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force (GLRFTF) successfully apprehended Allen Oscar Woods of Hammond, Indiana, in Chicago, IL.

Allen Oscar Woods was charged in Lake Criminal Court with the shooting death of his ex-wife Tiffany Woods. According to the charges Woods was identified as the individual who publicly shot Tiffany Woods multiple times in the afternoon hours of December 27, 2024.

The investigation led officers to believe Woods fled Indiana to the Chicagoland area to evade capture. Law enforcement sought the assistance of local media, providing a photo and description of the fugitive, and requested to be contacted with tips that may lead to his apprehension. At approximately 3:30pm on January 8, 2025, law enforcement received a tip of an individual meeting the fugitive’s description near the 1200 block of South Canal Street in Chicago. Members of the GLRFTF-Chicago in conjunction with Chicago Police Department and Illinois Department of Corrections responded to the lead and successfully arrested Woods in a local establishment near the 1400 Block of South Canal Street.

Participating agencies included the Chicago Police Department, Illinois Department of Corrections, Hammond Police Detective Division and the U.S. Marshals’ Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force.

The USMS has a long history of providing assistance and expertise to other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in support of their fugitive investigations. Working with authorities at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels, USMS-led fugitive task forces arrested more than 73,000 fugitives and cleared nearly 86,000 warrants in FY 2023.

Source: US Marshals Service

Fort Smith, AR – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) is alerting the public to several imposter scams involving individuals claiming to be specifically the current U.S. Marshal, which is Gary Grimes (or the U.S. Marshals Service in general).  Scam callers have been known to previously identify themselves as court officers, or other law enforcement officials. We are urging the public to report the calls not only to their local U.S. Marshals Service office, but also to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The FTC has the ability to detect patterns of fraud from the information collected and share that data with law enforcement.  “These are not victimless crimes,” said Gary Grimes, U. S. Marshal.  Callers are using the name Gary Grimes or the U.S. Marshals Service to advise the public they have pending civil and/or criminal subpoenas and perhaps other court related documents pending against them.  Callers have previously mandated payment in lieu of service of these court related documents or to avoid appearance in court.  Scam callers have often indicated the fees owed can be paid via telephone with a credit card, debit card, or even a gift card.

These phone scams are just that – scams.  The U.S. Marshal, Gary Grimes, nor the U.S. Marshals Service in general will not place anonymous calls stating any of the above demands.  Those owing fines will always be contacted via official mail first or contacted in person (not by phone), and those who have business with the court, whether it is a criminal or civil subpoena or any other pending case, will be contacted in person by law enforcement professionals more than willing to properly identify themselves with credentials showing their agency, name, title, badge number and photograph.

During these calls, scammers will sometimes attempt to collect a fine in lieu of arrest for failing to report for jury duty or other offenses. They then tell victims they can avoid arrest by purchasing a prepaid debit card, credit card, or gift card and read the card number over the phone to satisfy the fine.

“The U.S. Marshals would never ask for a credit/debit or gift card number or banking routing numbers or ask for funds to be wired for any purpose, said Grimes.  If the caller is urging you to provide this type of information or any other personal or financial information, hang up and report the call to the Marshals and the FTC. You can even report to both agencies anonymously.”

Scammers use many tactics to sound credible. They sometimes provide information like badge numbers, names of actual law enforcement officials and federal judges, and courthouse addresses. They may also spoof their phone numbers to appear on caller ID as if they are calling from the court or a government agency.

If you believe you were a victim of such a scam, you are encouraged to report the incident to your local U.S. Marshals Service office and to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Things to remember:

• The U.S. Marshals Service WILL NEVER ask for credit/debit card/gift card numbers, wire transfers, or bank routing numbers, or to make bitcoin deposits for any purpose.
• NEVER divulge personal or financial information to unknown callers.
• Report scam phone calls to your local U.S. Marshals Service office and to the FTC.
• You can remain anonymous when you report.
• Authenticate the call by calling the clerk of the court’s office of the U.S. District Court in your area and verify the court order given by the caller.

Source: US Marshals Service

Cincinnati, OH – The U.S. Marshals Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) together with the Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force (CKFTF), the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kenton County Sheriff’s Office arrested fugitives Willie and Jeromy Jones this morning in Northern Kentucky. 

The suspects were wanted by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office for aggravated murder, and two counts of felonious assault. SOFAST adopted the case and discovered the Jones brothers fled Ohio and were in hiding in the Kenton County area of Kentucky. The investigation lead SOFAST to arrest Jeromy Jones on Woodburn Avenue in Covington, Kentucky, and Willie Jones on Transformation Lane in Florence, Kentucky in the early morning hours of January 8th, 2025. Both arrests happened without incident. The Jones brothers are being held at the Kenton County Jail pending their extradition back to Ohio. 

“The United States Marshals Service is committed to bringing those who commit violent crimes to justice. We work with our partners at the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office daily to locate dangerous fugitives and remove them from our community. This arrest is the result of the teamwork between our task force in Southern Ohio and our USMS partners in the Eastern District of Kentucky.” – Michael D. Black, United States Marshal.

Cincinnati’s SOFAST is a U.S. Marshals Service-led task force consisting of local, state, and federal authorities including the Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Colerain Township Police Department, Department of Homeland Security/ Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Golf Manor Police Department, Harrison Police Department, Mount Orab Police Department, Mason Police Department, Mouth Healthy Police Department, Trenton Police Department, and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone with information on any fugitive may submit an anonymous web tip.

Source: US Marshals Service

Cleveland, OH – Today, members of the US Marshals led, Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) arrested Jamelle Swanson, 24, Swanson was wanted by the Cleveland Division of Police for aggravated murder.

According to the Cleveland Division of Police, on August 3, 2024, officers of the 5th District responded to a radio assignment for a fight in progress at an address in the 1000 block of E. 72nd Street in Cleveland. When officers arrived, they located 22-year-old Anthony Williams, who had suffered fatal gunshot wounds and 24-year-old Antwoine Sandford, who had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest.

Jamelle Swanson, 24, was later identified as a suspect in this fatal shooting incident and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Today, members of the NOVFTF arrested Swanson outside of an apartment located in the 10300 block of Miles Ave, Cleveland, Ohio.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “As the Cleveland Division of Police continues to solve homicide cases, we will continue to assist taking dangerous fugitives off the street. Our outstanding partnership helps make Cleveland a safer place to live.”

Anyone with information concerning any wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can submit a web tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous.  Follow the U.S. Marshals on Twitter @USMSCleveland.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force – Cleveland Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies:  U.S. Marshals Service, Cleveland Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department, Euclid Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Independence Police Department, Parma Police Department, Aurora Police Department, Solon Police Department, Cleveland RTA Police Department, Westlake Police Department, Bedford Police Department, Middleburg Heights Police Department, Newburgh Heights Police Department and the Metrohealth Police Department. 

Source: US Marshals Service

Washington, DC – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) arrested 74,222 fugitives in fiscal year (FY) 2024, including 28,706 wanted on federal warrants and 45,516 on state and local warrants. On average, USMS personnel arrested 297 fugitives per operational day, demonstrating the agency’s dedication to justice and community safety.

“These figures are not just statistics—they are a reflection of the tireless work of our men and women to bring fugitives to justice,” said USMS Director Ronald L. Davis. “Every arrest contributes to safer communities and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting the public.”

FY 2024 Arrest Statistics:

• Sex offenders – 9,762 (Sex offenses include sexual assault, failure to register/noncompliance with the national sex offender registry and other offenses.)
• Gang members – 6,623
• Homicide suspects – 5,337
• International/foreign fugitives – 1,743 (A foreign fugitive is wanted by a foreign nation and believed to be in the United States.)  
• Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program fugitives – 1,133 (OCDETF cases combine the resources and expertise of numerous federal agencies to target drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.)
• Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act (AWA) violations – 266 (AWA categorizes sex offenders into a three-tiered system based on the crime committed and requires offenders to maintain their registration information accordingly. For example, Tier 3 offenders – the most serious – must update their whereabouts every 3 months with lifetime registration requirements.)
• USMS 15 Most Wanted fugitives – 3

The USMS seized more than 5,150 firearms during numerous violence reduction and counter gang operations in FY 2024.

The total warrants cleared by USMS arrest: 88,765

• State and local warrants – 58,972
• Federal warrants – 29,793

*The number of warrants cleared nearly always exceeds the number of arrests in a given year because fugitives are often wanted on numerous warrants, and a single arrest can clear them all at once.

Major Operations

In January, Operation Washout – OD3 resulted in 736 warrants closed, 96 arrests, 78 gang members arrested, 57 firearms seized, 102.58 kilograms of narcotics seized and $143,236 in U.S. currency seized. In addition, 27 individuals were arrested for homicide/capital murder, 104 for assault, 80 for weapons offenses, 44 for robbery, 202 for drug offenses, 64 for burglary, 25 for sex offenses, and 3 for arson.

From May 2024 to June 2024, Operation We Will Find You 2, the second-of-its-kind nationwide missing child operation, focused on geographical areas with high clusters of critically missing children. Of the 200 children found, 173 were endangered runaways, 25 were considered otherwise missing, 1 was a family abduction and 1 was a non-family abduction. The youngest child recovered was 5 months old. Fourteen of the children were found outside the city where they went missing.

This summer, Operation North Star (ONS) FY24 resulted in the arrest of 3,421 violent fugitives, including 216 for homicide, 803 for assault and 482 for weapons offenses. ONS FY24 enforcement activities covered 74 operational days, from May 10 to Sept. 13, and targeted fugitives and violent offenders in 10 metropolitan areas, prioritizing those who used firearms in the commission of crimes. During the operation, investigators seized 534 firearms, more than $508,000 in U.S. currency and 456 kilograms in illegal narcotics, including 138 pounds and over 550,000 pills of deadly fentanyl.

Notable Arrests in FY 2024

On Jan. 24, Anthony Ojeda, aka Erik Jonathan Donas-Ojeda, 42, and his husband Neil Garzon were captured in Mexico City after more than 2 years on the run together. On Dec. 3, 2019, the Cohoes Police Department and local emergency medical services responded to a Cohoes, New York, area apartment for an unresponsive 6-week-old boy. The child, Eli Ojeda, later died at the hospital. The subsequent investigation and autopsy revealed the baby died of acute methamphetamine toxicity and physical trauma. As a result, Ojeda, who claimed to be the child’s father, was charged with second-degree murder. It was later determined that Ojeda and Garzon fled the area together to avoid prosecution. Ojeda was added to the USMS’ 15 Most Wanted fugitives list in May 2022.

On June 28, Ladarrius Rhaheem Fantroy, 28, was taken into custody in Mobile, Alabama. Fantroy was added to the USMS’ 15 Most Wanted fugitives list in March 2024, wanted by Alabama authorities for murder, kidnapping, and burglary. He and an associate allegedly shot and killed a 10-year-old boy and the boyfriend of the child’s mother and kidnapped an 8-year-old girl during the crime.

On July 11, Cardoza Rodriguez, aka Jose Carmona, a fugitive wanted by the USMS and the Stockton, California, police for a June 25 triple homicide was arrested in Modesto, California. Rodriguez is alleged to have set fire to a camper parked at a residence in Stockton, killing his ex-spouse Lizbeth Josefina Gutiérrez, 33, and her two sons, ages 7 and 10.

On August 5, Deshawn “Thorobread” Davis, 36, a Canadian man elevated to the USMS’ 15 Most Wanted fugitive list on Aug. 1 for a Florida murder and a kidnapping in Canada was arrested in Redway, California, by Deputy U.S. Marshals. Davis was wanted for a murder that occurred May 7, 2023, during which he is alleged to have opened fire during a party at a Miami Beach nightclub, shooting to death Lowell “Lo” Grissom and injuring two women. The USMS adopted the Miami Beach Police murder warrant and collaborated with the USMS Investigative Operations Division’s Office of Canadian Affairs to locate Davis.

Finding Missing Children

In FY 2024, the USMS assisted in the location or recovery of 706 missing children. Since the passage of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, the USMS has contributed to the location or recovery of more than 3,967 missing children.

Source: US Marshals Service

The United States Marshals Service (USMS) convened its annual Law Enforcement Association Roundtable on December 18, 2024, uniting law enforcement leaders from across the Nation to discuss partnerships, wellness, and leadership transitions.

The USMS Law Enforcement Association Roundtable brought together distinguished leaders representing a diverse range of organizations in law enforcement and public safety. Participants included Catrina Bonus, Executive Director of Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE); Mike Brown, Executive Director of Operations for the Small and Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association (SRLEEA); John Drake, President of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF); Jonathan Thompson, Executive Director and CEO of the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), accompanied by Yesim Karaman, Director of Government Affairs for NSA; Humberto I. Cardounel, Jr., Senior Director of Training and Technical Assistance for the National Policing Institute (NPI); Dwayne Crawford, Executive Director of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), alongside Jeffrey Glover, President of NOBLE; Gina Hawkins, President of the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE), accompanied by Josh Bronson, Chief of Staff for NAWLEE; Shane Liu, President of the National Asian Peace Officers Association (NAPOA); Terrence Cunningham, Deputy Executive Director of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and Vincent Talucci, Executive Director and CEO of IACP; Michael Reese of the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA); Dominick Stokes, Vice President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), along with Mathew Silverman, President of FLEOA; and representatives from the Arizona Homeland Security Office, Kim O’Connor, Director, and Susan Dzbanko, Deputy Director.

In his opening remarks, Director Ronald L. Davis highlighted the importance of collaboration in achieving the USMS’s mission. “Our work depends on the strength of our relationships,” he said. “Leadership changes, but the commitment to collaboration must remain constant. That’s what the American people deserve.”

The emphasis on partnerships resonated with attendees. Gina Hawkins, President of the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE), praised the USMS for fostering meaningful collaboration. “The partnerships we’ve built with the USMS are invaluable,” Hawkins said. “It’s these connections that help us protect our communities more effectively.”

Jonathan Thompson, Executive Director of the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), echoed this sentiment, describing the federal-local relationship as “a force multiplier.” He added, “None of us can do it alone.”

Participants also explored shared challenges, including combating violent crime and addressing limited resources. Director Davis highlighted the vital role partnerships with over 16,000 local, state, and tribal agencies play in overcoming these obstacles. “This work is never done alone,” he said. “We’re stronger when we collaborate.”

Discussions at the roundtable also reflected on the USMS’ critical role in ensuring public safety nationwide. From leading efforts to apprehend violent fugitives to supporting local law enforcement through task forces and training programs, the Agency’s contributions extend far beyond federal operations. With over 4,000 Task Force Officers embedded across the country and partnerships involving more than 16,000 law enforcement agencies, the USMS serves as a cornerstone of public safety infrastructure. “The American people are the ultimate beneficiaries of this work,” Davis said. “We owe it to them to continue delivering results.”

As the discussion progressed, the focus shifted to the well-being of officers, a crucial factor in sustaining public safety efforts. Recent tragedies – including the events that occurred in Charlotte, North Carolina, on April 29, 2024, that tragically took the lives of Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks, Task Force Officers William “Alden” Elliott and Samuel “Sam” Poloche of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, and Polce Officer Joshua Eyer of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department – highlighted the importance of providing ongoing support for those impacted by such losses.

The USMS’ Center of Excellence within the Center for Officer Safety and Wellness was highlighted as a critical resource for addressing the mental health and well-being of officers. Director Davis emphasized the importance of continuing partnerships with the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to expand access to these programs for local and tribal officers. “Providing accessible, high-quality training benefits not just for the USMS, but the entire law enforcement community,” Davis said.

“These are not normal circumstances,” Davis added. “We must ensure our people have the resources to address the cumulative stress of their work, not just after a crisis, but throughout their careers.”

Participants commended the USMS’ peer support programs, such as the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), which provides follow-up care to officers and their families after traumatic events. “This kind of care shows officers that we don’t just care in the moment, we’re here for the long haul,” one attendee noted.

As the USMS prepares for a leadership transition, Director Davis called on attendees to continue supporting the Agency. He reminded participants that this was not the Agency’s first transition, pointing to its history of navigating changes in leadership since its establishment under President George Washington in 1789. Comparing the process to a relay race, Davis said, “The handoff must be seamless. Each generation must run faster and harder to move the mission forward.”

Director Davis also emphasized the need to “brand” the law enforcement profession better, ensuring the public understands the critical and often unseen work performed daily by officers. “The extreme moments—heroism or mistakes—often define public perception of our profession,” Davis said. “We must do a better job of showing the consistent dedication and service that law enforcement professionals provide every single day.”

Director Davis closed by expressing gratitude for the partnerships that have defined his tenure. “It’s been the greatest honor of my career to serve alongside you,” he said. “Together, we’ve made a difference, and I am confident that these partnerships will continue to strengthen public safety for years to come.”

Source: US Marshals Service

Del Rio, TX – The U.S. Marshals Service, in coordination with other law enforcement partners, today arrested a murder suspect who had evaded authorities for nearly 30 years.

The fugitive, Jose Rafael Marceleno, 53, was initially indicted for murder in Ector County on April 23, 1996, following an Odessa Police Department investigation into the murder of his wife, Guadalupe “Petey” Paredes, 32. Marceleno allegedly stabbed his wife multiple times with a lock blade knife and fled the scene.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Ector District Attorney’s Office and law enforcement officials to prepare a request for Marceleno’s extradition, which was presented to Mexico on May 13, 2022. Thanks to information developed by foreign and domestic law enforcement agencies, Marceleno was arrested in July 2023 in Juarez, Mexico.

After Marceleno was extradited from Mexico on December 16, 2024, he was taken into custody in Del Rio. The U.S. Marshals Service Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, in coordination with the Odessa Police Department, Ector County Sheriff’s Office, Ector County District Attorney’s Office, and Odessa Crime Stoppers, worked closely to bring the fugitive to justice.

Participating officers worked vigorously and diligently to locate and apprehend Marceleno. The Ector County District Attorney’s Office is handling the prosecution. 

“The Marshals and our law enforcement partners are committed to locating and apprehending the most dangerous individuals, even in other countries,” said U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas Susan Pamerleau. “Through coordinated efforts, we will continue to make our communities a little safer, one fugitive at a time.”

Agencies involved in the extradition included:

• USMS Western District of Texas – Lone Star Fugitive Task Force
• Odessa Police Department
• Ector County Sheriff’s Office
• Ector County District Attorney’s Office
• Odessa Crime Stoppers