Category: US Marshals Service

Source: US Marshals Service

Memphis, TN – Today, U.S. Marshals captured Memphis murder suspect, Deario Wilkerson, 20, after he fell through the ceiling from the attic space where he was hiding.

On April 2, 2024, Troy Cunningham was found shot to death at the 1500 block of N. Merton Street in Memphis, Tennessee. On May 9th, an arrest warrant for first degree murder and reckless endangerment-deadly weapon was issued for Wilkerson’s arrest. The case was adopted for a fugitive investigation by the U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force (TRVFTF) in Memphis.

On August 26th, the TRVFTF tracked Wilkerson to a residence in the 1400 block of N. Merton in Memphis. Deputy marshals, with the assistance of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Memphis Police Department’s Fugitive Apprehension Teams, surrounded the home. Wilkerson attempted to hide in the attic as the USMS searched the residence; however, he fell through the ceiling. Wilkerson was not injured from the fall and was taken into custody with no further incident.

The U.S. Marshals 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 composed of Deputy U.S. Marshals, Shelby, Fayette, and Tipton 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 over 2,600 violent fugitives and sexual predators.

Source: US Marshals Service

Albuquerque, NM – David Barnett was sworn in today as the United States Marshal for the District of New Mexico.

Barnett was confirmed by the U.S. Senate Aug. 1 and has assumed the duties commiserate with position and the oath of office.

Prior to his appointment, Barnett served with the FBI for more than 30 years, where his duties included: Intelligence Analyst with the FBI-National Capital Region, Special Agent in the FBI Washington Field Office and the Supervisory Special Agent-in-Charge of FBI Counterintelligence in the Albuquerque Field Office.

“For over three decades, David Barnett has been the embodiment of dedication, loyalty, and service within the FBI,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office Raul Bujanda. “As he embarks on his new journey as U.S. Marshal, we know he will bring the same dedication and integrity to this vital role. We wish him nothing but success in this new chapter and look forward to a great partnership in the future.”

As the U.S. Marshal, Barnett is responsible for all U.S. Marshals Service operations within the District of New Mexico, including judicial security, prisoner operations, prisoner transportation, sex offender investigations and fugitive apprehension, collaborating with numerous local, state and federal agencies, to safely locate and apprehend violent fugitives.  

“I am honored to serve as the U.S. Marshal and look forward to working with the team to combat crime in New Mexico, ” Barnett said. “Together, we will work tirelessly to improve the lives of our New Mexico communities.”

The District of New Mexico is composed of the entire state and its 33 counties.  The district’s main office is in Albuquerque with sub-offices in Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Farmington and Roswell.  

Source: US Marshals Service

Lima, OH – This morning, the U.S. Marshals led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) arrested Amarion Cain, 18. Cain was wanted out of the 67th District Court in Flint, Michigan for a homicide that occurred in Mt. Morris Township.

It is alleged that on June 25, 2024, Cain and a group of males engaged in a physical altercation in a yard near the 6100 block of Hilton Lane in Mt. Morris Township, Michigan. The physical altercation turned deadly when a 17-year-old male was shot and killed. Cain was later identified as a suspect in this incident and a homicide warrant was issued for his arrest.

Today, members of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Cain at a gas station near the 2700 block of St. Johns Road in Lima, Ohio. After the arrest Cain was booked into the Allen County Jail where he will await extradition back to Flint, Michigan.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “The officers that make up our fugitive task risk their lives daily, tracking down and arresting violent fugitives across the northern district of Ohio. Outstanding teamwork between our task force and multiple local law enforcement partners in Allen County led to a safe and swift arrest of this suspect in Lima.”

Anyone with information concerning a 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 NOVFTF Toledo Division consists of the following federal, state and local agencies:  The United States Marshals Service, Lucas County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Toledo Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Wood County Sheriff’s Office.  

Source: US Marshals Service

Every day the United States Marshals Service’s Justice Alien and Prisoner Transportation System (JPATS) coordinates, schedules and moves about 500 prisoners between judicial districts and correctional institutions. This constant operation has led JPATS to be one of the largest transporters of prisoners in the world, amassing over 200,000 prisoner movements yearly.  

Aviation Enforcement Officers (AEOs) play a critical role in the success of the operation. Differing from a typical law enforcement officer, a significant part of their jobs occurs 30,000 feet above ground on JPATS-owned planes.

“This is a hidden gem in the Marshals Service,” said Laurel Edwards, a Supervisory AEO, with the Air Operations Division in Oklahoma City, OK.

Every morning, AEOs report to the hangar at 5:30 a.m. for a briefing. During the briefing, they are given intel on the prisoners being transported, any prisoners with medical issues, flight times, and weather at all locations.

From there, some of the AEOs and Aviation Security Officers (ASOs) head to the Federal Transfer Center where they will collect all the prisoners that are being transported.

“There’s a federal prison that actually connects to the airfield,” said Edwards. “Inmates walk right from the prison directly onto the plane through a jetway.”

Once all inmates are boarded the plane is ready for take-off. After take-off, the officers roles expand.

“I love aviation and law enforcement,” said Edwards. “It’s like two careers in one so not only am I a law enforcement officer, but I’m also a flight attendant in a sense.”

As a part of their flight attendant responsibilities, AEOs are trained in emergency and evacuation procedures.  

Once they reach their first destination, AEOs unload the prisoners that are getting off at each stop and pick up prisoners that are being transported. Afterwards, they continue to their next destination. Depending on the day, JPATS will have up to three stops in different cities.

JPATS flights do not typically exceed four hours, but occasionally, they will take flights to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or Alaska.

There are many reasons a prisoner may have to be moved while in federal custody. Some reasons include disciplinary reasons, court and study orders, mental health evaluations, and attorney special requests.

One of the biggest challenges of the job for JPATs workers is balancing the different types of inmates while on the plane. In preparation for a smooth flight, AEOs make sure to plan out the seating assignments on the plane. Some things they take into consideration are whether or not inmates have been co-defendants, histories of violence, and mental health diagnoses.

“There’s so much to this job and so many people involved,” said Edwards. “It’s a challenge every day. People don’t get to see the full extent, but it’s really cool when it comes together.”

Source: US Marshals Service

Memphis, TN – On August 21, 2024, U.S. Marshals captured two wanted fugitives, one of which was wanted for murder.

Tyler Jones, 19, was indicted by the Shelby County grand jury and a warrant for first degree murder was issued August 1st. The charges stem from an investigation by the Memphis Police Department. On July 23, 2023, around 2 p.m., MPD responded to a shooting at 928 McNeil Street. D’Aaron Gordon was found on the front porch suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries. MPD detectives developed Jones as a suspect.

The fugitive investigation was adopted by the U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force. Around 10 a.m., August 21st, the USMS task force, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and MPD Fugitive Apprehension Teams went to a residence at the 2600 block of Maverick in Memphis, TN. Jones was located and taken into custody without incident. Law enforcement also found Demaryo Marshall, 19, at the home. Marshall had an active arrest warrant for domestic assault. He was taken into custody as well, without incident. Both Jones and Marshall were transported to the Shelby County Jail.

The U.S. Marshals 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 composed of Deputy U.S. Marshals, Shelby, Fayette, and Tipton 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 over 2,600 violent fugitives and sexual predators.

Source: US Marshals Service

Canton/Sandusky, OH – This morning, the U.S. Marshals led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) made arrests in two separate cases from Franklin County, Ohio.  Santiago Miguel Ramirez Ogando, 24, and Juan Carlos Rivera, 24, were wanted by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and United States Marshals Service for complicity to commit murder and felonious assault. Isaiah Wharton-Howard was wanted for murder, also out of Franklin County.

It is alleged that on August 8, 2024, Rivera and Ogando were involved in a shooting incident near an autobody shop in the 4000 block of Broad Street in Franklin Township, Ohio. This morning, members of the NOVFTF arrested both males at a hotel in the 1600 block of Corporate Woods Parkway, Uniontown, Ohio. Both were booked into the Summit County Jail and await extradition back to Franklin County. Ogando will likely face additional charges as he is an undocumented non-citizen.

Wharton-Howard is suspected in a shooting death in Columbus, Ohio.  It is alleged that Wharton-Howard had an altercation with the victim who he then shot and killed.  He was arrested in the 1400 block of Campbell Street in Sandusky where he was hiding with friends.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “The partnership between the US Marshals service in the Northern district and the Southern district of Ohio is strong. These fugitives thought they could commit violent offenses in southern Ohio and flee to northern Ohio. Decisive and collaborative efforts led to these arrests and will prevent them from potentially harming anyone else in Ohio.”

Anyone with information concerning a 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 NOVFTF Canton Division consists of the following federal, state and local agencies:  United States Marshals Service, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Stark County Sheriff’s Office, Canton Police Department, Carrollton Police Department, Holmes County Sheriff’s Office, North Canton Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Perry Township Police Department, Stark County Park District, and Stark County Probation.

Source: US Marshals Service

Denmark, TN – U.S. Marshals captured Billy Lee Walton, Jr., 35, hiding inside the floor of a trailer accessed by a trap door. Walton was wanted by the Tennessee Department of Correction for violation of probation.

In September 2016, Walton was convicted of attempted rape in the Circuit Court of Hardeman County, TN. The Court suspended his sentence, and he was placed on probation for 12 years.

On June 13, 2024, the Tennessee Highway Patrol charged Walton with reckless driving, open container law, driving under the influence, driving on revoked/suspended license, and manufacturing/delivering/selling/possession of a controlled substance, all of which occurred in Madison County, TN.

A probation violation warrant was issued by the Court, and the case was adopted by the U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force in Jackson. On August 19th, the task force tracked Walton to the Jackson Mobile Village off Highway 70 in Denmark, TN. Deputy marshals and TDOC special agents searched the trailer. Underneath a rug, they found Walton hiding inside a cut-out space in the floor, accessed by a trap door.

U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller said, “Someone created a pretty good hiding spot, but it wasn’t good enough to outsmart the U.S. Marshals Service.” Walton was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Madison County Jail.

The U.S. Marshals 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, and Tipton County Sheriff’s Deputies, Memphis and Jackson Police Officers, the Tennessee Department of Correction Special Agents and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Since 2021, the TRVFTF has captured over 2,600 violent offenders and sexual predators.

Source: US Marshals Service

Columbus, OH – The U.S. Marshals Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST), along with agents and officers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Special Response Team (SRT), Allen County Sheriff’s Office, Lima Police Department, and the FBI, arrested fugitive Quinntel Bagley on Aug. 16 in Lima.

Bagley was wanted by several central Ohio law enforcement agencies for aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, failure to register as a sex offender, failure to comply, kidnapping, and a parole violation. Bagley had been on the run since he was able to escape police custody June 13. After Bagley was arrested for kidnapping a woman, he was taken for medical treatment at the Fairfield Medical Center, where he was able to escape.

Following the escape the U.S. Marshals adopted the fugitive case. After an extensive investigation Bagley was located hiding at a home in the 400 block of Cornell Drive in Lima. Bagley was transported to the Allen County Jail where he will remain pending his extradition hearing.

“The U.S. Marshals Service and the deputies assigned to our Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team have specialized training and resources that make them experts in finding those who try to evade justice,” said Michael Black, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Ohio. “The collaboration with our law enforcement partners all over the state and the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force was the key to finally locating this suspect.”

Columbus SOFAST is a fugitive-focused, U.S. Marshals Service-led task force consisting of local, state and federal authorities including the Columbus Division of Police, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Bexley Police Department, Cambridge Police Department, Capital University Police Department, Delaware County Probation Office, Groveport Police Department, Hocking County Sheriff’s Office, Lancaster Police Department, Ohio Attorney General Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal, Office of Inspector General Social Security Administration, United States Attorney’s Office, Utica Police Department, Whitehall Police Department, and Zanesville Police Department.

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

Source: US Marshals Service

Portland, ME – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Maine Violent Offender Task Force (MVOTF) announces the arrest of Claude Tuyishime, 25, of Windham, ME.

On Thursday, August 15, 2024, Tuyishime was arrested on a warrant issued on August 2, 2024 by the East Central Judicial District, County of Cass, in North Dakota for Gross Sexual Imposition involving a victim under 15 years of age.

The USMS, District of North Dakota High Plains Fugitive Task Force, provided investigative leads to the USMS MVOTF requesting assistance in locating and apprehending Tuyishime in Maine.

Through a collaborative law enforcement effort, authorities developed information which led investigators to Biddeford, ME. USMS Task Force members were able to identify Tuyishime in the vicinity of Alfred Rd. in Biddeford, ME, and were able to safely apprehend him without incident.

Tuyishime is charged as a Fugitive from Justice and will be arraigned in Maine pending his extradition back to North Dakota.

The USMS, Maine Violent Offender Task Force received significant assistance from the USMS District of North Dakota High Plains Fugitive Task Force, and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office in Fargo, North Dakota. The USMS Maine Violent Offender Task Force is comprised of members of the U.S. Marshals Service, Maine Department of Corrections, Biddeford Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Maine National Guard Counter Drug Task Force.

If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of any State or Federal Fugitive please contact the United States Marshals Service, District of Maine at MED.TIPLINE@usdoj.gov.

Source: US Marshals Service

Portland, ME – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Maine Violent Offender Task Force (MVOTF) announces the arrest of Darell Love, 33, of Springfield, MA.

On Tuesday, August 13th, 2024, Love was arrested on multiple warrants issued from the Chicopee District Court in Massachusetts to include one count of home invasion, one count of firearm violation with 3 prior violent/drug crimes, one count of kidnapping, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and one count of larceny.

The USMS, District of Massachusetts Fugitive Task Force, provided investigative leads to the USMS MVOTF requesting assistance in locating and apprehending Love in Maine.

Through a collaborative law enforcement effort, authorities developed information which led investigators to Portland, ME. USMS Task Force members were able to identify Love in a motor vehicle in the vicinity of 27 Washington St. Portland, ME, and were able to safely apprehend him without incident.

Love is charged as a Fugitive from Justice and will be arraigned in Maine pending his extradition back to Massachusetts.

The USMS, Maine Violent Offender Task Force received significant assistance from the USMS District of MA Fugitive Task Force, Springfield, MA Police Department, Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (VFAS), The Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, Chicopee, MA Police Department, and the Maine State Police. The USMS Maine Violent Offender Task Force is comprised of members of the U.S. Marshals Service, Maine Department of Corrections, Biddeford Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Maine National Guard Counter Drug Task Force.

If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of any State or Federal Fugitive please contact the United States Marshals Service, District of Maine at MED.TIPLINE@usdoj.gov.