Category: US Marshals Service

Source: US Marshals Service

The United States Marshals Service, Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force, Sacramento Office is requesting assistance in locating 59 year-old Jose Cardona. Cardona is wanted in connection with an RV trailer fire that killed a female and two young children on June 25, 2024 in Stockton, California. Cardona is wanted for Homicide, Attempted Homicide and Arson. Please contact the U.S. Marshals with any information on the whereabouts of Cardona. The United States Marshals Service and the Stockton Police Department are offering a combined reward up to $30,000 for information leading to the location and apprehension of Cardona.

Source: US Marshals Service

The United States Marshals Service, Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force, Sacramento Office is requesting assistance in locating 59 year-old Jose Carmona. Carmona is wanted in connection with an RV trailer fire that killed a female and two young children on June 25, 2024 in Stockton, California. Carmona is wanted for Homicide, Attempted Homicide and Arson. Please contact the U.S. Marshals with any information on the whereabouts of Carmona. The United States Marshals Service and the Stockton Police Department are offering a combined reward up to $30,000 for information leading to the location and apprehension of Carmona.

Source: US Marshals Service

Washington, DC – The U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force Sacramento Office has joined the fugitive investigation and is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of a man wanted by the Stockton, California, police for a June 25 triple homicide in Stockton.

J. Carmen Cardona Rodriguez, aka Jose Carmona, is alleged to have set fire to a camper parked at a residence in the 30 block of Visalia Court, killing his ex-spouse 33-year-old Lizbeth Josefina Gutiérrez, and her two sons, ages 7 and 10.

Rodriguez is a Hispanic man with brown hair and brown eyes. He stands 5 feet 7 inches and weighs approximately 190 pounds.

He has ties to Idaho and north Texas.

He is known to have used multiple aliases, including Jose Carmen Cardona, Jose Carmen Arriaga, Jose Luis Cardoza, Jose Luis Arriaga, Jose Luis Cardozaarrige, Jose Maslu Cardonas, Jose Maslu Arriaga, Jose Maslu Arndula, Jose Maslu Aranvula, Martin Munoz Lopez, Martin Lopezmunoz, Martin Munoz, Jose Aranvulamaslu, Juan Sotogonzalez, Juan Soto, Juan Gonzalez, Juan Jose Aranvula, and Jose Maslu.

Anyone with information on Carmona’s current location is urged to contact the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) at 1-877-WANTED-2 or submit a tip via the USMS Tips App.  Tips may also be sent to Stockton Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600. Your information will be taken in strict confidence and your anonymity is guaranteed.  

The USMS Major Case Fugitive Program prioritizes the investigation and apprehension of high-profile offenders considered to be some of the country’s most dangerous individuals. These offenders tend to be career criminals with histories of violence or who pose a significant threat to public safety.

Source: US Marshals Service

Washington, DC – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), along with federal, state, and local agencies in seven federal judicial districts and geographical locations across the U.S., led a six-week national operation that resulted in finding 200 critically missing children, which includes endangered runaways and those abducted by noncustodial persons.

Operation We Will Find You 2 (OWWFY2), the second-of-its-kind nationwide missing child operation, was conducted from May 20 to June 24 and focused on geographical areas with high clusters of critically missing children.  Children who go missing may be in serious danger and can be vulnerable to child sex trafficking, abuse, exploitation, and other crimes against children.

With technical assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), Operation We Will Find You 2 resulted in the recovery and removal of 123 children from dangerous situations.  An additional 77 missing children were located and found to be in safe locations, according to law enforcement or child welfare agencies. 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. 14 of the children were found outside the city where they went missing. Additionally, of the missing children recovered, 57 percent were recovered within seven days of the USMS assisting with the case. 

“There are no words to describe the terror felt by missing children, their families, and their communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am grateful to the dedicated professionals of the U.S. Marshals Service and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children who worked to find 200 critically missing children during this six-week operation, and who work every day to keep children safe.”

“One of the most sacred missions of U.S. Marshals Service, is locating and recovering our nation’s critically missing children,” said U.S. Marshals Service Director Ronald L. Davis. “This is one of our top priorities as there remain thousands of children still missing and at risk.”

“Operation We Will Find You is a shining example of the results we can achieve when we unite in our mission to find missing children,” said Michelle DeLaune, President and CEO of NCMEC. “We are grateful that vulnerable children have been recovered as part of this operation, and we commend the U.S. Marshals Service and all the agencies involved for their commitment to protect youth and ensure these children are not forgotten. Behind every statistic, there is a child who deserves to grow up safe from harm.”

The operation was conducted from the following locations: District of Arizona (Phoenix, Glendale, Goodyear, Tucson, South Tucson, and Pima counties); Eastern District of California (San Joaquin County, Stockton, and Sacramento County); Southern District of Florida (Broward, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties); Western District of Michigan (Kent, Lake, Ingham, Ottawa, counties); Eastern District of North Carolina (New Hanover, Brunswick, Harnett, Onslow, Pitt, Wake, Johnston, Robeson, Cumberland, Sampson, Nash, and Pender counties); The Southern and Eastern districts of New York (New York City); and the District of Oregon (Multnomah, Washington, and Deschutes counties, as well as Portland and Eugene, and the Warm Springs Reservation). 

The goal of OWWFY2 was to highlight partnerships amongst government and non-government agencies to develop a multi-disciplinary team whose focus was to pull together resources to find critically missing children and to bring more attention to the epidemic of missing children in America.  During the operation, the USMS worked with their respective Federal, State, and Local law enforcement partners, NCMEC, the Department of Children and Family Services, and other agencies to safely find missing children at risk of endangerment. These missing children were considered some of the most challenging recovery cases in the area, based on indications of high-risk factors such as victimization of child sex trafficking, child exploitation, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and medical or mental health conditions. In addition, other children who had been reported missing were located at the request of law enforcement to ensure they were safe and to confirm the child’s location. 

The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 enhanced the U.S. Marshals’ authority to assist law enforcement with recovering endangered missing children, regardless of whether a fugitive or sex offender was involved. The USMS established a Missing Child Unit to oversee and manage the implementation of its enhanced authority under the act. Members of the USMS Sex Offender Investigations Branch, the Behavioral Analysis Unit, and the Missing Child Unit began training personnel in the participating locations months before the operation to ensure that case selection, vetting, and all pre-operational requirements were met.  

Operation We Will Find You Links:

B-roll links:

Miami B-roll: https://vimeo.com/964878547?share=copy

North Carolina B-roll: https://vimeo.com/958138308?share=copy

Photos and posters: https://www.flickr.com/gp/usmarshals/d44Ch0J1q3

Significant Recoveries:

Western District of Michigan
On Jan. 11, a 16-year-old female child was reported missing from her home in Edwardsburg, Michigan, by her legal guardian. Information obtained through interviews showed the child was likely with a 30-year-old adult male somewhere in the state of Indiana.  The investigation showed the child was likely being controlled and abused by the adult male.  During the investigation, operation personnel learned information that the child had either attempted to get away from the adult male multiple times or the child wanted to do so. The child was in a difficult and dangerous situation, especially since she had traveled across state lines and was now in a new state, a long distance from where she was first reported missing. The adult male had recent photos of cash and firearms on his social media profile, including one photo where the adult male is apparently pointing a handgun with an extended magazine at the missing child.  USMS identified multiple warrants for the adult male from multiple states, including Michigan.  The USMS determined a likely location for the adult male and the child in Indiana.  A collateral lead request was sent by the Western District of Michigan to the Northern District of Indiana and the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force.  On June 13, USMS personnel attempted to arrest the adult male and recover the child at an apartment in Hammond, Indiana.  The adult male jumped out of a window and attempted to flee the area—but was apprehended by a Police K-9 before his eventual arrest.  USMS personnel located the child safely inside the apartment and released her to child protective services.

Southern District of Florida
On May 13, a 15-year-old female was reported missing by her legal guardian. Information indicated that she might be staying at other people’s houses or sleeping in parks in Miami-Dade, Florida. During the investigation, it was discovered the child had become a victim of human trafficking in the Miami-Dade, Florida area. On June 7, personnel from the U.S. Marshals Service, in collaboration with detectives from the Miami Police Department, located the child in an apartment complex in Miami-Dade, Florida after an extensive investigative search throughout the city.  Upon being recovered, she was debriefed by Florida State Attorneys’ Office Human Trafficking personnel and subsequently returned to the Florida Department of Child and Family Services custody.

District of Arizona
On April 16, a 16-year-old was reported missing after she ran away from her group home in Phoenix, Arizona.  The female has a history of being sex trafficked.  The investigation revealed the child was in Los Angeles, California, possibly being sex trafficked.   The suspected trafficker was murdered in Los Angeles on May 25.  The child told a family member she was going on vacation to Miami, Florida, but when she got there her new “trafficker” dropped her off at the beach and told her to make money.  On June 11, the child was located by USMS in Flint, Michigan, in a hotel, and was taken into custody on an outstanding arrest warrant for a probation violation. Her male associate was arrested on local charges for driving without a license and insurance.  An additional 20-year-old female was identified in the hotel.  The suspected trafficking case was referred to Homeland Security Investigations and they will continue to investigate the case.

New York/New Jersey Regional Task Force
On Nov. 3, 2023, a 16-year-old female was reported in NCIC as missing from New York City, New York Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), and was a prior victim of human trafficking.  On May 1, 2024, the New York City Police Department Missing Persons Unit (NYPD MPU) requested U.S. Marshals Service assistance in recovering the missing child.  On June 3, New York U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force Members executed two arrest warrants for a 27-year-old male who was the primary subject of an ongoing investigation into the whereabouts of the missing minor who was being sexually exploited by the adult male.  Upon execution of the warrant, the child was found in the male’s bedroom, and evidence of sexual exploitation was found at the premise.  The child was placed in the care of ACS and transported to the hospital for medical treatment.

Eastern District of North Carolina
On April 29, a 1-year-old was reported missing to the Raleigh (NC) Police Department (RPD), after her mother neglected to surrender her to the Department of Social Services (DSS).  The RPD requested assistance from the USMS in finding the missing child.  The child’s mother was previously convicted for her actions in the strangulation, assault, and death of one of her children, a 4-year-old boy. Additionally, she was wanted on a felony probation violation pertaining to the original charge of cruelty toward a child.  On May 15, USMS personnel and RPD personnel arrested the child’s mother without incident in Raleigh, North Carolina. The missing 1-year-old was subsequently safely recovered in Raleigh by USMS investigators and handed over to DSS custody.

Eastern District of California
On Oct. 26, 2023, a 17-year-old female was reported missing by her legal guardian. Information obtained revealed that she was likely staying with her older adult sister who was a known prostitute.  The child’s older sister was recently arrested and on pretrial release for Human Trafficking, Pimping, and Pandering. On May 30, 2024, USMS personnel determined that the child and her adult sister were staying at a known prostitution and trafficking motel in Oakland, Calif. USMS personnel from the Eastern District of California coordinated with USMS personnel in the Northern District of California to establish a location for the child and her sister.  Management at the hotel confirmed that both sisters had two rooms and had been staying there for some time with an unknown adult male.  At one point, USMS observed the three individuals leave the rooms and begin packing their car.  Once inside the vehicle, the USMS was able to safely move in and detain all three individuals. The child was then turned over to authorities.

District of Oregon
On May 21, a 12-year-old female went missing from her family home in Portland, Oregon, and had reported allegations of sexual abuse by family members.  Law enforcement officers contacted the child through her cell, and she agreed to meet them at a grocery store in the Portland area.  The officers received a call back from the child and a friend stating that her father was trying to pull her into his car, and she was scared.  USMS investigators were able to intervene and separate the endangered child from her father.  The child told law enforcement that she had been raped by two Hispanic males and that her father touched her inappropriately.  On May 24, the child was safely recovered and placed in a foster home while the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) investigated the allegations.  Within 24 hours of being placed in foster care, the foster family kicked the child out of their home.  The child then called one of the DUSMs that had built rapport with her to ask for assistance.  The DUSM subsequently contacted DHS to report the incident.  As a result, DHS placed the child in a state-run shelter.
 

Source: US Marshals Service

Washington, DC – An Alabama man added to the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) 15 Most Wanted fugitives list in March 2024 was taken into custody late June 28 in Mobile, Alabama.

Ladarrius Rhaheem Fantroy, 28, of Repton, Alabama, was wanted by Alabama authorities for murder, kidnapping, and burglary.

Fantroy is a suspect in a double homicide that occurred in June 2023. He and an associate allegedly shot and killed a 10-year-old boy and the boyfriend of the child’s mother. Fantroy and the associate then allegedly stole the victims’ vehicle, with the victims’ 8-year-old daughter inside. The child was ordered into the trunk of another get-away vehicle where she remained for several hours until her eventual release on the side of a highway in the middle of the night.

In June 2023, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and Conecuh County Sheriff’s Office issued arrest warrants for Fantroy, charging him with two counts of capital murder and one count of kidnapping.

In July 2023, ALEA and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office issued arrest warrants charging Fantroy with kidnapping and burglary after he and an associate allegedly broke into a residence, bound a man, woman, and minor child, then tortured the man while demanding a large sum of money. Fantroy and the associate then allegedly ordered the man into the trunk of his vehicle and stole the vehicle, releasing him several hours later.

On July 25, 2023, the Conecuh and Monroe County Sheriffs’ Offices, along with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency State Bureau of Investigation, requested the assistance of the USMS Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force (GCRFTF) in locating and apprehending Fantroy. USMS adopted the fugitive investigation and offered a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to Fantroy’s arrest.

USMS investigators believe that Fantroy was receiving assistance from family members and associates, enabling him to elude law enforcement. He is known to have a large network of associates with strong ties in Mobile and Atlanta.

With the assistance of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the 1st Judicial Special Response Team, Greenville Police Department, Covington County SWAT, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the Conecuh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Evergreen Police Department, the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force conducted an enforcement operation from June 24-28 to identify and contact family members and associates in the Repton area with a view toward developing information to reveal Fantroy’s whereabouts.

On June 28 the team was successful in locating and apprehending Fantroy in Mobile.

“I wish to commend the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force and our local, state and federal law partners for the capture of Ladarrius Fantroy, said USMS Director Ronald L. Davis. “My hope is that the arrest of this violent fugitive will bring some sense of justice to his victims, their families, and the entire Concecuh County, Alabama, community.”

“This arrest of a suspect for a double homicide, involving the death of a minor child, is proof the U.S. Marshals Service and their law enforcement colleagues will never stop hunting fugitives from justice,” said Mark F. Sloke, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Alabama. “We applaud the hard work of all agencies involved in getting this violent suspect off our streets and into custody.”

The GCRFTF began operations in July 2006 and operates throughout Alabama and Mississippi with the participation of three federal agencies and 72 state and local agencies. Since its inception, the GCRFTF has apprehended more than 68,000 fugitives.

Created in 1983, the USMS 15 Most Wanted fugitive program draws attention to some of the country’s most dangerous and high-profile fugitives. These fugitives tend to be career criminals with histories of violence who pose a significant threat to public safety. Generally, 15MW fugitives are considered the “worst of the worst” and can include murderers, sex offenders, major drug kingpins, organized crime figures and individuals wanted for high-profile financial crimes. Since the program began in 1983, more than 250 15MW fugitive cases have been closed.

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

Source: US Marshals Service

San Juan, PR – The U.S. Marshals Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force (FCRFTF) and Puerto Rico Violent Offender Task Force (PRVOTF) partnered with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate, locate and apprehend organized crime/gang members wanted for violent crimes within the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and surrounding areas during an operation conducted June 10-21.

Operation Washout/Thunderstorm – Puerto Rico was a violent crime reduction initiative to identify and target individuals with active violent offense felony arrest warrants, including homicide, robbery, sex offenses, felonious assault, felonious narcotics, and firearms violations, as well as collect tangible criminal intelligence in a systematic effort to reduce violent crime.

Participating agencies in the Operation Washout/Thunderstorm-Puerto Rico enforcement operation include the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), the Puerto Rico Department of Justice Office, Puerto Rico Special Investigations Bureau (NIE) and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB).

A firearms trafficking organization operating within the regions of San Juan, Rio Grande, and Bayamon, Puerto Rico, is alleged to have been actively involved in the illegal trade of long arms, handguns, and ammunition. The investigation, initiated in September 2022, culminated in a series of undercover operations where NIE agents successfully made purchases from the organization.

On June 20 the NIE, PRVOTF, FCRFTF, USMS Special Operations Group, USMS Technical Operations Group and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau executed a takedown of the organization, resulting in the arrests of several members, all of whom were wanted for selling and buying illegal firearms without a license:

• Christian Torres-Hernandez, identified as the arms trafficking organization’s main leader, arrested June 20 in San Juan; 
• Juan Carlos Rivera-Ortiz, arrested June 20 in Bayamon;  
• Oscar Morales-Casanova, arrested June 20 in Rio Grande. During the arrest, investigators seized a rifle and three pistols.
• Vanessa Salaman-Iglesias, arrested June 20 in Rio Grande; 
• Noriel Alvarado-Mojica, arrested June 21 in Carolina;
• Daniel Salaman-Agosto, arrested June 20 in Rio Grande.

Members of the FCRFTF and PRVOTF assisted the NIE with identifying these targets prior to the takedown, which was instrumental for the NIE to indict them at the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Department of Justice.

Other significant arrests during Operation Washout/Thunderstorm-Puerto Rico include:

• Bernabe Barrazo, arrested June 17 in Ponce. Barrazo was wanted on an Oceola County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office state warrant for sex assault.
• Danny Anthony Collado, wanted since 1991 on a Seminole County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office state warrant for attempted murder and kidnaping. Collado was located June 21 with the assistance of the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections at the Bayamon 501 Correctional Facility.  Collado had served his minimum sentence requirement of 25 years for a murder he committed in Puerto Rico which qualified him to be released under parole. If not for this warrant out of Seminole County, Florida, he could have been released.
• Luis Galay-Sierra, one of Puerto Rico’s Most Wanted, wanted for homicide, attempted murder and weapons violations. Galay-Sierra was arrested June 18 in Durado. Galay-Sierra is accused of the May 26 murder of Carlos Javier Colón Morales in front of a business while a caravan of the mayor of Dorado, Carlos López, passed by in the Maguayo neighborhood. Two older adults and a 13-year-old girl were also injured in the shooting. During the arrest investigators seized a 9 mm handgun with 15 rounds of ammunition.
• Cristobal Figueroa-Alvarez, arrested June 21 in Tampa, Florida.  Figueroa-Alvarez was wanted by the Puerto Rico Police Bureau for weapons violations.

The FCRFTF has experience in conducting complex, long- and short-term investigations utilizing all resources made available through partnerships with multiple law enforcement agencies. The task force’s longstanding success in the apprehension and prosecution of violent organized crime/gang members by FCRFTF personnel further enforces the positive relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice Office commitment to combat organized crime gang related violence in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

The mission of the FCRFTF is to locate and apprehend fugitives, with priority given to fugitives wanted for violent crime.  Founded July 1, 2008, the task force is supported by eight federal and 101 state and local agencies and operates within the southern, northern and middle districts of Florida, as well as the District of the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Source: US Marshals Service

Burlington, IA – From Apr. 29 – May 31, members of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Southern Iowa Fugitive Task Force – including the USMS, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, Burlington Police Department, Fort Madison Police Department, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Department of Corrections High Risk Unit, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations – joined forces with law enforcement officers from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Keokuk Police Department, Mt. Pleasant Police Department, and the West Burlington Police Department to conduct a five-week long fugitive operation in Des Moines, Henry, and Lee Counties and surrounding communities.  

Dubbed “Operation Time’s Up” (OTU) ,the operation resulted in the arrests of 45 individuals wanted on outstanding local, state, and/or federal arrest warrants.  Each of the individuals arrested during OTU had pending criminal charges for crimes involving guns, drugs, assaults, sex offenses, or other crimes of violence and/or criminal histories of convictions for such crimes.  In addition, two firearms were recovered from wanted persons suspected of being prohibited from possessing firearms under state and federal laws, and a large quantity of suspected methamphetamine, fentanyl and illicit prescription drugs were taken off the street. 

“The proactive work of all officers and agencies involved in this operation is a testament to their dedication to making our communities a safe place to live, work and play,” said Des Moines County Sheriff Kevin Glendening. “The Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office is proud to have worked with all the law enforcement professionals to remove these violent offenders from our streets and hold them accountable.  Our gratitude goes out to the officers and agencies that dedicated their time and resources in Des Moines County and the surrounding area to build safer communities.” 

OTU was divided into three phases – investigation, enforcement, and follow-up.  The investigation phase commenced on April 29 and concluded May 20.  During this period, participating agencies identified a number of arrest warrants to work during the enforcement phase of the operation and developed credible information as to the whereabouts of dozens of fugitives.  

From May 21-23, four teams of eight law enforcement officers representing 11 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies participated in the three-day-long enforcement phase of OTU. With its command center located at the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters, OTU arrest teams worked 10-hour shifts to locate and apprehend 30 individuals wanted on outstanding arrest warrants.  Most of these individuals were arrested in Des Moines, Henry, and Lee counties.  However, some individuals were located as far away as Chicago and Phoenix.

“We are grateful for the outstanding collaboration and dedication of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners,” said Burlington Police Chief Adam Schaefer of the operation. “Their participation in the recent fugitive roundup was instrumental in making multiple arrests and ensuring the safety of our community. Thank you for your unwavering support and commitment. We look forward to continuing proactive projects throughout the summer to maintain and enhance public safety in the Greater Burlington area. Ensuring that Burlington remains a safe place to live, work and play is the top priority of the Burlington Police Department.”

Even after the targeted enforcement week was over, OTU investigators continued to follow up on information developed during the investigation and enforcement phases of the operation.  During the follow-up phase, May 24–31, OTU investigators located and arrested several more individuals wanted on outstanding arrest warrants.   

“Whether it’s with a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency, the people who have dedicated their careers to serving are the same,” said U.S. Marshal Ted Kamatchus.  “Each of us remains committed to upholding our oaths of office and to the diligent pursuit of combating violent crime in our communities.  The success of “Operation Time’s Up” is a testament to this combined commitment and to the spirit of cooperation amongst all law enforcement professionals in the Southern District of Iowa.”

Source: US Marshals Service

Earlier this year, the United States Marshals Service grieved the loss of a trailblazer and a pioneer for change. Sharon Lubinski was no stranger to breaking glass ceilings and revolutionizing law enforcement at the state and federal level. She was not only Minnesota’s first female marshal, but she was also the first openly lesbian U.S. marshal. 

During this Pride Month, it is important to highlight the members of the LGBTQ+ community who have served our country through the U.S. Marshal Service and law enforcement at large.

Lubinski’s career in law enforcement first began in the Dane County Sherriff’s Office in Wisconsin and spanned over four decades.

During her time at the Minneapolis Police Department, Lubinski set high expectations for future law enforcement that centered on sound character, strong moral values and integrity. This is also where Lubinski came out as a lesbian in 1993 to both her leaders and colleagues after a string of murders targeting gay men in Minneapolis. 

After seeing how the police and the gay community struggled to work together, Lubinski knew it was necessary to no longer hide her identity and cease living a double life. 

She stated to the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, “If I am going to be a real person and if I’m ever going to make real change as a cop, I have to do it as a lesbian cop,” she continued, “I can no longer justify keeping this to myself.” 

In 2010, President Barack Obama selected Lubinski to serve a United States Marshal for the District of Minnesota, making her a member of the nation’s highest-level female law enforcement officials. However, this appointment was also a historical moment, as Marshal Lubinski was now the first openly lesbian U.S. Marshal. 

She stood out as a marshal not only for her commitment to making our country safer but also by devoting efforts to commit to the U.S. Marshals Service’s original goal–protecting judges. 

Marshal Ramona Dohman, successor to Marshal Lubinski, reflected on Marshal Lubinski’s time as marshal and credits her for the precedent of meeting with all law enforcement agents set to be deputized and going to every corner of Minnesota to build the connections that she believed were the key to successful law enforcement.

As former colleagues reflect on their time working alongside Marshal Lubinski, enumeration of their praises is difficult. Retired Minneapolis Police Department Officer Greg Hestness recalls to the Star Tribune that troops everywhere held Marshal Lubinski in high regard.

Hestness stated, “When you’re in a position where you are setting the tone and challenging stereotypes, to still be respected by the troops is a sign of a lot of leadership.” 

Marshal Dohman remembers Marshal Lubinski as a role model on her own law enforcement journey and described her as unapologetic and humble. 

She continued to say, “Marshal Lubinski was never the loudest in the room, but she was definitely the most brilliant.” 

Marshal Lubinski paved the way for future marshals. She exemplified that gender and sexuality do not have to be hinderances to one’s performance in law enforcement, but assets. 

As we remember Marshal Lubinski this Pride Month, we should reflect on Judge John R. Tunheim’s quote about Marshal Lubinski to the Star Tribune, “Not only was she the best female law enforcement leader in America, she simply was one of the best law enforcement leaders in America, period.”

Source: US Marshals Service