Category: US Marshals Service

Detroit, MI – The U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force is seeking information leading to the whereabouts of Daniel Lamar Franklin of Ypsilanti. Franklin is wanted by Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) on homicide charges relating to a tragic event that occurred earlier this year.

During the evening of March 26, members of WCSO officers responding to a duress call of gunshots in the area of W. Michigan and W. Warner St. in Ypsilanti officers found a non-responsive male in his vehicle who had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Eyewitnesses on scene identified the shooter as Franklin, who was seen wearing red clothing, departing the scene in an unknown vehicle. 

Franklin is described as a black male, standing around 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing approximately 175 pounds. He has brown eyes, and his last known hair style is short black hair. Franklin has a history of weapons offenses and is believed to be armed and dangerous.

If you have information on the whereabouts of Franklin, contact the U.S. Marshals Service tip line at (866) 865-TIPS (8477), submit a tip online via the USMS Tips App or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak-Up.

Birmingham, AL – The U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force (GCRFTF), in coordination with the Birmingham Police Department (BPD), April 26 located and safely arrested a man wanted by the Birmingham Police Department for murder. 

Jose Roberto Pablo-Morales, 36, was wanted for the shooting death of a man following a verbal argument in Birmingham on March 17. The murder was observed by several witnesses. 

GCRFTF investigators and BPD developed information that Pablo-Morales was in the 900 block of 47th Place North Birmingham. After establishing surveillance, investigators identified Pablo-Morales outside a residence and observed him quickly enter the residence. 

BPD detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence and, after several call-out attempts and a three-hour stand-off, investigators located Pablo-Morales hiding in the attic. Additionally, two other men were hiding inside the residence and were detained.

Pablo-Morales was arrested and transported to the Birmingham Police Department.  

The search warrant resulted in the seizure of six firearms (four rifles and two handguns), and narcotics. 

The Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force began operations in July 2006 and operates in Alabama, Mississippi with the participation of two federal agencies and 63 state and local agencies. GCRFTF has apprehended more than 70,000 fugitives since its inception. 
 

WASHINGTON – A Deputy U.S. Marshal assigned to the Western District of North Carolina and supporting the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force was one of four officers killed April 29 as the task force attempted to serve an arrest warrant on a fugitive in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Thomas M. Weeks Jr., 48, of Mooresville, North Carolina, died in the line of duty at approximately 1:30 p.m. April 29 when the suspect opened fire on the group of law enforcement officers, killing Weeks and three others. Several other officers were injured. 

Weeks was a 13-year veteran of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), serving in the Western District of North Carolina for the last 10 years. He was part of the team executing a warrant for the arrest of Terry Clark Hughes Jr., 39, who was wanted for possession of a firearm by a felon in Lincoln County.     

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is leading the investigation.  

Weeks started his USMS career in February 2011 in the District of Columbia’s Superior Court, Washington, DC. He transferred in November 2014 to Charlotte, NC. Prior to USMS, he spent eight years with Customs and Border Protection.  

He leaves behind a wife and four children.

Baltimore, MD – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and task force partners in the District of Maryland are initiating a large-scale, public safety initiative. ‘Operation Silver Shield’ is a 90-day interagency operation designed to improve public safety by targeting non-compliant sex offenders and fugitives wanted for associated offense conduct. The goal of this operation, which runs from May through August, is to protect the community by prioritizing the recovery of critically missing children and arresting those offenders who pose the greatest risk to public safety. 

In support of Operation Silver Shield, the U.S. Marshals Service will integrate the agency’s violent crime strategy, Strategically Targeted Apprehension Response (STAR), with community-policing practices to facilitate impactful operations across the state of Maryland. The U.S. Marshals Service intends to leverage its Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF) to support those communities most affected by egregious crime and exploitation. 

“While the U.S. Marshals Service has a proven track record of working with our federal, state, and local partners to improve public safety, we are always striving to do better,” stated Mathew Silverman, acting United States Marshal for the District of Maryland. “Throughout Operation Silver Shield, we will prioritize community engagement and work hand-in-hand with local citizens to develop tips and leads so that we can all help make the state of Maryland a safer place to raise a family.”

Anyone with information on a non-compliant/wanted sex offender, violent fugitive, or critically missing child is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals Service office at 1-866-4WANTED or USMS Tips.

The USMS CARFTF began operations in June 2004. The CARFTF has partnership agreements with more than 133 federal, state, and local agencies and operates in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. The CARFTF has apprehended more than 78,000 fugitives since its inception and is always striving to make communities safer.

Concord, NH – The U.S. Marshals Service – NH Joint Fugitive Task Force (JFTF), in conjunction with Newport Police Department and the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, are pleased to announce the capture of “NH Most Wanted” fugitive, Aaron Butler, who was taken into custody Tuesday in Goshen. The arrest signals the end of a seventeen-month hunt that included Butler being featured as the “Fugitive of the Week” in December 2022, which was distributed throughout the New Hampshire media and law enforcement networks.

Butler, 34, was wanted on state arrest warrants charging the unlawful sale of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, as well as felon in possession of a firearm, and armed career criminal. These charges triggered a U.S. District Court arrest warrant for Butler, who was placed on federal supervised release due to a drug trafficking conviction in 2019, and his continued criminal activity violated the conditions of release set forth by the government. Although Butler will have to answer for his failures to comply with federal supervision, his legal troubles may not end there, as a Newport Police investigation into the state charges is ongoing.

After key intelligence gathered by the Newport PD and Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office led the U.S. Marshals JFTF members to surround a residence just a mile South of the Goshen Town Offices, Butler was caught fleeing out the rear of the residence when the arrest team knocked and announced their presence. Subsequently, the residence was cleared of safety hazards by the U.S. Marshals and handed over to Newport Detectives who executed a search warrant.

Since the inception of the U.S. Marshals – New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force in 2002, it has been part of, and empowered by, the community we serve. Its commitment to enhance the protection of the public through partnerships with local and state jurisdictions has resulted in thousands of arrests. 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.

San Juan, PR – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in Maryland tracked down and captured April 24 a fugitive wanted in Puerto Rico on a federal arrest warrant for violating his bail conditions in a pending gun law case. 

Emiliano E. Flores-Gonzalez had been wanted since March 2023 by the Puerto Rico Police Bureau on a state arrest warrant issued by the Ponce Court for felony crimes of domestic violence and violations of the Weapons Law. 

The Puerto Rico Police Bureau, part of the USMS-led Puerto Rico Violent Offender Task Force, collaborated in the search for Flores-Gonzalez, which extended to several municipalities in the southern area of the island. 

Working on a collateral lead from the USMS in Puerto Rico, the USMS Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF) in Baltimore located Flores-Gonzalez and took him into custody without incident. He was transported to the federal court in Baltimore for processing pending his return to Puerto Rico. 

“Let our citizens know that the U.S. Marshals Service in Puerto Rico continues to work with the municipal, local, and federal law-and-order components,” said Wilmer Ocasio-Ibarra, U.S. Marshal for the District of Puerto Rico. “We will not stop in our effort to pursue those who believe they can evade the law. They may try to hide, but they should know that the U.S. Marshals Service will not stop until they find you and bring you to justice. I also want to recognize the great contribution of the sheriffs’ deputies in the capture of these violent fugitives, and their commitment to our communities.” 

The U.S. Marshals Service encourages the community to continue to collaborate with our Sheriff’s Deputies on tips that help find the whereabouts of a fugitive by contacting our local office at (787) 766-6297, calling the U.S. Marshals Service Communication Center at 1 (800) 336-0102, or submitting your tip using the U.S. Marshals Service Tips app.

The USMS CARFTF began operations in June 2004. The CARFTF has partnership agreements with more than 133 federal, state, and local agencies and operates in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. The CARFTF has apprehended more than 78,000 fugitives since its inception and is always striving to make communities safer.

Miami, FL – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force (FCRFTF), in coordination with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, April 10, located and safely arrested a man wanted for possession of child pornography.  

Thomas Deane, 41, was declared a fugitive when he failed to appear on March 11 for criminal trial charging 10 counts of child pornography possession. Deane had removed his GPS monitoring device and fled Lee County. 

FCRFTF investigators conducted interviews and developed information that Deane was in the north Miami area.  FCRFTF investigators focused on the 1000 block of NE 83rd Street and established a surveillance perimeter. Deane was observed fleeing the area on a motorized scooter. Investigators pursued the suspect and established vehicle containment taking him into custody.   

Deane was arrested and transported to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami where he will be held until he is extradited to Lee County.  

The USMS FCRFTF began operations in July 2008. The FCRFTF has partnership agreements with 4 federal and 90 state, and local agencies and operates in Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FCRFTF has apprehended more than 64,000 fugitives since its inception and is always striving to make communities safer.   

Charleston, WV – The U.S. Marshals Southern District of West Virginia Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division (CUFFED) Task Force announce the apprehension of a medical doctor wanted on a 10-count federal indictment accusing him unlawful distribution of controlled substances.

Dr. Alexander Vladimirovich Otellin, 57, of Russia, formerly of Charleston, was believed to have fled the United States to Russia in order avoid prosecution. Otellin possesses dual citizenship in the U.S. and Russia. The U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of West Virginia worked with INTERPOL Washington to issue an Interpol Red Notice for Otellin. 

In September 2023, Otellin entered the country of Armenia. Otellin was taken into custody by Armenian authorities, after discovering that an Interpol Red Notice had been issued and that there was an active warrant for Otellin’s arrest. Armenian authorities arrested Otellin and detained him. 

U.S. Marshals took custody of Otellin in Armenia and transported him back to the United States, arriving at the Yeager International Airport in Charleston April 20. He was taken to the South-Central Regional Jail where he is awaiting further court proceedings in U.S. District Court.

The U.S. Marshals CUFFED Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia investigated.  The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Armenian authorities to secure the arrest and extradition of Otellin.

Philadelphia, PA – Members of the U.S. Marshals Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force arrested Shawn Jason, 47, at a hotel in the 4600 block of Island Avenue in Philadelphia. Jason was wanted by the Harrisburg Police Department for three counts of criminal attempt homicide in relation to a shooting that took place September 9th, 2023, in the 1800 block of North Street in Harrisburg, PA. After a verbal dispute with neighbors, Jason allegedly shot three people, including a 4-year-old child. On April 23rd, Jason was also charged with armed robbery and related charges by the Abington Township Police Department. These charges resulted from an incident that occurred February 22nd at the CVS on Jenkintown Road in the Glenside section of Abington Township.     

At approximately 11:00 a.m. April 24th, investigators from the Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Philadelphia surrounded a hotel room in the 4600 block of Island Avenue in Philadelphia. After a month of investigating Jason was possibly in the Philadelphia area, Marshals developed information he had recently checked into a hotel room and was presently inside. Upon knocking and announcing, Jason answered the door, complied with Marshals commands, and was taken into custody without incident. He was then transported to the Abington Police Department for processing.  

“A long and extensive history of violent criminal activity by Mr. Jason has once again culminated in his arrest, but sadly not before counting a 4-year-old child he shot as among his most recent victims,” said Eric Gartner, United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force is a team of law enforcement officers led by U.S. Marshals in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. The task force’s objective is to seek out and arrest violent crime fugitives. Membership agencies include the Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania State Parole Officers, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Attorney General Agents, Immigration Customs Enforcement, Chester Police Department, Bucks County Sheriffs, and Delaware County Sheriffs.

Memphis, TN – The U.S. Marshals Service is currently offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any information that leads to the arrest of the individuals responsible for the deadly shooting in Orange Mound.

On April 20, 2024, there was a block party at the intersection of Carnes Avenue and Grand Street in the Orange Mound neighborhood in Memphis. According to reports, the event drew a crowd of between 200 and 300 people. During the gathering, at least two unidentified shooters opened fire into the crowd, resulting in nine people injured and two deaths. The victims ranged in age from 16 to 29 years old. The two deceased individuals were ages 17 and 22.

Anyone with information, and video, from the shooting is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH (2274). In addition to the reward offered by the U.S. Marshals Service, Crime Stoppers is offering an additional $15,000 reward.

U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller expressed deep concern over this crime, stating, “The U.S. Marshals Service is committed to partnering with the Memphis Police Department to bring those responsible to justice. We hope this reward money will encourage someone to come forward and assist in solving this case.”