Honolulu, HI – Following a five-year tradition of success in its national efforts, the U.S. Marshals Service locally conducted another successful Operation FALCON – Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally. Led by the U.S. Marshals, Operation FALCON 2009 netted 237 arrests within the State of Hawaii throughout the month of June.

Operation FALCON – The Hawaii District combined the collective efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies in one of the area’s largest-ever fugitive initiatives, focusing on capturing individuals wanted on felony charges including sexual predators and fugitives wanted for crimes of violence. Over the course of the month-long operation, Deputy U.S. Marshals, teamed with federal, state and local law enforcement partners, arrested 237 fugitives, including 12 sex offenders and cleared 266 warrants throughout the Hawaiian Islands – Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii.

Eugene Monte Tupuola was a fugitive wanted by the U.S. Marshals for violation of supervised release relating to a drug conviction. Tupuola was also wanted by the city and county of Honolulu Police Department for attempted murder and felon in possession of a firearm. A one-day search led by the Hawaii Fugitive Task Force resulted in the apprehension of Tupuola.

Derek Vaughn States was wanted by the city and county of Honolulu Police Department on an indictment involving money laundering, theft and prohibited securities practices. States, a fugitive for nine years, was located by U.S. Marshals in Bangkok, Thailand and apprehended by Thai authorities.

“The goal of Operation FALCON is simple – to make communities safer,” said John F. Clark, Director of the U.S. Marshals Service. “Each time we wrap up a FALCON operation in any location, there are less dangerous individuals – and fewer threats to the community – than before we arrived there. That is very gratifying.”

Operation FALCON – Hawaii consisted of 113 federal, state and local law enforcement officers, making up four separate arrest teams working throughout the month-long Operation. Each participating local officer was sworn in as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal immediately prior to the start of this Operation. This special authority empowers them to cross traditional lines of jurisdiction to track down and arrest targeted fugitives throughout the operation.

According to U.S. Marshal Mark M. Hanohano “It is only through the cooperation, collaboration and the united effort of various law enforcements agencies that we can effectively keep our communities safe and comfortable by the apprehension of wanted fugitives.”

Agencies contributing to Operation FALCON include the State of Hawaii Department of Public Safety Sheriff’s Department, State of Hawaii Department of Human Services Investigations Office, Maui County Police Department, Hawaii County Police Department, Kauai County Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Diplomatic Security Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and Explosives, Naval Criminal Investigation Services, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Services and Drug Enforcement Administration.

Since its inception in 2005, Operation FALCON has made more than 91,000 arrests and cleared more than 117,000 warrants. It continues to be the largest and most successful fugitive apprehension effort in U.S. Marshals history.

For more information on Operation FALCON 2009, please visit www.usmarshals.gov/falcon09/index.html.

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