U.S. Department
of Justice
U.S. Marshals Service National Operation Nets More Than 8,000 Fugitives
NEW ORLEANS – For the second consecutive year, the U.S. Marshals Service conducted a high-impact national fugitive apprehension initiative focusing on the country’s most violent offenders. This six-week initiative, called Operation Violence Reduction12 (Operation VR12), was conducted between February 1 and March 11. While Operation VR12 was conducted nationwide in all 94 federal judicial districts, U.S. Marshals focused special attention on 12 selected locations, designated as priority cities by the U.S. Department of Justice: Baltimore, Maryland; Brooklyn, New York; Camden, New Jersey; Chicago, Illinois; Compton, California; Fresno, California; Gary, Indiana; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Oakland, California; Savannah, Georgia; Washington, D.C.; and New Orleans, LA.
The U.S. Marshals Service used its multi-jurisdictional investigative authority and fugitive task force nationwide network to arrest more than 648 gang members and others wanted on criminal charges including 559 for homicide and 946 for sexual offenses. Investigators seized 463 firearms, $390,360 in currency, more than 71 kilograms of illegal narcotics and recovered 17 children who had been abducted and reported missing.
“We applied a strategically focused approach to locate and apprehend the nation’s most dangerous fugitives. By removing these violent offenders from the streets, the communities they preyed upon can immediately feel more secure.” said U.S. Marshals Service Deputy Director David Harlow. “Operation VR12 was about using our expertise and law enforcement partnerships to significantly impact our communities by focusing on the worst of the worst violent criminals.”
Locally, the operation in the Eastern District of Louisiana resulted in the arrest of 151 fugitives, gang members, sex offenders and violent criminals who met the OVR12 operational criteria. This closed 211 warrants, including 40 for Homicide, 35 for Robbery, 27 Sex Offenses and 19 Weapons Violations. “The success of this Operation is a testimony to the strength and determination of our law enforcement partnerships,” said Genny May, the United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Louisiana. She continued that “We want the public to know that this task force has the support of every local, state and federal agency in this region. We will continue to work together to take dangerous, violent offenders off the streets to ensure the safety and security of this community.”
The agencies who participated in OVR12 and the USMS Task Force are New Orleans Police Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, St Charles Parish Office, St John Parish Sheriff’s Office, St Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, Plaquemine Parish Sheriff’s Office, Slidell Police Department, Kenner Police Department, Louisiana Probation and Parole, Louisiana State Police, Housing Authority of New Orleans, Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security/Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New Orleans Emergency Medical Services, and Crimestoppers.
Some notable arrests in the Eastern District of Louisiana include:
On February 29th, 2015, Lionel Trumble escaped form the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office custody after attending a hearing in Municipal Court. After significant media coverage many hours of investigative work, task force officers developed information that Trumble was hiding in a residence located in the 2400 block of Milan Street in New Orleans. Trumble was arrested without incident on March 9th, 2016, still wearing the leg irons from his court appearance.
Dave Turner was wanted by St. Charles Sheriff’s Office for attempted first degree murder, first degree rape and second degree kidnapping. On February 1st, Turner forced entry into a residence where he assaulted and strangled the victim, causing her to lose consciousness. He then kidnapped the victim, forcing her into his vehicle. While driving, the victim unsuccessfully tried to escape, resulting in Turner opening the passenger side door and pushing her out of the moving vehicle. Turner was arrested without incident in New Orleans, LA, on February 2nd by the U.S. Marshals Task Force.
Michael and Terrell Monroe Michael and Terrell Monroe were wanted by the New Orleans Police Department for the November 25th, 2015 murder of Joe Dorsey, who succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds after the brazen, daylight attack on a city street. After extensive work conducted during this operation, local investigators developed information that the suspects were hiding in southwest Georgia. U.S. Marshals in Georgia arrested both Monroe brothers at separate locations on March 7th, 2016 and recovered a .40 caliber pistol, the same caliber used in the murder.
Ricky McKeel, a known member of the Harvey Hustlers street gang, allegedly assaulted a known female leading the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office to charge him with Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and two counts of Assault. Investigative efforts led task force officers to a residence in Harvey, LA where McKeel had barricaded himself in the attic, resulting in a three hour standoff with the JPSO SWAT team until he ultimately surrendered. A subsequent search warrant uncovered a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic handgun.
“This initiative highlights the success that our law enforcement partners can have when we come together – across federal, state, and local lines – to address violent crime in our region,” stated U.S. Attorney Polite.
The concept behind interagency law enforcement operations such as Operation VR12 evolved largely from regional and district task forces. Since the 1980s, the Marshals Service has combined their resources and expertise with local, state and federal agencies to find and apprehend dangerous fugitives. Operation VR12 continued this tradition.
For more information about Operation VR12, including photographs and B-roll footage, visit www.usmarshals.gov or www.usmarshals.gov/district/la-e/index.html.