Arrests By U.S. Marshals Task Force Continue Commitment To "All In Leon"

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Ongoing efforts by the U.S. Marshals Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force (FCRFTF) have produced numerous arrests in Leon County following the recent launch of a multi-agency strike force, including three in the past week of individuals sought in cases that involved stolen weapons and other weapons charges, kidnapping, aggravated assault against law enforcement, auto theft, and probation violations. The arrests by United States Marshals, working in conjunction with the Leon County Sheriff's Office under the ALLinLEON initiative, were announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Marshals arrested Torrieo Monte Johnson on July 3, 2019, at a family member’s residence in Tallahassee.  During the arrest, Task Force members seized a semi-automatic Taurus handgun and rifle. Johnson was wanted by the Thomasville Police Department after fleeing a June 26 traffic stop during which Thomasville Police located two stolen rifles, including an AR15, and a 9mm handgun in Johnson’s vehicle.  Johnson was charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm (x3) and Grand Theft Firearm.  He awaits extradition back to the State of Georgia on his felony charges.

Six days later, on July 9, Task Force members arrested 20-year-old Etavious Janquis Milton in Tallahassee.  Milton was wanted by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) for a kidnapping that occurred on June 27, after Milton fled on foot from LCSO patrol deputies during a routine traffic stop on Crawfordville Highway and stole a car with an elderly woman inside it, finally abandoning the car and its passenger on the outskirts of Quincy. LCSO detectives charged Milton with Kidnapping, Aggravated.

Assault on Law Enforcement, Flee/Elude, Grand Theft of Vehicle, and Resisting Officer with Violence.  Milton was also wanted on charges of Violation of Probation stemming from earlier charges of Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon, Carrying a Concealed Firearm, Burglary, and Grand Theft Motor Vehicle.

Federal task force members also responded that day to a request for assistance from the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) for help in apprehending Jontavius Monroe, who was being sought by TPD investigators for Violation of Pretrial Conditions for a May 12 incident in which Monroe was arrested for Firing a Weapon in Public, Possession of Weapon by a Convicted Felon, Grand Theft of Firearm, and Possession of Marijuana.  Monroe was also charged with Resisting Arrest without Violence.

The Tallahassee Division of the FRFTF consists of state and local law enforcement officers from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Leon County State Attorney’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, Perry Police Department, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office.  These officers are sworn in as Special Deputy U.S. Marshals and, working alongside U.S. Marshals, target the most violent offenders in the Tallahassee area.

Federal, state, and local authorities last month launched a concerted effort to crack down on violent crime under LCSO’s ALLinLEON umbrella. That initiative has also engaged community volunteers to regularly take at-risk youth to places of worship, activated Neighborhood Crime Watch programs, and conducted other activities to target neighborhoods that are perennial hotspots for violence. The effort also aims to help connect individuals who are reentering the community from incarceration with education, job skills and substance abuse treatment.

All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html