U.S Marshals Arrest Richland County CSC Suspect

Columbia, SC - Travis Jamal Lawson was taken into custody in Atlanta today by members of the Marshals’ Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (SERFTF). Lawson, 28, was the subject of December 2006 Richland County warrants for Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor and Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature. He was booked into the Cobb County Jail awaiting extradition proceedings. Lawson was located based on information developed in Columbia by deputy marshals and Richland County investigators. That information was forwarded to members of the SERFTF who were able to apprehend Lawson after he tried to escape through the back door of an apartment on Akers Mill Road. In announcing the arrest, United States Marshal Johnny Mack Brown said, “Cases involving allegations of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor are given very high priority. Whether you run to Memphis like Juan Sanchez did, or Atlanta, my deputies will work very hard to find you.”

Established in 1789, the United States Marshals Service is the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency. In fiscal 2005, the Marshals arrested more than 35,500 federal fugitives, clearing 38,500 felony warrants. Marshals Service-led task forces like South Carolina’s Operation Intercept arrested 44,000 state and local fugitives, clearing 51,200 state and local felony warrants. Locally, Operation Intercept arrested over 2,900 South Carolina fugitives during that same period. More information about the Marshals and other South Carolina fugitives can be found on the web at www.usmarshals.gov.