Greenville, NC – Building on the successes of the last four years in its national fugitive efforts, the U.S. Marshals Service locally conducted another successful Operation FALCON (Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally) from June 15 – 20. Sponsored by the U.S. Marshals, Operation FALCON 2008 netted 400 arrests within the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Operation FALCON in Eastern North Carolina acted as a force multiplier by combining federal, state and local resources and enabled participating agencies to conduct a wide ranging fugitive initiative focused on capturing individuals wanted on felony charges including sexual predators and fugitives wanted for crimes of violence. During the operation, Deputy U.S. Marshals, teamed with state, and local law enforcement partners, cleared over 908 warrants in the Eastern North Carolina region. Among the arrests were the following:

Nash County - arrest of a known Crips gang member. An investigation by the Nash County Sheriff's Office revealed this individual was responsible for distributing both marijuana and cocaine throughout Nash County. On June 17, members of the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Fugitive Task Force and the Nash County Sheriff's Office took the subject into custody without incident. A search of the location at the arrest site was performed and the following items were seized: one MAK-90 7.62 mm X 39 mm Assault Rifle with four high capacity magazines, one S&W .38 caliber revolver, one Rohm RG10 .22 caliber revolver, one black powder rifle, multiple rounds of ammunition, approximately 47 grams of marijuana, and approximately 4 grams of cocaine.

Greenville - Leroy Huggins was arrested for the charge of Failure to Comply with the Sexual Offender residence law by living within 300 feet of a childcare facility after being advised it was illegal to do so.

Wilson – Tujuan Derell Jones was arrested in Wilson on June 20. In the early morning hours of the same day, Jones allegedly poured lighter fluid on his longtime girlfriend and attempted to set her on fire. When this failed, he reportedly grabbed a handgun and began shooting inside the house. Jones then fled on foot into a wooded area behind his house.

The Wilson Police Department, Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, and the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Fugitive Task Force established a perimeter around the area and eventually located Jones hiding on the back porch of an abandoned house. Jones was taken into custody and charged with Attempted First Degree Murder, Assault by Pointing a Gun, Communicating Threats, and Discharging a Firearm inside the city limits.

“From the outset, Operation FALCON has proved how much can be accomplished when we combine resources at the federal, state and local levels,” said John F. Clark, Director of the U.S. Marshals Service. “This operation is not possible without the unique talents and dedication that each participating agency brings to the table.”

Operation FALCON-E/NC consisted of over 100 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, making up separate arrest teams working throughout the six-day period. 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 empowered them to cross traditional lines of jurisdiction to track down and arrest targeted fugitives throughout the week.

“The willingness of multiple law enforcement agencies to come together and jointly pursue these violent offenders is a great benefit to the local communities in the Eastern District of North Carolina,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Robert Pettit. “Each day the challenges change and law enforcement agencies must be able to meet these new challenges by working together and utilizing all available recourses. Operation FALCON and others like it show the law enforcement communities dedication to providing a safe and secure Eastern North Carolina.”

Agencies contributing to Operation FALCON-E/NC were the North Carolina Division of Community Corrections, Greenville Police Department, Pitt County Sheriff’s Department, Nash County Sheriff’s Department, Sharpsburg Police Department, Wilson Police Department, Raleigh Police Department, Wilmington Police Department, Fayetteville Police Department, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Kinston Police Department.

Since its inception in 2005, Operation FALCON has made over 36,500 arrests and cleared over 45,300 warrants. It continues to be the largest and most successful fugitive apprehension effort in U.S. Marshals history.

For more information on Operation FALCON, visit http://www.usmarshals.gov/falcon08/media.htm
 

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