CHICAGO – Following a four-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) from June 22– 28. Led by the U.S. Marshals, Operation FALCON-Chicago netted 319 physical arrests while closing an additional 59 warrants within the Chicagoland area.

Operation FALCON-Chicago 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 seven-day operation, investigators from the U.S. Marshals, teamed with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to arrest wanted felons for charges ranging from homicide, parental abduction, sexual assault, etc.

Carlos Hensley was a fugitive wanted by the Chicago Police Department in connection with the May murder of Kiana Green. At the time of the murder, Green was seven-months pregnant. Investigators working the Falcon operation apprehended Hensley within hours of receiving the warrant. Hensley is currently being held at Cook County Jail where he awaits further proceedings.

“Operation Falcon-Chicago is a microcosm of the success attained by U.S. Marshals and our Great Lakes Task Force partners,” said Chief Inspector Geoff Shank, U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. “We have worked hand-in-hand for five years arresting over 28,000 fugitives in the Great Lakes area – that is 28,000 felons behind bars who are no longer roaming our streets preying on our citizens.”

Operation Falcon-Chicago consisted of over 100 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, making up eight separate arrest teams working throughout the seven-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. On average, Operation Falcon-Chicago teams arrested more than 50 wanted fugitives per day.

Apprehension efforts such as Operation Falcon are an important weapon in the law enforcement arsenal to once again exemplify to the public that when law enforcement agencies band together in an effort to make our society a safer place to live – we can produce tremendous results,” said U.S. Marshal Kim Widup, Northern District of Illinois. “We hope Operation Falcon-Chicago sends a message to the predators of our society that they have now become the prey of the best man hunters in the fugitive-hunting business.”

Since its inception in 2003, the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force has been apprehending countless fugitives from in and around the Chicagoland area. To date, the task force’s success can be measured by its 28,000 fugitive arrests. Over a five-year period, the task force averages over 15 arrests per day of violent offenders in the Great Lakes area. During Falcon, the task force averaged over 45 arrests per day.

“Operation Falcon is a significant law enforcement accomplishment because it brings so many different police agencies together to form one team with one focus, “said Sheriff Thomas J. Dart, Cook County Sheriff’s Department. “That tenacity has ultimately led us to bring hundreds of wanted fugitives to justice and into custody.”
Agencies participating along with the U.S. Marshals Service during Operation FALCON-Chicago include the Cook County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois Attorney General’s Office, Chicago Police Department, Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois State Police, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture-OIG, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Dept. of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Dupage County Sheriff’s Department, McHenry County Sheriff’s Department, Berwyn Police Department, Lyons Police Department, Stickney Police Department, North Riverside Police Department, Riverside Police Department, Forrest Park Police Department, Oak Park Police Department.

Since its inception in 2005, Operation Falcon continues to be the largest and most successful fugitive apprehension effort in U.S. Marshals history.

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

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