FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 31, 2007 Michael D. Credo United States Marshal Eastern District of Louisiana CONTACT: Brian Fair Deputy U.S. Marshal Public Information Officer (504)589-2145     U.S. MARSHALS TASK FORCE AND NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT WORK WITH U.S. MARSHALS GULF COAST REGIONAL FUGITIVE TASK FORCE TO ARREST NEW ORLEANS HOME INVASION MURDER SUSPECT IN MISSISSIPPI   On the afternoon of October 31, 2007, the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Anthony J. MARTIN (AKA: Corey Damond), 27 years old, in Bassfield, Mississippi. MARTIN was wanted on a warrant issued in Orleans Parish charging him with murder, five counts of attempted murder, and six counts of aggravated burglary. The arrest occurred without incident but MARTIN denied his identity at first by stating that he was Corey Damond. Upon further questioning by investigators he admitted to being Anthony MARTIN. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigations and the Bassfield, MS Police Department also participated in the arrest. The murder occurred on the night of Wednesday, August 22, 2007, at a residence in the 4800 block of Knighthart St., New Orleans, LA. New Orleans Police Department detectives determined that three male suspects burst through the door of a residence on Knighthart St. The suspects then forced six Hispanic males to lay on the ground in the residence. The suspects then began to search the victims at which point several of the victims began to resist. The suspects began firing weapons and fatally wounded Julio Benitez-Cruz, 42 years old. Two of the other victims were wounded and had to be transported to a local hospital. Investigators believe that the motive of the home invasion was robbery. Recently there have been several similar incidents in New Orleans East but investigator are still trying to determine if they are related. The New Orleans Police Department is a participating member of the U.S. Marshals Service Eastern District of Louisiana (EDLA) Crescent Star Fugitive Task Force (CSFTF). Investigators from the New Orleans Police Department referred the case to the CSFTF. The Task Force through the course of its local investigation developed leads in Mississippi and contacted the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force to assist in locating MARTIN and making the arrest. Eastern District of Louisiana U.S. Marshal Michael Credo stated, “Our task force is excited about being part of efforts in the New Orleans metro area to reduce violent crime. The partnering of state and local law enforcement resources combined with U.S. Marshals Service regional fugitive task forces are working to apprehend these violent fugitives that travel across state lines to avoid arrest.” CSFTF is in its eighth year of existence and it is through the support of New Orleans metro area law enforcement agencies that it has arrested over 6000 fugitives. The U.S. Department of Justice has also committed additional resources to the task force since Hurricane Katrina. Current members include the New Orleans Police Department, Bogalusa Police Department, the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff’s Office, St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana Probation and Parole, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Border, Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Services, and Social Security OIG. For more information on the U.S. Marshals EDLA CSFTF