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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: |
June 17, 2008 |
Dominic Guadagnoli, Public Affairs
Officer
(850) 554-6602 |
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Marshals Task Force Nabs 3: Drug Pin, Sex
Offender and Fugitive on Lam for 12 Years |
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Pensacola, FL - The U.S. Marshals North
Florida Violent Fugitive Task Force captured three wanted fugitives within
one hour today, two of them here in Pensacola. At noon, The Marshals and
members of the Task Force from Escambia and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s
Offices and Escambia Patrol deputies arrested Arthur Ishkhanian during a
felony car stop between 9th Avenue and Brent Lane in Pensacola. The Task
Force, working in conjunction with the Marshals Task Force from Mobile, AL
and U.S. Marshals from Philadelphia, PA learned that Ishkhanian was in the
Pensacola area late yesterday. They began surveillance early this morning
when they discovered that he was staying in a condominium complex in Perdido
Key. In 2006, the 35 year old Ishkhanian aka “Lucky” was charged with
conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamines in
Philadelphia. Ishkhanian was a member of a large Armenian drug trafficking
organization which used semi trailers to transport methamphetamine from
California to Pennsylvania. Each shipment contained 100-200 pounds of
methamphetamine. It is believed that the conspiracy is responsible for over
1000 pounds of methamphetamines. Ishkhanian was released on bond early this
year but on January 17 he fled. Ishkhanian faces a mandatory 20 years in
prison if convicted. Shania was remanded after an appearance before a
Federal Magistrate Judge.
Minutes later the Task Force went to a house on 14th Avenue in Pensacola in
search of 36 year old Charles Steagall, wanted in Calhoun County, AL.
Steagall was wanted for Failure To Register as a Sex Offender since January
2000 and a warrant was issued in December of 2007 in Alabama. The U.S.
Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force in Birmingham, Alabama
contacted the Pensacola Marshals Task Force recently asking for their
assistance. Steagall was arrested without incident and brought to the
Escambia County Jail where he will await extradition to Alabama.
Also arrested today by U.S. Marshals in Rochester, NY was Okaloosa County
fugitive Eddie Lee Jackson. Jackson, 37, was apprehended in Wayne County,
N.Y. after a Task Force Investigator form Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
determined that Jackson was living there and notified the Marshals in
Rochester. Jackson is wanted on a 1996 warrant for violating his probation
on trafficking cocaine charges. Jackson remains in jail in New York pending
extradition back to Florida. |
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