FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: March 19, 2008 Doug Farrell Public Affairs Officer (504) 589-3148   U.S. Marshals Arrest Major Case Fugitive in Texas   On March 18, 2008, at approximately 3:15 p.m., members of the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force arrested Martin “Big Marty” Duncan at the apartment of a relative in College Station, Texas. Duncan is charged as the main distributor in a major drug conspiracy centering in the B.W. Cooper Housing Projects in New Orleans from 1994 through 2003. The criminal enterprise is allegedly responsible for numerous murders and kidnapping in furtherance of their crack, heroin and marijuana drug trade. Duncan is currently being held in the Federal Detention Center in Houston, Texas, awaiting extradition. The warrant stems from an August 2003 indictment based upon a long term Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) investigation initiated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF). The BATF then requested the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Crescent Star Fugitive Task Force (CSFTF) in locating Duncan. Martin remained a fugitive, eluding capture on several occasions. In February 2008, Duncan was featured in a local news segment on wanted subjects. Soon thereafter, information regarding his whereabouts was received leading to his arrest. U.S. Marshal Michael Credo stated, “This is another example of interagency cooperation and public support leading to the arrest of a violent criminal. Additionally, it shows the U.S. Marshals commitment to never give up on a fugitive case until his arrest, regardless of how long it takes.” The U.S. Marshals sponsored Crescent Star Fugitive Task Force includes law enforcement officers from the New Orleans Police Department, Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff’s Office, St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana Probation and Parole, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Border Patrol, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bogalusa Police Department, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Social Security Office of the Inspector General. Other area law enforcement agencies also assist CSFTF in fugitive investigations on a case by case basis.