Chattanooga, TN – Following a four-year tradition of success in its national efforts, the U.S. Marshals locally conducted another successful Operation FALCON (Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally) from June 22 – 28. Led by the U.S. Marshal, Operation FALCON 2008 netted 380 arrests, including 26 sex offenders, and cleared 688 warrants within the Eastern District of Tennessee.

Operation FALCON in Eastern Tennessee 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, Deputy U.S. Marshals, teamed with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, arrested 152 fugitives, including four sex offenders, and cleared 291 warrants in the Chattanooga area.

A FALCON team based in Chattanooga was searching for Stephanie Levin wanted for failure to appear on a forgery charge and probation violation on a battery charge by the Walker County, Georgia Sheriff’s Department. Responding to a tip, the team went to the Econo Lodge on Lee Highway where Levin was known to be staying. Upon approach to the room, the smell of methamphetamine was detected. The room was secured and a Hazmat team was dispatched to the motel. Four people in the room were arrested for manufacturing methamphetamine: Michael Weaver, Kelley Goff, Michelle Frye and Kim Parsons. In addition to the arrests, $500 in cash was seized with approximately two grams of methamphetamine, and enough methamphetamine oil to produce about two ounces of methamphetamine. Levin was not in the room at the time, but was located a short time later at the American Best Hotel also on Lee Highway. A search of Levin’s room produced two computers, a printer, and two bags of counterfeit checks which were seized by the U.S. Secret Service. Also arrested in Levin’s room was Matthew Jackson, who was wanted out of Dade County, Ga.

“We are pleased that local law enforcement often looks upon operations such as FALCON as an opportunity to address fugitive apprehension issues in their communities,” said John F. Clark, Director of the U.S. Marshals Service. “In the end, when this operation is over, our local partners are the people who will continue to live and work in the communities that Operation FALCON serves. We are committed to leaving behind a safer community for all of them.”

Operation FALCON in Chattanooga consisted of approximately 52 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, making up six 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.

The cooperation of law enforcement agencies extended beyond local and state jurisdictional lines with the apprehension of James Lee Croft who was wanted by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department. Croft was arrested in the Western District of Arkansas. Croft was one of a number of sex offender violators arrested outside the local and state area.

“My main goal is that all law enforcement agencies in Eastern Tennessee realize that mutual cooperation is the key to success everyday,” said U.S. Marshal Jeff Hedden. “The ongoing partnerships built by Operation FALCON are key factor to that success.”

Agencies contributing to Operation FALCON - Chattanooga were the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the 10th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, the McMinn County Sheriff’s Department, the Bradley County Sheriff’s Department, the Chattanooga City Police Department, Chattanooga Housing Police, the Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General, FBI, ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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

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