FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: |
March 19, 2008 |
Doug Farrell
Public Affairs Officer (504) 589-3148 |
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U.S. Marshals Arrest Major Case Fugitive in
Texas |
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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. |
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