FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: May 16, 2008 Mark A. Gunnoe, Deputy U.S. Marshal Public Information Officer (504) 589-3156   Sex Offender/Escapee Apprehended by Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office and U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force   On Thursday May 15, 2008, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office acted on information provided by the U.S. Marshals Service Eastern District of Louisiana Crescent Star Fugitive Task Force (CSFTF) and arrested Jeremiah Benoit, 30, for escape from the Calcasieu Parish Prison. Benoit was also wanted by Lake Charles Police Department for an Aggravated Burglary and Aggravated Assault that occurred after his escape. Benoit was arrested without incident and was in possession of the vehicle reported stolen in the South Lake Charles Home Invasion of a 91 year old woman. Benoit a registered sex offender was serving a sentence at the Calcasieu Parish Prison for a Parole Violation based on convictions for Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile and Felony Forgery from 2004. Benoit exploited his status as a “Trustee” at the prison and used that status to escape from the prison on Wednesday May 14, 2008. Calcasieu Parish Prison officials discovered that Benoit had escaped from their custody and immediately notified the U.S. Marshals Service Western District of Louisiana Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (FAST) and requested assistance with apprehending Benoit. FAST Task Force members began conducting the fugitive investigation with the assistance from the Louisiana Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole. Their efforts later determined that Benoit was in the Hammond, Louisiana area. This information was forwarded to CSFTF, who was able to pinpoint Benoit’s location and contact Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office to effect his arrest. On May 15, 2008, Lake Charles Police Department responded to a report of a Home Invasion in University Place (South Lake Charles). Through the course of the Lake Charles Police Department’s investigation it was determined that Benoit had forced his way inside the home of an elderly woman on the afternoon of May 14. Benoit was an acquaintance of the woman and had done yard work for her in 2005. Benoit allegedly held the elderly woman hostage while he ransacked her home looking for valuables. Benoit then tied the elderly woman up that evening and stole her vehicle. The elderly woman was able to free herself around 4:00 a.m. and then contacted a family member to report the incident. According to investigators the elderly woman suffered minor physical injuries from the ordeal. Investigator’s also indicated that in 2005 Benoit under the guise of needing to use the restroom, entered the elderly woman’s home and stole her purse and vehicle. U.S. Marshal Michael Credo stated, “The efforts of all participating law enforcement agencies combined with critical assistance from Louisiana Probation and Parole removed this dangerous escapee from the community before he was capable of targeting any new victims.” The U.S. Marshals Service EDLA sponsored CSFTF established itself in 1999 and is currently receiving extra support from the U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Department of Justice to fight post Hurricane Katrina violent crime and locate sexual predators in the New Orleans metro area. Current CSFTF members include the New Orleans Police Department, the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff’s Office, St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana Probation and Parole and the U.S. Border Patrol. Other New Orleans metro area law enforcement agencies participating on a case by case basis include: Bogalusa Police Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Services, and Social Security OIG . For more information on the U.S. Marshals EDLA CSFTF go to www.usmarshals.gov/district/la-e/news/index.html.