FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: April 11, 2008 DUSM Mike Schroeder, PAO (973) 390-7307   U.S. Marshals Arrest Two of Newark's Most Wanted Fugitives   Newark, NJ – Within a 24 hour period, two of Newark’s most violent and wanted fugitives are behind bars in separate states after relentless pursuit by U.S. Marshals and Newark Police Department detectives. Lauren Cheeks and Lateef Livingston, both known members of the “Bloods” street gang, were wanted for two separate, unrelated crimes respectively, both of which occurred in the city of Newark. Lauren Cheeks, age 20, was wanted by the Newark Police Department since February 28, 2005 for homicide and unlawful possession of a handgun. On February 25, 2005, Cheeks, allegedly shot and killed a male victim on a New Jersey Transit bus in broad daylight during a dispute in downtown Newark. Over a period of three years, U.S. Marshals and Newark police detectives pursued leads in and out of New Jersey. In 2007, Cheeks was even profiled on the television show “America’s Most Wanted” (AMW). Based on a recent tip from AMW and information provided by authorities in North Carolina, U.S. Marshals and Newark police detectives attempted to locate and arrest Cheeks in North Carolina on Thursday April 10, 2008. With assistance from the U.S. Marshals’ North Carolina Violent Fugitive Task Force, the Newark marshals and detectives developed a possible location for Cheeks in Bladensburg, Maryland. At 11:00pm on April 10, the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force attempted to arrest Cheeks in a seventh floor apartment in Bladensburg. Upon the marshals entering the room, Cheeks began to jump from balcony to balcony in an attempt to escape. However, Cheeks was later cornered on a fourth floor balcony and arrested without further incident. He is in custody in Maryland awaiting extradition back to New Jersey. Lateef Livingston, age 28, was wanted by the Newark Police Department since January 23, 2008 for homicide and unlawful possession of an assault rifle. On 12/10/2007, Livingston allegedly killed a male victim on 7th Avenue in Newark by shooting him 13 times with an AK-47 Assault Rifle. In addition to pursuing leads in the Cheeks investigation in North Carolina, U.S. Marshals and Newark Police detectives eventually traveled to Fayetteville, North Carolina in an attempt to locate Livingston. The officers, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals’ North Carolina Violent Fugitive Task Force, located Livingston at a residence in Fayetteville. After learning that Livingston left the residence only minutes earlier, the officers searched the surrounding areas and spotted Livingston walking in the neighborhood. As the officers moved in to arrest Livingston, he attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended without further incident. Livingston is in custody in North Carolina awaiting extradition back to New Jersey. The U.S. Marshal for the District of New Jersey, James T. Plousis, commends every investigator involved and states, “… the arrest of these two dangerous fugitives is a direct result of the collaborative and exhaustive efforts of numerous law enforcement agencies from multiple jurisdictions in various states. All of whom are serving this country with one goal in mind- to keep our communities safe.”