Richmond, VA – Following a four-year tradition
of success in its national efforts, the U.S.
Marshals Service locally conducted another
successful Operation FALCON (Federal and Local Cops
Organized Nationally) from June 9-13. Led by the
U.S. Marshals Service, Operation FALCON 2008
targeted fugitives wanted throughout the Richmond
area with an emphasis on violent offenders, gang
members and sex offenders.
Operation FALCON 2008 in the Richmond region
combined the collective efforts of multiple law
enforcement agencies in another highly successful
fugitive initiative. Over the course of the five-day
operation, Deputy U.S. Marshals, teamed with
federal, state, and local law enforcement partners
and arrested 53 fugitives.
“Operation FALCON was a highly successful operation
getting criminals off the streets with minimal
costs, while reinforcing close knit ties with our
federal, state and local law enforcement partners,”
said John R. Hackman, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern
District of Virginia. “I am confident that this
operation has had an impact on the safety and
security of our community, and I look forward to
similar combined law enforcement efforts.”
Charles Henry, Jr. (34) was charged by the
Petersburg Police Department with Abduction and
Indecent Liberties of a Minor. The charges stem from
the alleged sexual assault of a 16 year old girl.
FALCON teams working with investigators from the
Petersburg Police Department located and arrested
Henry without incident on the final day of the
operation.
Tyson Mason (23), an alleged member of the Broad
Rock Boys street gang, was arrested for violation of
probation based on a previous conviction for
Distribution of Cocaine in the City of Richmond. As
FALCON team members approached Mason’s residence,
Mason exited the residence through a bedroom window
and led team members on a 200 yard foot chase. Mason
was arrested after a brief standoff from the roof of
a neighbor’s house, which he had managed to climb up
on.
The final arrests of the sweep were especially
rewarding. Jessie Young, Jr. (18) was wanted by the
Richmond Police Department for his role in the
shooting death of 14 year old Deshun Taylor, who
died on June 11th after being shot while walking to
a store. A small team of Richmond Detectives and
FALCON task force officers tracked Young and some of
his associates from Richmond to New York City on
Friday afternoon. They contacted the U.S. Marshals
Service fugitive task force in New York City with
the information at approximately 2:00pm. Later that
afternoon, Marshals located and arrested one of
Young’s associates on an unrelated warrant after he
attempted to escape by climbing onto scaffolding
attached to the rear of the building. At
approximately 8:00pm, U.S. Marshals located Young at
a Queens apartment where he was arrested after being
found hiding in a back bedroom.
“From the outset, Operation FALCON has proved how
much can be accomplished when we combine resources
at the federal, state and local levels,” said John
F. Clark, Director of the U.S. Marshals Service.
“This operation is not possible without the unique
talents and dedication that each participating
agency brings to the table.”
Over 30 federal, state and local law enforcement
officers worked tirelessly during the preparation
and apprehension phases of this five day operation.
The U.S. Marshals Service would like to recognize
the outstanding efforts of our regional partners in
the Richmond area:
FALCON 2008 Participating Agencies: Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Social Security
Administration – Office of Inspector General,
Richmond Police Department, Chesterfield County
Police Department, Henrico County Police Department,
Virginia State Police, Virginia Department of
Corrections, Virginia Probation and Parole and the
Petersburg Bureau of Police.
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 the U.S. Marshals
Service, visit
http://www.usmarshals.gov.
America’s Oldest Federal Law Enforcement Agency |