FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: October 30, 2008 Matt Hershey, Deputy U.S. Marshal Public Affairs Officer (602) 920-4841   22 Fugitive Sex Offenders Arrested During Operation Safe Treat   Phoenix, AZ - From October 28-30, Federal, State, and Local law enforcement agencies collaborated on “Operation Safe Treat,” a three day fugitive operation targeting non-compliant sex offenders and those wanted for various other sex related offenses. Operation Safe Treat netted law enforcement 22 arrests. “The United States Marshals Service is committed to assisting our state and local partners in tracking down those who have victimized our children,” said David Gonzales, U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona. “This operation was specifically timed around Halloween to ensure our children and their parents don’t have to worry about sexual predators within their communities”. Intelligence gathered during Safe Treat showed that Manuel Molina, an un-registered sex offender, was living in an apartment in Tempe. Molina was wanted in Cochise County and St. Cloud, Minnesota for failing to register as a sex offender. Molina was arrested and could be facing additional charges for failing to register in Maricopa County. In 2001 a warrant was issued by the Maricopa County Superior Court for the arrest of Fernando Tapia, 26, after being charged with Sexual Conduct with a Minor. The fugitive investigation revealed that Tapia had fled to Mexico after the issuance of the warrant and subsequently returned to the United States under an assumed alias. Deputies and Task Force Officers were able to locate and arrest Tapia while he was working under the assumed name. Late last week Deputy U.S. Marshals and Task Force Officers arrested Clinton Jones, 56, in Detroit, Michigan. In 1989 a warrant was issued by the Maricopa County Superior Court for the arrest of Jones after it was alleged that he had sexual conduct with a minor numerous times from 1988-1989. Shortly after the allegations were made Jones fled the Phoenix area and hadn’t been heard from since. Jones was to be targeted during the past three days, but while Deputies were gathering intelligence on the possible whereabouts of Jones it was discovered that he was currently living in Detroit. Acting quickly, Deputies contacted the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Detroit who wasted no time in locating and arresting Jones. “Operation Safe Treat was a successful collaborative initiative which will make our community safer. We will continue to make these cases one of our highest priorities”, said Fidencio Rivera, Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona. The operation doesn’t stop here. Tomorrow night Deputies, Task Force Officers, and members of County and Federal Probation will be conducting compliance checks throughout the valley. These checks are intended to ensure that sex offenders who are on probation are complying with conditions of their probation and are not participating in any Halloween activities. Operation Safe Treat involved over 65 law enforcement officers from 19 contributing agencies throughout the valley. The agencies involved in the operation were: U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture – OIG, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-OIG, U.S. Probation Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona State Capitol Police, Maricopa County Adult Probation, Apache Junction Police Department, Chandler Police Department, El Mirage Police Department, Gilbert Police Department, Glendale Police Department, Mesa Police Department, Peoria Police Department, Phoenix Police Department, Scottsdale Police Department, Surprise Police Department, Tempe Police Department. For further information about the U.S. Marshals, visit www.usmarshals.gov.