Fugitives
Under
the Fugitive Program, the FBI locates and apprehends
individuals wanted in connection with substantive FBI
investigations. The FBI also assists local and state
law enforcement agencies in apprehending highly sought
fugitives who may have fled across state lines or left
the country. The primary emphasis is on fugitives sought
for serious or violent criminal acts, including those
engaged in large-scale drug trafficking.
The FBI is the primary federal law enforcement agency with statutory authority
to investigate fugitive matters where the fugitive is wanted on state charges
and has crossed state lines. The FBI's policy and objective in investigating
fugitive matters is to effect the swift location and capture of fugitives,
particularly those wanted in connection with violent crimes and substantial
property loss or destruction. The FBI is increasingly tasked to assist with
coordinating apprehension efforts of US fugitives abroad. These fugitives,
who fled foreign jurisdiction and are believed to be in the United States,
are wanted for crimes of violence, including murder, kidnapping, and robbery.
The "Top
Ten" is a publicity program founded by the FBI in March
1950, along with the national news media. It is designed
to publicize particularly dangerous fugitives who might
not otherwise merit nationwide attention. The program
concentrates on nationwide crime and terrorism, serial
murders, and drug-related crimes. Since its creation,
the Top Ten program has resulted in the location or
apprehension of 446 fugitives. For more information
on this program, including photographs and descriptions
of the current Top Ten, go to http://www.fbi.gov/mostwant/topten/fugitives/fugitives.htm.
CASE
STUDY: ERIC FRANKLIN ROSSER
Eric Franklin Rosser was wanted by authorities for his alleged involvement
in numerous offenses, including the production of a videotape in Thailand which
depicted sexually explicit conduct between him and an eleven-year-old girl.
Rosser later distributed the videotape to a resident of Bloomington, Indiana.
He also allegedly conspired to transport, distribute, and receive videotapes,
photographs, and magazines containing child pornography involving female children
between the ages of nine and eleven years old. Some of these photographs and
visual depictions were placed on the Internet as a direct result of being smuggled,
allegedly by Rosser, from the United States to Thailand. Rosser was indicted
on March 21, 2000, in the Southern District of Indiana and charged with the
production, distribution, receipt, and transportation of child pornography.
As an admitted pedophile, Rosser was considered dangerous, especially to children.
The FBI placed Rosser on its list of "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" on December
27, 2000. Rosser was also featured on the television program America's Most
Wanted: America Fights Back. After the program aired, a viewer's tip led authorities
to believe that Rosser was in the area and, after surveillance was initiated,
Rosser was seen walking on a city street and then entering a building. Law
enforcement authorities followed Rosser into the building and proceeded to
place him in custody. Rosser was taken into custody on August 21, 2001, at
a business in Bangkok, Thailand. Members of the Crime Suppression Bureau of
the Thai National Police, in cooperation with the FBI's Legal Attaché Office
in Bangkok, Thailand participated in the arrest.
