West Texas HIDTA Fugitive Task Force, May 31, 2007

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT:
May 31, 2007	El Paso: (915) 534-6018 / 6779 Supervisory Deputy Gerardo Payan Assistant Chief Michael Troyanski www.usmarshals.gov/district/tx-w/index.html


West Texas HIDTA Fugitive Task Force led by the U.S. Marshals Service Concludes a Large Scale, Multi-jurisdictional Fugitive Operation in El Paso

Beginning early on (May 14 – 25, 2007) Monday morning and concluding on Friday, the West Texas HIDTA fugitive task force led by the U.S. Marshals Service concluded a large scale, multi-jurisdictional fugitive operation in El Paso. The operation targeted area fugitives wanted for drug offenses and crimes of violence. With the assistance of law enforcement agencies throughout the metropolitan area including El Paso Police and Sheriff’s Department, Texas DPS, OIG, and TABC, El Paso Constables, Border Patrol, ICE, ATF, USDA, and USACIDC agents, teams fanned throughout the metro area in search of fugitives. Following up on leads and with the assistance of tips from the community, the task force was able to arrest 315 wanted persons and cleared 538 warrants. Subjects arrested include 95 sought for drug related offenses, 14 for sex crimes, and a number of others for weapon offenses, burglary, larceny, theft, and assaults. United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas, LaFayette Collins, stated, “We measure our task forces success one case at a time. Any time we can bring a fugitive to justice and help to make the community safer, we fulfill our mission”. These types of operations are conducted routinely throughout the year by the full time task force in addition to their daily duties tracking down the areas most dangerous fugitives. The task force, sponsored by West Texas HIDTA, brings together the U.S. Marshals Service, Border Patrol, ICE, DEA, El Paso County Sheriff’s Department, Texas Office of Inspector General, El Paso Police Department, and other agencies. Operating since 1992, the task force has cleared over 14,000 federal, state, and local fugitive warrants in the El Paso area.