Birmingham, AL - Operation FALCON 2008 has
netted 260 arrests and 450 warrants cleared in the
Northern District of Alabama. FALCON, Federal And
Local Cops Organized Nationally, began on June 15,
2008, with state and local officers being sworn in
as special Deputy U.S. Marshals. That authority
empowered officers to cross traditional lines of
jurisdiction in the District to track down and
arrest targeted fugitives throughout the week that
ended June 21st.
“The combined resources among federal, state and
local officers along with intelligence gathering,
proper planning, information sharing, and multiple
manpower hours work were key to the success of
FALCON 2008,” stated C. Martin Keely, U.S. Marshal,
Northern District of Alabama.
“A seven day operation with 260 arrested for serious
and violent crimes makes the Northern District of
Alabama a safer place. In other words, the predators
who prey upon the most vulnerable in society became
the prey of Operation FALCON,” said Marshal Keely.
The cooperative efforts included arrests in157
narcotics cases, 35 burglary cases, 16 robbery
cases, 2 vehicle theft cases, 18 financial fraud
cases, 11 sexual offense cases, 8 assault cases, 2
homicide cases, and 4 weapon violation cases. The
bulk of these cases will be prosecuted locally in
state court in the county where the arrest occurred,
although some cases may be prosecuted using federal
statutes. The other subjects arrested were wanted
for criminal offenses in other districts, and will
be extradited from this district to the district
where criminal charges are pending. Almost all of
the thirty-one counties in the Northern District of
Alabama had an arrest associated with Operation
FALCON.
“Operation FALCON pools resources and brings law
enforcement together for a common goal - to rid our
communities of wanted criminals,” stated Alice H.
Martin United States Attorney, Northern District
Alabama. “Two hundred and sixty arrests in one week
is a message from law enforcement to those who use
illegal drugs, steal, assault others or who fail to
register as sex offenders that you need to look over
your shoulder because the law isn’t far behind.”
Two individuals were apprehended in other states
based on information developed in the Northern
District of Alabama for failing to register as sex
offenders. Those arrested include: Charles Steagall,
37, who was arrested in Pensacola, Florida, and
Tracy Craven, 46, who was arrested in Council
Bluffs, Iowa. Both individuals had pending warrants
from Calhoun County, Alabama, for failing to
register as sex offenders. Both cases are being
prosecuted locally in Calhoun County.
Law Enforcement participation includes: The United
States Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol
Tobacco Firearms and Explosives; The Drug
Enforcement Administration; U.S. Postal Inspection
Service; U.S. Secret Service; Social Security Office
of Inspector General; Immigration and Customs
Enforcement; Probation and Parole; Sheriffs Offices
for Calhoun, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Shelby,
Talladega and Tuscaloosa Counties; Drug Task Force
Offices for Calhoun-Cleburne, and Talladega
Counties; Police Departments of Alabaster, Anderson,
Anniston, Birmingham, Childersburg, Florence,
Hoover, Hueytown, Huntsville, Lincoln, Rogersville,
St. Florian, Sylacauga, Talladega and Tuscaloosa;
and the Alabama Air National Guard.
For more information on Operation FALCON, visit
http://www.usmarshals.gov/falcon08/media.htm
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