Phoenix, AZ - Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies collaborated on “Operation FALCON,” a one-week fugitive round-up June 22 – 27. Led by the U.S. Marshals, Operation FALCON netted 312 fugitives wanted on 346 warrants throughout Arizona. In addition to arresting these fugitives, 10 firearms were taken off the streets.

“We are pleased that local law enforcement often looks upon operations such as FALCON as an opportunity to address fugitive apprehension issues in their communities,” said John F. Clark, Director of the U.S. Marshals Service. “In the end, when this operation is over, our local partners are the people who will continue to live and work in the communities that Operation FALCON serves. We are committed to leaving behind a safer community for all of them.”

“One fundamental responsibility of the law enforcement community is to aggressively pursue fugitives who have victimized the citizens of its communities,” said David Gonzales, U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona. “After this week, it should be known throughout the state that law enforcement officials, on every level, are working together to bring all felons to justice.”

Intelligence gathered during FALCON showed that Michael Neeley, a known sex offender, was living in a mobile home with a male parole violator, two adult females and a 14-month-old girl. Neeley was arrested by Task Force Officers during Operation FALCON for failing to register as a sex offender.

Juan Figueroa Miranda, a registered prison gang member, was arrested for supervised release violations. While on supervised release, evidence showed that Miranda was allegedly using codeine, cocaine, and marijuana. Task Force Officers gained intelligence that Miranda was living at motel along I-10. Officers observed his vehicle in the motel parking lot and the motel manager confirmed that the fugitive was staying in one of the rooms with an adult female. Miranda was then taken into custody without incident.

During Operation FALCON, the U.S. Marshals Office in Tucson received a request for assistance from the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department regarding two South Korean Nationals wanted in the stabbing deaths of four people. These fugitives were identified as Steve Kwon and Jae Hwan Shim. The Mexican Investigative Liaison (MIL) Criminal Investigator received information and a request from Customs and Border Patrol in Douglas that both fugitives were being held in Mexico at the National Institute of Immigration. The MIL contacted the authorities in Los Angeles who stated both fugitives were wanted for a June 23 quadruple homicide in California – two adults, a 10-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl were killed. The fugitives where believed to have fled to Mexico. LASD requested USMS assistance in the location and detention of the fugitives. Mexican authorities determined neither fugitive had any legal immigration status in Mexico and at the request of the U.S. Marshals, both Kwon and Shim were expelled to the United States through the U.S. Port of Entry in Douglas. Kwon and Shim were booked into the Cochise County jail by LASD, who charged both fugitives with homicide.

On Jan. 27, 2006 a Regional Legal Attaché from the Attorney Generals Office in Mexico confirmed with the U.S. Marshals Service Mexican Liaison in Tucson that an arrest warrant was issued for the crime of homicide. Jose Libni De LA Vara-Lopez was named as the subject of the Mexican warrant. During Operation FALCON, intelligence was gathered as to the whereabouts of La Vara-Lopez, who was in the United States illegally. La Vara-Lopez was arrested without incident. He was then turned over to Mexican authorities with the support of the U.S. Border Patrol.

On June 25, Elbert Shabie, 57, was arrested on the Navajo Indian Reservation in the village of Indian Wells by Task Force Officers for violating the conditions of his parole. As Task Force Officers attempted to arrest him in a relative’s residence, he barricaded himself inside a bedroom of the home. After a short period of time, the officers were able to talk Shabie out of the house and he was arrested without any further incident.

“Operation FALCON was a successful collaborative initiative which will bring closure to many open investigations and send a message to fugitives that ‘you can run but you can’t hide.’ We are grateful to the community and all of our law enforcement partners throughout Arizona for the support in this endeavor,” said Fidencio Rivera, Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona.

Operation Falcon involved over 154 law enforcement officers from 41 contributing agencies throughout Arizona. The agencies involved in the operation were: U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture – OIG, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona Attorney Generals Office, University of Arizona Police Department, Maricopa County Sheriffs Office, Maricopa County Adult Probation, Maricopa County Attorneys Office, Mohave County Sheriffs Office, Mohave County Adult Probation, Pima County Sheriffs Department, Pima County Probation Office, Pima County Attorneys Office, Pinal County Sheriffs Office, Pinal County Probation Office, Yavapai County Sheriffs Office, Bullhead City Police Department, Chandler Police Department, Cottonwood Police Department, El Mirage Police Department, Gilbert Police Department, Glendale Police Department, Mesa Police Department, Oro Valley Police Department, Peoria Police Department, Phoenix Police Department, Prescott Police Department, Prescott Valley Police Department, Sahuarita Police Department, Scottsdale Police Department, Sedona Police Department, Surprise Police Department, Tempe Police Department, Tucson Police Department.

“The Arizona Department of Public Safety is proud to have participated in Operation FALCON through the commitment of resources and personnel from the state’s newly formed Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT), to make Arizona’s streets safer with the arrest of hundreds of dangerous felons,” said Roger Vanderpool, Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

For more information about Operation FALCON, visit http://www.usmarshals.gov/falcon08/media.htm.

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