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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