FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: December 02, 2008 James Wahlrab, U.S. Marshal (937) 225-2917   Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) Receives Miami Valley Crime Stoppers Award   James M. Wahlrab, United States Marshal for the Southern District of Ohio, announces the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) has been honored by the Miami Valley Crime Stoppers with a “Special Award” for their hard work and accomplishments over the past year. The Miami Valley Crime Stoppers organization annually awards police officers, detectives, and citizens who have gone above and beyond during the performance of their duties. SOFAST is a U.S. Marshals lead fugitive task force comprised of deputies and officers from 20 local and state law enforcement agencies and covers the greater Miami Valley which includes Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, and Shelby counties. Because this newly created task force did not fit into any of the individual categories, a special award was created to recognize the significant impact that SOFAST has had in its first year. Over the past year, SOFAST has arrested 895 fugitives, clearing more than 1,191 federal and state felony warrants and 250 misdemeanor warrants. The task force is also responsible for taking more than 56 firearms off the streets and various amounts of illegal narcotics. Accepting the award on behalf of SOFAST, U.S. Marshal Wahlrab credited the success of SOFAST to the outstanding dedication and commitment of the officers and deputies serving on the strike team and the leadership of the participating agencies heads for their commitment of manpower and resources. SOFAST in the Miami Valley area is comprised of the following federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies: United States Marshals Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Agriculture, OIG, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Darke County Sheriff’s Office, Preble County Sheriff’s Office, Miami County Sheriff’s Office, Greene County Prosecutor’s Office, Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office, Dayton Police Department, German Township Police Department, Germantown Police Department, Greenville Police Department, Miamisburg Police Department, Moraine Police Department, New Lebanon Police Department, Perry Township Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Trotwood Police Department The U.S. Marshals Service is America’s first federal law enforcement agency and each year arrests more fugitives than all other federal law enforcement agencies combined. For more information about the U.S. Marshals Service, please visit www.usmarshals.gov.