STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL ALBERTO R. GONZALES ON THE
RESIGNATION OF DIRECTOR BENIGNO G. REYNA OF
THE U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales today issued the following statement on the resignation of Director Benigno G. Reyna of the U.S. Marshals Service:

“Benigno Reyna has served as Director of the U.S. Marshals Service with integrity and skill. As a law enforcement officer with more than 29 years of experience, he has shown steadfast leadership in directing the Service in the months and years following the September 11th attacks, as well during its work with state and local law enforcement in Operation Falcon, which resulted in the arrests of more than 10,000 fugitives. I am grateful for his service and wish him every success in his future endeavors.”

Reyna was nominated by President Bush to serve as Director of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) on September 12, 2001, and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 29, 2001. During his tenure, Mr. Reyna oversaw the reorganization of the USMS headquarters-which has improved the agency’s ability to carry out its protective missions; improved the agency’s information technology infrastructure; and streamlined the agency’s resource allocation process, achieving a record level of employment. Under Mr. Reyna’s direction, the USMS has expanded both national and international law enforcement cooperative efforts and assisted state and local law enforcement to achieve a significant increase in the apprehension of violent fugitives.

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