FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: October 08, 2008 Matt Hershey, Deputy U.S. Marshal Public Affairs Officer (602) 920-4841   U.S. Marshals Capture San Diego Top 10 Most Wanted Sex Offender   Phoenix, AZ – The U.S. Marshals-led Child Predator Apprehension Team (CPAT) continued their sex offender enforcement efforts under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 by capturing convicted Sex Offender Ernest Dew, 36, yesterday in the area of 71st Ave and Glendale Ave. Dew had recently been named one of San Diego’s Top 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders and was wanted by the California Department of Corrections for violating the conditions of his parole, after having been convicted of Burglary. Recently, Deputy U.S. Marshals in San Diego developed information that Dew was currently residing in the Phoenix area. This information was relayed to the Phoenix-based CPAT who established surveillance on the residence. Yesterday afternoon Deputies and Task Force Officers observed Dew exit the residence at which time he was arrested without incident. Under the Adam Walsh Act that was signed into law on the 25th anniversary of Adam Walsh’s abduction and murder; the United States Marshals will have the primary authority for apprehending sex offenders who fail to register or otherwise fail to comply with the statute. The USMS is taking immediate steps to address the apprehension of fugitives like Dew. In addition, the new law creates federal standards for the registration of sex offenders and requires more stringent supervision of registered sex offenders. Furthermore, sexual predators could be charged with a federal felony if they fail to register with their local authorities. United States Marshal David Gonzales praised the work of deputies and law enforcement officers adding, “The USMS is aggressively pursuing sexual predators who fail to comply with the registry program. Our agency has been given an important task and we will continue to make these investigations a priority.” The full-time federal, state, and local agencies that comprise the Arizona WANTED include: U.S. Marshals Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Arizona Department of Public Safety; Maricopa County Adult Probation Office; Mesa Police Department; Surprise Police Department; Phoenix Police Department; and several part-time state and local law enforcement agencies. The Child Predator Apprehension Team is a dedicated unit of the US Marshals led-Arizona WANTED Fugitive Task Force which specializes in capturing offenders who commit crimes against children and those who fail to register as required by law. The Arizona WANTED task force has elements in Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma and Flagstaff. The U.S. Marshals Service is the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency. Annually, U.S. Marshals arrest more than 50 percent of all federal fugitives and serve more federal warrants than all other federal agencies combined. For more information on other USMS Top 15 fugitives and USMS Major Cases, go to www.usmarshals.gov.