For Immediate Release

Mansfield, OH – This morning, members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force in the Northern District of Georgia arrested Billy Farmer at a residence on 5th Street in Newnan, Georgia. Farmer was wanted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office on a June 13, 2011 indictment for failing to verify current address, a felony of the 4th degree.

In April 2008, Farmer was convicted of corruption of a minor, a felony of the 4th degree, and he was classified as a tier II sex offender and required to register every 180 days for a period of 25 years. In November 2010, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into the whereabouts of Farmer after receiving information that Farmer had left Ohio without providing the proper notification to the Sheriff’s Office, as required by law. The Richland County Division of the NOVFTF (Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force) initiated a fugitive investigation after Farmer was indicted in June 2011, and in September 2011, the NOVFTF added Farmer to their most wanted “Dangerous Dozen” list. The NOVFTF had developed information over the last few months that Farmer had fled to Georgia.

The NOVFTF had been working with the U.S. Marshals Task Force in Northern Georgia over the last few weeks. This morning, the U.S. Marshals in Georgia approached a residence on 5th Street in Newnan where Farmer was found attempting to hide in a back bedroom. Also arrested at the residence was Farmer’s brother, Keith Farmer, who had a local warrant and he also attempted to mislead the police as to Farmer’s whereabouts.

Sheriff J. Steve Sheldon was notified of the arrest and stated, “This is exactly why the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force is so important to us. It gives us the ability to reach outside of our jurisdiction to arrest our offenders.”

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of a known fugitive is encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at: 1-866-4-WANTED or text keyword WANTED and the tip to 847411(tip411). Tipsters may remain anonymous and cash rewards are available. The Task Force’s “Dangerous Dozen” fugitives can be viewed at http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/oh-n/fugitives/pdf/dangerous_dozen.pdf, which is updated monthly.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force - Richland County Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies: Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Ashland Municipal Probation, Ashland Police Department, Bellville Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, Butler Police Department, Crestline Police Department, Galion Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Loudonville Police Department, Mansfield Municipal Probation, Mansfield Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ontario Police Department, Plymouth Police Department, Richland County Probation, Richland County Prosecutor’s Office, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Shelby Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.

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