Milwaukee, WI – Kevin A. Carr, United States Marshal for
the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced the arrest of Francisco Martinez
this morning in Green Bay, WI.
Francisco Martinez was taken into custody this morning outside a residence in
the 1700 block of Chateau Drive in Green Bay. Martinez was convicted in Douglas
County Nebraska of First degree Sexual Assault, Use of a weapon to commit a
felony, Terroristic threats and witness tampering in 1997. While awaiting
sentencing Martinez fled and has been a fugitive for over 14 years.
Deputy Marshals received information that Martinez may be residing in the area
and were conducting surveillance in the 1700 block of Chateau this morning when
Martinez was observed outside a residence shoveling snow. With the assistance of
the Green Bay Police, Martinez was taken into custody without incident.
Martinez initially denied he was the wanted fugitive, saying his name was Israel
Chavez-Martinez, but when confronted with additional information admitted his
true identity. Martinez went on to admit he had fled Nebraska because of the
lengthy prison sentence he was facing and went to Mexico where he stayed for
approximately one year. Martinez told Deputy Marshals that he had been living in
the Green Bay area for the past 13 years under an alias.
Marshal Carr stated “This investigation is a good example of the long memory of
the U.S. Marshals, the men and women of this agency will persevere no matter how
much time has gone by.”
Martinez is being held at the Brown County Jail where he awaits extradition back
to Nebraska to face sentencing.
Additional information about the
U.S. Marshals Service can be found at
http://www.usmarshals.gov.
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