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For Immediate Release

 Contact:
September 29, 2010 Mark A. Gunnoe, Deputy U.S. Marshal
Public Affairs Officer (504) 589-3156
U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force Office Arrests Six Escapees from Lincoln County Mississippi
On September 29, 2010, members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, New Orleans office arrested six suspects who had escaped from the Lincoln County, MS Jail.  One of the suspects, Ahmad Butler, was facing a charge of Murder.  Justin Leake, 32, Chad Michael Wallace, 29, James Durr, 33, Austin Hart, 17, and Ahmad Butler, 22 were arrested at 3750 Westbank Expressway, Harvey, Louisiana.  Bobby Hudson, 27 was arrested at 50 Westbank Expressway, Gretna, Louisiana.  All six were wanted by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for Escape.

On September 28, 2010, during the early morning hours, the six were able to defeat the steel bars securing a third floor window of the jail.  After breaching the window they utilized bed linen to fashion a rope and descend to the ground outside of the secure jail facility.   

The six men were being housed in the Lincoln County jail on pre-trial status and their charges are as follows:  Justin S. Leake (Possession of Controlled Substance); Chad Michael Wallace (Sale of Controlled Substance and Intimidation of a Witness); James R. Durr (Grand Larceny); Austin R. Hart (Theft of a Motor Vehicle and Possession of Controlled Substance); Ahmad Butler (Murder and Sale of Controlled Substance).

On September 28, 2010, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office contacted the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force New Orleans office and requested assistance apprehending the six escapees.  The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Investigators generated information that indicated the escapees were hiding out within the New Orleans metro area.  U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force Investigators were able to further develop this information and determined that the escapees had taken refuge in two metro area hotels.  All six were arrested without incident along with a female Christy Douglas,32, (a.k.a Christy Vige) who has been charged with six counts of Accessory after the fact relative to escape.  All subjects arrested have been booked into the Jefferson Parish jail and are awaiting extradition proceedings.