Operation North Star: U.S. Marshals Capture Over 800 Fugitives in Ten Cities

The U.S. Marshals Service has captured 833 fugitives in ten cities as part of Operation North Star II (ONS II), a high-impact fugitive apprehension initiative.

The 30-day operation was focused on cities with a high number of homicides and shootings.

The fugitives included violent criminals, sex offenders, and self-identified gang members in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Buffalo, New York; Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Jackson, Mississippi; Kansas City, Missouri; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Oakland, California; and Puerto Rico.

“The results of this operation should make clear that the Justice Department and our partners across the country will stop at nothing to find and bring to justice those responsible for violent crime,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in a press release from the Justice Department. “The U.S. Marshals Service, and the entire Justice Department, will continue to work in partnership with community leaders and law enforcement professionals nationwide to protect our communities.”

In addition to the arrests, the Marshals Service also seized 181 firearms, more than $229,000 in currency, and more than 160 kilograms of illegal narcotics.

“The U.S. Marshals Service remains steadfast in its commitment to assisting law enforcement and community leaders at all levels to combat violent crime,” said Director Ronald Davis of the U.S. Marshals Service. “The success of ONS II is based on its laser focus on the most significant drivers of violence. We are confident that apprehending these offenders will bring a level of justice to their victims and contribute to the overall violence reduction efforts in each city and hopefully bring a level of justice to their victims.”

The Justice Department listed some of the notable arrests, including Gregory Kalvitz and Jessica Downing, who were arrested on Jan. 20 in Cleveland by members of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force. They were wanted in Henry County, Ohio, for interference of a custody warrant after taking an 8-year-old girl and fleeing.

“Jermaine Westbrook was arrested on Jan. 26 in Parkersburg, West Virginia, by personnel from the U.S. Marshals Service Southern District of West Virginia, with assistance from members of the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team,” the department said. “Westbrook was wanted in Franklin County, Ohio, for felony assault, murder, and parole violation.”

Another notable arrest was “Antonio Jenkins was arrested on Jan. 13 in West Allis, Wisconsin, by members of the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. Jenkins was wanted in Milwaukee for numerous charges including first-degree reckless endangering safety, felon in possession of a firearm, battery, and sale/possess/use/transport of a machine gun.”

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