For the second
consecutive year, the U.S. Marshals Service has conducted a high-impact
national fugitive apprehension initiative focusing on the country’s most
violent offenders.
This six-week
initiative, called Operation Violence Reduction12 (Operation VR12), resulted
in the arrest of 68 fugitives, gang members, sex offenders and violent
criminals in Northwest Indiana.
The service applied
a focused approach to locate and apprehend the nation’s most dangerous
fugitives. By removing these violent offenders from the streets, the
communities they preyed upon can immediately feel more secure.” said U.S.
Marshals Service Deputy Director David Harlow. “Operation VR12 was about
using our expertise and law enforcement partnerships to significantly impact
our communities by focusing on the worst of the worst violent criminals.”
While Operation
VR12 was conducted nationwide in all 94 federal judicial districts, U.S.
Marshals focused special attention on 12 selected locations, designated as
priority cities by the U.S. Department of Justice: Baltimore, Maryland;
Brooklyn, New York; Camden, New Jersey; Chicago, Illinois; Compton,
California; Fresno, California; Gary, Indiana; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; New
Orleans, Louisiana; Oakland, California; Savannah, Georgia; and Washington,
D.C.
In Northwest
Indiana, of the 68 fugitives that were arrested, four were arrested on
homicide charges while ten of those arrested had documented gang
affiliations. In addition, 16 fugitives were arrested on sex related
charges.
“The results of
this operation show the continued cooperation and dedication among our
federal, state and local law enforcement partners, “said Acting U.S. Marshal
Todd Nukes, Northern District of Indiana. “The pursuit of these violent
offenders will continue in Northern Indiana as we advance our efforts to
improve public safety by reducing violent crime.”
In order to have
the greatest impact on violent crime, Operation VR12 focused on fugitives
who had three or more prior felony arrests for crimes such as murder,
attempted murder, robbery, aggravated assault, arson, abduction/kidnapping,
weapon offenses, sexual assault, child molestation and narcotics. Operation
VR12 investigators increased their focus on fugitives accused of sex crimes
and on the recovery of missing children.
Between February 1
and March 11, the U.S. Marshals Service used its multi-jurisdictional
investigative authority and fugitive task force network to arrest 648 gang
members and others wanted on charges including 559 for homicide; and 946 for
sexual offenses. In addition, investigators seized 463 firearms, $390,360 in
currency, and more than 71 kilograms of illegal narcotics. Also during the
operation, investigators recovered 17 children who had been abducted and
reported missing.
One of the more
notable arrests that took place during Operation VR12 includes the arrest of
fugitive Jerri Woods. Woods was arrested on February 29, 2016, in Dallas,
Texas, during Operation VR12 by members of the U.S. Marshals North Texas
Fugitive Task Force (NTFTF). She was wanted by the Hobart (IN) Police
Department (HPD) for two counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping and two
counts of murder in perpetration of kidnapping. Charges allege that Woods
and six other co-defendants were in a neighborhood feud with the two
victims, ages 16 and 18.
“The success of
Operation VR12 is the result of outstanding cooperation amongst law
enforcement throughout Northern Indiana, “said Chief Inspector Jason
Grunwald, Commander of the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task
Force.