More than 3,400 Fugitives Arrested in Latest USMS Operation
The Department of Justice (DOJ) says thousands of dangerous fugitives were arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), in the latest phase of Operation North Star (ONS).
In this phase, dubbed Operation North Star Fiscal Year 2024 (ONS FY24), 3,421 violent fugitives were arrested from May 10 through September 13, 2024.
216 of the fugitives were wanted for homicide, 803 for assault, and 482 for weapons offenses. USMS also seized more than $508,000 in cash, 534 firearms, 456 kilograms in illegal narcotics, and over 550,000 fentanyl pills.
“I am deeply grateful to every Deputy U.S. Marshal, Task Force Officer, investigator, and police officer who carried out these arrests, and who did so at great risk to themselves,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Ten Metro Areas in Focus
The operation targeted fugitives in ten metro areas that were selected using data from the National Crime Information Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Uniform Crime Report.
The areas were Dallas-Fort Worth, TX; Charleston and North Charleston, SC; Baton Rouge, LA; Little Rock, AR; Phoenix, AZ, Birmingham, AL; Winston-Salem, NC; Dayton, OH; San Antonio, TX, and St. Louis-East St. Louis, MO-IL.
In each area, USMS received help and cooperation from other federal law enforcement as well as state and local police.
"Over the past year, the Marshals Service conducted Operation North Star in ten cities across the country experiencing high levels of gun violence," said USMS Director Ronald L. Davis. “The success of this operation is the result of the outstanding combined efforts of our Deputies and Task Force Officers, along with strong collaboration with the community and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners.”
Operation North Star was initiated in July 2022 in a total of 30 locations. Overall, the operation has resulted in the arrest of more than 10,200 wanted fugitives, and the removal or more than 1,425 weapons associated with violent crimes.
For the operation, USMS used a data-driven, evidence-based approach to hunt down and apprehend the fugitives.
