U.S. Marshals Violence Reduction Operation Captures More Than 1,500 Fugitives

Attorney General (AG) Merrick Garland announced on Wednesday over 1,500 arrests of violent crime fugitives, sex offenders, and gang members in a month-long federal operation across 10 major U.S. cities. The U.S. Marshals Service conducted Operation North Star in partnership with federal law enforcement, and state and local partners.

The Marshals Service centered North Star on apprehending those associated with violent crimes, prioritizing suspects alleged to have used firearms. D.C., Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Baltimore and other municipalities with high homicide rates and gun violence were involved in the operation. AG Garland called the operation a step toward protecting communities and eradicating “the plague of gun violence.”

“Operation North Star reflects the approach we are taking across the Department to work in partnership with law enforcement agencies and communities to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the greatest violence,” said AG Garland.

With the launch of North Star in June, the Marshals Service apprehended suspects suspected of 230 homicides and 131 sexual assaults. Agents seized more than 33 kilograms of illegal narcotics, as well as 166 firearms, more than $53,600 in currency, and 166 firearms.

Supervisory Deputy (SD) U.S. Marshal Robert Clark led the initiative in Philadelphia which concluded with the arrest of 85 people.

“We all worked long, long hours over the last 30 days. These were individuals wanted for crimes of violence, and that’s why we made them a priority,” SD Clark stated. “I couldn’t be prouder of the numbers that we produced during this operation, and I couldn’t be prouder that this was done safely and that nobody got hurt. Because there is a high potential of conflict any time you go after these violent fugitives.”