MARSHALS, LOCAL COPS CAPTURE 1,100 VIOLENT SEX OFFENDERS

 

 

 

Jim Kouri, CPP
April 28, 2006
NewsWithViews.com

(The Following is based on a full report to the National Association of Chiefs of Police from the US Marshals Service and the Department of Justice.)

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and United States Marshals Service Director John Clark announced at a press conference today that a week-long nationwide fugitive roundup led by the USMS and hundreds of partners from state, local and other federal agencies led to the arrests of 9,037 individuals. Among those arrested during Operation FALCON II were 1,102 violent sexual offenders, the largest number ever captured in a single law enforcement effort.

FALCON II (Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally) was conducted in 27 states mostly west of the Mississippi River, and the territories of Guam and Northern Mariana Islands. High-priority targets for arrest were fugitives wanted for committing sexual offenses and crimes of violence against women, children and the elderly, as well as unregistered convicted sex offenders. Other priority targets were fugitive gang members and violent offenders wanted for homicide, kidnapping, robbery, burglary, carjacking, weapons offenses and major narcotics distribution. Operation FALCON II was conducted from April 17�23, 2006.

"The Justice Department is pursuing our Nation's worst fugitives," said Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. "Operation FALCON again was successful at apprehending violent offenders, sexual predators, drug dealers, and gang members who had for too long escaped the grip of justice. With these criminals off the streets, fewer Americans will live with the threat of violent crime in their communities."

The case of William Wisham is one example of what can go wrong when a community is not aware that a convicted sexual predator is in its midst. Wisham had failed to register as a sex offender when he moved to a motel in Victorville, Calif. On April 21, investigators assigned to Operation FALCON encountered Wisham at the motel during the unrelated arrest of two individuals wanted for child endangerment.

The investigators learned Wisham had violated his requirement to register as a sex offender. Furthermore, he possessed letters to children, notes explaining why he enjoys sex with children, child pornography, candy and methamphetamine. Authorities are working to find and evaluate children listed in Wisham's diary-style notes. Initial investigations indicated Wisham, using candy as a lure, violated at least one minor child.

"During each day of FALCON II we put more than 2,100 law enforcement officers on the street to arrest individuals like Wisham," said USMS Director Clark. "The only way to achieve huge arrest statistics like these is with the full and enthusiastic cooperation of agencies at every level of government. I'm deeply grateful for their efforts."

For this seven-day nationwide operation, the Marshals coordinated officers from 120 state agencies, 330 county agencies, 312 police departments, six foreign law enforcement agencies, and 24 other federal agencies.

In one of the first arrests during FALCON II, investigators apprehended Herbert Damwijk in Oahu, Hawaii. Damwijk was wanted for two counts of child rape and child molestation against eight-year-old girls. Authorities in his home state of Washington contacted FALCON II investigators in Seattle for help in finding and capturing Damwijk. Their investigators developed leads that traced the fugitive into Oregon, and later to Hawaii. On April 17, FALCON II investigators in Hawaii arrested Damwijk at his father's residence in Oahu, Hawaii. He currently awaits extradition back to Washington state.

"Thankfully, none of the officers involved in apprehending these dangerous fugitives were seriously injured," said Robert J. Finan II, the Marshals' Assistant Director for Investigations. Finan praised two federal participants that focused expertise and resources on FALCON II.

"We appreciate the strong efforts relating to drug and weapons seizures and gang violence that came from our partners in the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives."

Assistant Director Finan further recognized the efforts of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which worked closely with USMS to identify high-priority cases in which convicted sex offenders had failed to register as required by law.

Other federal agents who participated came from the Offices of Inspector General of the Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Agriculture.

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Fugitives who had fled the jurisdiction of the US law enforcement were targeted by deputy marshals and special agents of the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service. Seven arrests were made abroad, and three foreign fugitives arrested in the US will be returned to Mexico.

� 2006 Jim Kouri- All Rights Reserved