U.S. Marshal's Service snatches dangerous felons off the street

The U.S. Marshals Service motto “You can run but you can’t hide!” might seem corny -- until you look at the stats. Working with local police departments and other agency, the New Jersey Division of the U.S. Marshals Service’s NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force last year snatched up 3,168 fugitives -- including 80 felons wanted for murder.

An additional 169 felons were wanted on various sexual assault charges, while 405 were documented gang members.

Besides getting dangerous criminals off the street, the arrests closed 3,712 open warrants on the court dockets of local jurisdictions that would have had to rely on sheriff's officers or other agencies to pursue justice.

"Professionalism and relentlessness" are the words that James T. Plousis, the U.S. Marshal for the District of New Jersey, uses to describe the task force's work.

He also gives props to the locals: "These successes are the direct result of the collaboration between all of these agencies and the caliber of the men and women working to keep our communities safe throughout New Jersey.”

Congress established the NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force [NY/NJ RFTF] in May 2002 to target dangerous, state and local fugitives. The NY/NJ RFTF consists of more than 80 federal, state and local agencies and covers all of New Jersey, with offices in Newark, Secaucus, Trenton, Camden & Atlantic City.

Some cases from last year:
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