Greeneville, TN – Following a four-year tradition of success in its national efforts, the U.S. Marshals Service locally conducted another successful Operation FALCON (Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally) from June 22 – 28. Led by the U.S. Marshal, Operation FALCON 2008 netted 380 arrests, including 26 sex offenders, and cleared 688 warrants within the Eastern District of Tennessee.

Operation FALCON in Greeneville combined the collective efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies in one of the area’s largest-ever fugitive initiatives, focusing on capturing individuals wanted on felony charges including sexual predators and fugitives wanted for crimes of violence. Over the course of the seven-day operation, Deputy U.S. Marshals, teamed with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, arrested 74 fugitives in the Greeneville area.

Ronnie Britt was a fugitive wanted by the Cocke County Sheriff’s Department since November 2006 on two narcotics distribution warrants. Falcon Teams working from Greeneville arrested Britt June 25 in Newport. Inside Britt’s residence the Falcon Team found more than 14 ounces of crack cocaine, two pounds of marijuana, and a loaded shotgun.

“We are pleased that local law enforcement often looks upon operations such as FALCON as an opportunity to address fugitive apprehension issues in their communities,” said John F. Clark, Director of the U.S. Marshals Service. “In the end, when this operation is over, our local partners are the people who will continue to live and work in the communities that Operation FALCON serves. We are committed to leaving behind a safer community for all of them.”

Operation FALCON in Greeneville consisted of approximately 35 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, making up four separate arrest teams, working throughout the seven-day period. Each participating local officer was sworn in as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal immediately prior to the start of this operation. This special authority empowered them to cross traditional lines of jurisdiction to track down and arrest targeted fugitives throughout the week.

“My main goal is that all law enforcement agencies in Eastern Tennessee realize that mutual cooperation is the key to success everyday,” said U.S. Marshal Jeff Hedden. “The ongoing partnerships built by Operation FALCON are key factor to that success.”

Agencies contributing to Operation FALCON - Greeneville were the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole, the Carter County Sheriff’s Department, the Cocke County Sheriff’s Department, the Greene County Sheriff’s Department, the Hamblen County Sheriff’s Department, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, the Bristol Police Department, the Kingsport Police Department, the Morristown Police Department, the Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Since its inception in 2005, Operation FALCON has made over 46,500 arrests and cleared over 45,300 warrants. It continues to be the largest and most successful fugitive apprehension effort in U.S. Marshals history.

For more information about Operation FALCON, visit http://www.usmarshals.gov/falcon08/media.htm.

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