Los Angeles, CA – Following a five-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. Led by the U.S. Marshals, Operation FALCON 2009 netted 1,005 arrests within the Central District of California in June.

Operation FALCON – Los Angeles 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 30-day operation, Deputy U.S. Marshals, teamed with federal, state and local law enforcement partners, arrested 1,005 fugitives, including 31 for homicide, 122 sex offenders, 221 gang members, seizing 74 weapons, and clearing 1,369 warrants.

Shawn Eric Rodriguez was a fugitive wanted by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for parole violation and the Chino Police Department for eight counts of armed robbery. Rodriguez is a documented member of the Cherrieville street gang and uses the street moniker of “Criminal”. On June 7, Operation Falcon members developed information that Rodriguez was at a residence in Upland. Operation Falcon members arrested Rodriguez after a brief stand off.

“The goal of Operation FALCON is simple – to make communities safer,” said John F. Clark, Director of the U.S. Marshals Service. “Each time we wrap up a FALCON operation in any location, there are less dangerous individuals – and fewer threats to the community – than before we arrived there. That is very gratifying.”

Operation FALCON – Los Angeles consisted of approximately 21 federal, state and local law enforcement officers, making up six separate arrest teams working throughout the operation. 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 empowers them to cross traditional lines of jurisdiction to track down and arrest targeted fugitives throughout the operation.

“Operation FALCON 2009 brought a record number of fugitives to justice during the month long fugitive sweep in the Central District of California. It is yet another example of what can be accomplished with cooperation between, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies,” said U.S. Marshal Adam Torres.

Agencies contributing to Operation FALCON –Los Angeles were the Anaheim Police Department, Barstow Police department, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Department of Justice, Department of State, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Maywood Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angles District Attorney’s Office, Los Angeles Sheriffs Department, Orange County Sheriffs Department, Riverside Sheriffs Department, Riverside District Attorneys Office, San Bernardino Police Department, San Bernardino Sheriffs Department, San Bernardino District Attorneys Office, San Bernardino Probation Department, United States Secret Service and the Westminster Police Department.

Since its inception in 2005, Operation FALCON has made 91,086 arrests and cleared 117,874 warrants. It continues to be the largest and most successful fugitive apprehension effort in U.S. Marshals history.

For more information on Operation FALCON 2009, please visit www.usmarshals.gov/falcon09/index.html.

###

America’s Oldest Federal Law Enforcement Agency
www.usmarshals.gov