Greensboro, NC – 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 541 arrests within the Middle District of North Carolina from June 1 - 30.

Operation FALCON – Greensboro 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 thirty-day operation, Deputy U.S. Marshals, teamed with state and local law enforcement partners, arrested 541 fugitives, including 14 sex offenders, 17 gang members and cleared 1,045 warrants in the Middle District of North Carolina.

Christopher Ezekiel was a fugitive wanted by High Point Police Department as well as Guilford and Davidson County Sheriff’s Offices. Ezekiel had outstanding warrants for charges ranging from distribution of cocaine to armed robbery. Ezekiel was arrested on June 16 by U. S. Marshals along with High Point Police Department officers working with the task force. High Point Police charged three additional suspects arrested at the scene on drug charges. Suspected ecstasy, cocaine and marijuana as well as a sum of U. S. currency were also seized during the arrest. Ezekiel has an extensive criminal history for violent crimes and is a suspected gang member.

“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 – Greensboro consisted of approximately 128 federal, state and local law enforcement officers working throughout the 30-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 empowers them to cross traditional lines of jurisdiction to track down and arrest targeted fugitives throughout the operation.

Agencies contributing to Operation FALCON – Greensboro included N.C. State Highway Patrol, N.C. Probation and Parole, N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement, Durham County Sheriff’s Office, Durham Police Department, Chapel Hill Police Department, Hillsborough Police Department, Carrboro Police Department, Alamance County Sheriff’s Office, Winston-Salem Police Department, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, High Point Police Department, Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, Lexington Police Department, Guilford County Sheriff’s Office and Greensboro 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. 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.

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