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For Immediate Release |
Contact: |
| January 23, 2009 |
Southern District of West Virginia Supervisory Deputy Brad Sellers (304) 347-5136 |
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Wayne County Sheriff’s Department Strikes First |
 This
morning the United States Marshal Service CUFFED Fugitive Task Force in
conjunction with Wayne County Sheriff Greg Farley announced the success of
Operation “FIRST STRIKE.” This multi law enforcement initiative was a
versatile operation that concluded in the arrest of twenty-three individuals
that had outstanding fugitive warrants issued by the Magistrate Court of
Wayne County. The highlight of the operation was the conclusion of a four
month undercover investigation by the Wayne County Enforcement Unit (DEU)
that investigated drug activity and conducted hand to hand drug purchases of
prescription pain medication from eleven suspects in and around Ceredo and
Wayne County, WV. The Wayne County Sheriffs Department and the U.S. Marshal Service selected thirty five felony warrants for service during operation “First Strike.” Twenty-three (23) fugitives were arrested during the early morning raids and throughout the day, while twenty-seven (27) of the thirty five warrants were cleared by investigation. The fugitives were transported to the Wayne County Sheriffs Department for processing and then appeared before the Honorable Magistrate Randy Wiles. The majority of the arrestees were detained and incarcerated in the Western Regional Jail. Fugitive investigations are continuing for the remaining warrants that were not served during the initial roundup. Commander Carl E. “Butch Berlin Jr, of the Wayne County DEU stated that, “the assistance provided by United States Marshal Service C.U.F.F.E.D. Task force, Ceredo Police Department, and the West Virginia State Police has made “First Strike” a huge success.” “We definitely plan to continue to participate and support the C.U.F.F.E.D. task force and with the assistance of all the agencies in Wayne County, we are and will make a difference in the drug activity in the county and surrounding areas,” Berlin said. Supervisory Deputy United States Marshal John Perrine said “The United States Marshals Service sponsors the Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division (CUFFED) Task Force that currently has active personnel from the USMS, Wayne County, Kanawha County, and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department; as well as the St Albans Police Department and the West Virginia Department of Corrections Parole Division.” There are currently twenty-one various state and local agencies that have agreements to participate and contribute to the pursuit of the Southern District of West Virginia’s combined fugitive efforts. Since 2002, the CUFFED Task Force has been responsible for the closure of over 3,900 felony warrants. |