For Immediate Release

New Orleans, LA – The U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force (GCRFTF), working in conjunction with investigators from the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force (FRFTF) in Pensacola, FL arrested a man wanted by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, for Kidnapping/False Imprisonment and Felony Battery related to a domestic violence charge. William Andrew Pugliesi, 44, aka ‘Andy Rose’ was arrested at about 11:30 a.m. this morning by the U.S. Marshals GCRFTF in a vehicle with another unidentified man on the 600 Block of Constantinople Street in New Orleans.  According to reports from the Sheriff’s Office, on June 29, 2006 in Ft. Walton Beach, FL, Pugliesi severely beat a woman who was his fiancé at the time. The reports also state that she was beaten unconsciousness and held for several hours inside her residence so she couldn’t leave.

Task Force investigators from the FRFTF have been working this case following leads around the state of Florida over the past several years. During their investigation rumors of Pugliesi being in New Orleans would surface from time to time but none were substantiated. Recently however, they caught the break they were looking for and called the Task Force in New Orleans last week to ask for help.

“We have a great working relationship with the team in New Orleans,” said Deputy U.S. Marshal Dominic Guadagnoli spokesperson for the Task Force in Pensacola. “They quickly jumped on the lead and worked on it diligently until they apprehended Pugliesi.”

Pugliesi is in the Orleans Parish Prison in New Orleans awaiting his extradition back to Florida.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.