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Williamsport, PA – On Wednesday, June 15,
2011, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) arrested Jeffrey Boop – a 50-year old man
from Northumberland County – in a remote, wooded location south of Montandon,
Pennsylvania.
On April 27, 2011, the United States Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of
Pennsylvania filed criminal charges against Boop. He was charged in a one-count
Information with possession of child pornography. The information also charged
that Boop has a prior conviction in Florida relating to sexual abuse and abusive
sexual conduct involving a minor.
The charge arose out of a nationwide operation targeting individuals possessing
and trading child pornography. If convicted of the offense, Boop faces a maximum
penalty of 20 years federal imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000. The
investigation was conducted by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
On June 14, Boop was scheduled to appear before U.S. District Court Judge John
E. Jones in federal court in Williamsport for his initial appearance, and to
enter a guilty plea to the criminal Information. Boop failed to appear, and an
arrest warrant was issued based upon his non appearance.
U.S. Marshals in Williamsport initiated a fugitive investigation. It was
determined that Boop is a prior convicted felon from the state of Florida.
Campsites and river lots in and around Sunbury, Northumberland, Lewisburg,
Montandon and Milton were searched. Wooded locations in western Montour County
were also searched.
During the late evening hours of June 15, U.S. Marshals tentatively identified
and located Boop in a heavily wooded area approximately one mile south of
Montandon, between Route 405 and Route 147. Because U.S. Marshals had developed
information the fugitive may be in possession of firearms, they used the element
of surprise to make the arrest. At the location, U.S. Marshals found a generator
used for electricity. U.S. Marshals seized a rifle, a machete, several knives,
an axe, a saw, ammunition, two laptop computers, a 30-day supply of foodstuffs,
five 5-gallon water containers, and a large amount of alcohol.
Acting U.S. Marshal Martin J. Pane stated, “Cases which involve the exploitation
and abuse of children are given the highest priority. Individuals who fail to
appear for federal court proceedings show their total disregard for the criminal
justice system. They must be brought to justice.”
U.S. Marshals were assisted by several agencies that comprise its Middle
District of Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force. This included officers from the
Lycoming County Sheriff’s Office, the Union County Sheriff’s Office, and the
Northumberland County Adult Probation Office.
Additional information about the U.S. Marshals
can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.
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