For Immediate Release

Virginia Beach, VA – Earlier today, information developed in collaboration between the U.S. Marshals’ Regional Fugitive Task Force along with members of the DEA, Virginia State Police’s Eastern Shore Drug Task Force and the Virginia Beach Police Department, led to the safe capture of fugitive Johnathan Manwell Johnson. The fugitive was located and arrested following an approximate 30 minute standoff with the posse of Marshals. The arrest occurred at a residence in the area of Ferrell Parkway and Pleasant Valley Road.

Johnson was wanted for 53 counts of drug distribution and 1 count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a Drug trafficking crime. In addition to federal charges, Johnson was also wanted by the New Jersey State Police for weapons trafficking. He had been on the run from the law for more than 18 months. Following his apprehension, Johnson was transported by Deputy U.S. Marshals to the U.S. District Courthouse, in Norfolk.

Annually, investigations carried out by the U.S. Marshals result in the apprehension of approximately 34,000 federal fugitives. More federal fugitives are arrested by U.S. Marshals than all other federal law enforcement agencies combined.

The U.S. Marshals led Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, is a team comprised of law enforcement officers from multiple federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The task force objective is to seek out and arrest the “worst of the worst.” For more than 200 years United States Marshals have helped organized such posses to round up fugitives sought by law enforcement officials. In the 21st century these units are called "fugitive task forces

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

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America’s Oldest Federal Law Enforcement Agency