For Immediate Release

Tucson, AZ –  The U.S. Marshals Service in Tucson, AZ arrested Jim Ovecka (49) and Michelle Chapman (54). They were being sought on Felony Theft charges originating in Nueces County, Texas. Ovecka and Chapman were operating the Two George's Seafood Restaurant in Corpus Christi. It is alleged that, in September, 2011 customers of Two George's Restaurant began to discover fraudulent charges on their credit cards that totaled well in excess of $100,000 after they had eaten at the restaurant. This case generated a large amount of local media attention and the couple fled the area following the airing of the story. The Gulf Coast Violent Offender and Fugitive Task Force (GCVOFTF) were asked to assist with the apprehension of the pair. Information was developed that Ovecka and Chapman had relocated to the Tucson, Arizona area. Following coordination between the Southern District of Texas and the District of Arizona, Chapman and Ovecka were arrested in the 4500 block of Mission Rd. in Tucson. They were taken to the Pima County Jail where they await extradition back to Nueces County in lieu of $200,000 bond.

The Gulf Coast Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force is a team comprised of law enforcement officers from the U.S. Marshals, Corpus Christi Police Department, Nueces and Victoria Counties Sheriff’s Departments, and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Office of Inspector General. The task force objective is to seek out and arrest violent criminals, gang members, and sex offenders. U.S. Marshals-led district task forces arrested 86,704 state and local fugitives in FY 2012, clearing approximately 114,311 state and local felony warrants.

Anonymous tips can be made by texting 411TIPS (847411) keyword GULFCOAST or by going to www.usmarshals.gov/district/tx-s/index.html.

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

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