Suspect Wanted for 2016 Manslaughter on Lake Erie Arrested by USMS in Miami

Miami, FL – In the early morning hours of January 14, 2024, members of the United States Marshals Service took Alen Gorishti, 33, into custody.  Gorishti was wanted by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) in Ohio for a boating incident that resulted in the death of a local fisherman.  

On November 6, 2016, a motor vessel operated by Alen Gorishti collided with another boat that was anchored approximately 2 miles off the coast of Fairport Harbor, Ohio.  Two men were aboard the second boat at the time of the collision, the impact sent both men into the waters of Lake Erie.  The survivor was recovered on sight by USCG Station in Fairport Harbor, while the other male remained missing. The search for the missing male was suspended the following day and his body was later located and recovered on January 14, 2017.  

After extensive research by the Cuyahoga and Ashtabula County Coroner’s Office the remains recovered were positively identified as Roger R. Burton, the missing boater from the November 6 collision. The U.S. Coast Guard subsequently charged Alen Gorishti on November 3, 2021, with seaman’s manslaughter and false statements in federal court in the Northern District of Ohio.  
Members of the U.S. Marshals Service eventually located Gorishti living in Canada and found that he had recently traveled to Columbia.  During Gorishti’s return flight from Columbia he stopped in Miami, Florida and was arrested there by members of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

Gorishti will remain in southern Florida until he can be extradited back to northern Ohio to face the charges against him.   

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “Outstanding cooperation between the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Marshals Service and law enforcement in Canada and Columbia resulted in the long-awaited arrest of this suspect.  Law enforcement hopes this arrest brings some justice to the victim’s family.”

Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can submit a web tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous.  Follow the U.S. Marshals on Twitter @USMSCleveland.  

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force – Cleveland Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies:  U.S. Marshals Service, Cleveland Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department, Euclid Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Independence Police Department, Parma Police Department, Aurora Police Department, Solon Police Department, Cleveland RTA Police Department, Westlake Police Department, Bedford Police Department, Middleburg Heights Police Department, Newburgh Heights Police Department and the Metrohealth Police Department.