U.S. Marshals Capture Violent Fugitive

Atlanta, GA – The United States Marshals Service, along with the DeKalb County Police Department and the DeKalb County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Unit, have captured Leonard Campbell, a violent fugitive with an extensive criminal history. Campbell was arrested on an outstanding warrant for conspiracy to produce and distribute both fentanyl and methamphetamine. His apprehension was part of Operation Sweet Silence, a Homeland Security Task Force case targeting U.S.-based criminals with ties to foreign terrorist organizations. Campbell is being prosecuted out the Middle District of Georgia.

Utilizing a series of investigative techniques, law enforcement officials located Campbell at an address in DeKalb County, Georgia. On the morning of April 16th, 2026, the U.S. Marshals knocked on Campbell’s door and announced their presence. Campbell refused to open the door. After numerous verbal attempts to gain entry, the U.S. Marshals breached the door. At that point, Campbell responded to the Marshals and was taken into custody without force.

After Campbell was apprehended, a search warrant for the address was secured. During the subsequent search, investigators found a loaded Glock 19x and an AR-style pistol with a loaded magazine. They also discovered 5.6lbs of suspected Marijuana, 37 grams of a substance suspected to be Cocaine/Fentanyl, and a significant amount of cash.

“The brave men and women of the US Marshals Service continue to assist our local, county, state and federal law enforcement partners apprehend violent drug and weapons offenders. In this case, working with the DEA, the US Attorney, and the Dekalb County Police Department to remove this dangerous felon from our community was a priority for the USMS Northern District of Georgia.”  — Steve Serrao, United States Marshal (A) for the Northern District of Georgia.

The U.S. Marshals Service is the primary federal agency charged with conducting fugitive investigations throughout the country. The U.S. Marshals Service regularly works in concert with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to seek out and arrest violent fugitives and sex offenders. The U.S. Marshals Service has established task forces throughout the nation and professional relationships worldwide to facilitate the apprehension of fugitives. The U.S. Marshals Office of Public Affairs can be reached at (703) 740-1699. The U.S. Marshals for the Northern District of Georgia can be reached at (404) 464-4300.

This arrest is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. The HSTF is a United States government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, transnational gangs, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) worldwide. This initiative identifies TCOs engaged in a wide range of criminal schemes that violate federal law, while dismantling cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks that fuel violence and instability that threatens the safety and security of the United States and its global partners. It also places a particular emphasis on criminal offenses involving children and ensures the use of all available law enforcement tools to prosecute offenders and/or facilitate the removal of criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta HSTF is comprised of agents and officers from the ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies. The case’s prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.