U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests 40 in Southern West Virginia in Operation Shake Down

Charleston, WV — A U.S. Marshals Southern District of West Virginia CUFFED (Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division) Task Force two-week warrant operation has resulted in 40 felony arrests.

During Operation Shake Down, conducted from May 5 -16, law enforcement officers also recovered 40 grams of methamphetamine, 1 oz of fentanyl, and five firearms.

The wanted subjects had a wide range of felony warrants to include kidnapping, sexual assault, soliciting a minor via computer, possession with intent to deliver and distribute controlled substances, armed robbery, weapons offenses, child neglect causing risk of injury, burglary, and failure to register as a sex offender.

Significant arrests include:

Christopher Spaulding, 53, of Ripley, wanted out of Jackson County for possession with intent to deliver controlled substances and felon in possession of a firearm. Spaulding was also wanted in the Southern District of West Virginia on a federal supervised release violation. Spaulding’s underlying federal conviction is felon in possession of firearms.

Kirk Donovan Thomas, 36, of Charleston, wanted for failure to register as a sex offender, has been evading apprehension since 2023 from the West Virginia State Police. Thomas was also wanted on a circuit court capias warrant out of Putnam County. Since Thomas’s arrest, the West Virginia State Police has charged Thomas with additional counts of failure to register as a sex offender in Kanawha County.

Dwayne Edward White Jr., 27, of Ripley, wanted in Jackson County for delivery of methamphetamine. White has self-proclaimed gang affiliations. 

David Argueta-Marquez, 29, of Lyburn, wanted out of Harris County, Texas, for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault of a child. Argueta-Marquez was arrested in Kimper, Kentucky, by U.S. Marshals task force members. Argueta-Marquez is also under investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s and is an alleged member of the 18th Street Gang in El Salvador.

Two individuals were also federally indicted from U.S. Marshals Service investigations. 

Ronald Tinsley, 52, of Charleston, was indicted by a federal grand jury for escape. Tinsley is alleged to have escaped from Bureau of Prisons custody March 19. 

Charles Clement, 42, of Hillsboro, was indicted by a federal grand jury for violations of the Adam Walsh Act. Clement, a sex offender, is alleged to having failed to register as a sex offender after moving to the state of West Virginia and establishing residency. 

Both men are currently incarcerated.   

“I would like to thank our partner agencies across Southern West Virginia for dedicating officers to the CUFFED Task Force,” said Michael T. Baylous, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of West Virginia.  “Their commitment and dedication have allowed the CUFFED Task Force to become one of the most efficient and effective in the country at apprehending fugitives.”   

U.S. Marshals task forces combine the efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate and arrest the most dangerous fugitives. They also serve as the central point for agencies to share information on fugitive matters. Task force officers are state and local police officers who receive special deputations with the Marshals. While on a task force, these officers can exercise U.S. Marshals authorities, such as crossing jurisdictional lines.

Agencies involved in operation included:

U.S. Marshals CUFFED Task Force
U.S. Marshals Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force
West Virginia State Police
Kentucky State Police
Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office
Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office
Logan County Sheriff’s Office
Mason County Sheriff’s Office
Mingo County Sheriff’s Office
Putnam County Sheriff’s Office
Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office
Parkersburg Police Department
Saint Albans Police Department
South Charleston Police Department 

Source: U.S. Marshals Service, usmarshals.gov