U.S. Marshals Local Operation Nets 117 Arrests of Violent Felons in Support of Operation Take Back America
Boston, MA – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Fugitive Task Force arrested 117 fugitives for charges including homicide, robbery, sex offenses, felonious assault, felonious narcotics, and firearms violations. In support of Operation Take Back America, the USMS worked in collaboration with federal, state, and local partners with its latest high-impact fugitive apprehension initiative.
The local operation dubbed, “Operation Spring Cleaning,” covered 45 operational days from March 31 to May 30, and targeted fugitives and violent offenders in 9 metropolitan areas in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Brockton, Holyoke, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Springfield, and Worcester. During the operation, investigators also seized 9 firearms, 544 rounds of ammunition and 188 grams of narcotics. The 9 Metropolitan areas selected for the operation were high crime areas identified by the federal initiative Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) which was initially launched in 2001. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a comprehensive, collaborative, and data-driven initiative by the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at reducing violent crime, particularly gun violence, in American communities. PSN focuses on fostering partnerships between law enforcement, community organizations, and other stakeholders to develop and implement strategic solutions.
The operation also aimed to target individuals with ties to Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs) and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCO). One significant arrest was an MS-13 gang member who was wanted out of Worcester Superior Court for charges of murder and carrying a loaded firearm without a license. He had a criminal history to include assaults and carrying dangerous weapons and been wanted since June 2024. He was arrested on May 30, 2025 in Pawtucket, RI by USMS MA and RI Fugitive Task Forces, Worcester PD, Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (VFAS), and Pawtucket PD.
“The success of this operation is truly a testament to the dedication to duty and the commitment to teamwork exhibited by our local, state, and federal partners,” said acting U.S. Marshal Matt Lawlor. “The USMS is committed to reducing violence in our communities by apprehending and removing violent offenders that are negatively impacting our local communities across the Commonwealth,” he added.
The U.S. Marshals Service is the federal government’s primary agency for fugitive investigations. The Marshals have the broadest arrest authority among federal law enforcement agencies. The Marshals aid state and local agencies in locating and apprehending their most violent fugitives. Formed in 1999, the District of Massachusetts Fugitive Task Force is headquartered in Boston and coordinates federal, state, county, and local resources to develop collateral leads, gather intelligence, and track and apprehend targeted fugitives. Participants include the U.S. Marshals Service District of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Police, Boston Police Department, Brockton Police Department, Cambridge Police Department, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, Haverhill Police Department, Lowell Police Department, Middlesex Sheriff’s Department, New Bedford Police Department, Plymouth County Sheriff's Department, Springfield Police Department, Worcester Police Department, West Springfield Police Department, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, Randolph Police Department, Quincy Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
Source: U.S. Marshals Service, usmarshals.gov
