News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2007
SA Sarah Pullen
213-621-6827

“Operation Slamdunk” Nets Over 140 Fugitives

FEB 14 -- (Las Vegas, Nevada) Operation SLAMDUNK, which took place from February 5th through February 9th, was a collaborative effort led by the U.S. Marshals Service in partnership with the DEA, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, North Las Vegas Police Department, Boulder City Police Department, Henderson Police Department, Nevada Department of Public Safety Division of Parole and Probation, Nevada Department of Corrections, A.T.F., and the U.S. Secret Service. Over the course of one week, DEA agents assisted Deputy U.S. Marshals and their law enforcement partners in arresting over 140 fugitives; seized 6 guns; various types of drugs; and over $5,000 dollars. There are also numerous indictments forthcoming from the investigative efforts developed during Operation SLAMDUNK.

This one week combined fugitive round up was targeted at removing any fugitive with an outstanding felony warrant from the streets of the Las Vegas valley in an effort to curb crime and increase public safety as the community prepared to host the NBA All Star game and related events.

“This operation was cooperative law enforcement at its best,” stated Michael P. Flanagan, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge.

United States Marshal Gary Orton praised the efforts of the participating agencies stating, “The Marshals share this accomplishment with our federal, state, and local agencies that dedicated more than 50 officers to assist us in this one week apprehension effort.”

Fugitives whose cases were adopted by Operation SLAMDUNK were mainly wanted by state and local agencies in the Las Vegas area. Operation SLAMDUNK focused on fugitives with any outstanding felony warrant with an emphasis on those wanted for drug-related violent crime. However, all types of fugitives were arrested during the sweep. It is a small percentage of individuals that commit the majority of the crimes and many of the individuals targeted during Operation SLAMDUNK were wanted on multiple charges. It is estimated that these approximately 140 fugitives were wanted for over 500 felony warrants.

Fugitive James Jones wanted for multiple warrants that included Theft, Burglary, Forgery and Selling False Identification was apprehended by law enforcement personnel assigned to Operation Slam Dunk at a residence near Fort Apache and Russell on February 8, 2007. Jones who refused to open the door left officers with no other option than to break the door down to gain access to the residence. At the time of the arrest, a methamphetamine lab was discovered and Jones was in possession of a rifle. Also located at the residence was Mathew Goodner an ex-felon who was arrested for being in possession of a handgun.

Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Fidencio Rivera noted, “As has been the case in previous efforts, this initiative demonstrated a direct link between drug use and various crimes to include burglary, robbery, various fraud offenses, etc. The methamphetamine lab was discovered while serving an arrest warrant for burglary. Two firearms were removed from that apartment in addition to various stolen items from Wal-Mart that were being sold on E Bay. Two other subjects with outstanding burglary warrants were arrested at the same apartment.”

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