U.S. Marshals Assist Lake and Geauga Counties With Sex Offender Compliance

Painesville, OH – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in conjunction with the Lake and Geauga County Sheriff’s Offices conducted a sex offender compliance operation during the month of August. The operation started on August 1, 2023, and lasted through August 25, 2023. During this span, officers conducted checks on two hundred and twenty-three (223) registered sex offenders in Lake and Geauga Counties. Two hundred and nineteen (219) of the offenders were found in compliance with federal and state sex offender laws. Four offenders were not in compliance and are under investigation, and three arrests were made for criminal violations.

The primary goal of these operations is to get everyone who is required to register by law registered, and in compliance with federal and state laws. The USMS is the primary federal authority, and the County Sheriff is the primary state authority to investigate and enforce these laws. The results of this operation were extremely positive and far exceeded the statistical norms. Historically, the national average compliance rate is around eighty percent, with Lake and Geauga Counties finishing at ninety eight percent.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “Our goal is to help our local partners keep their counties safe, that starts with these checks and registration compliance. Both these counties do a great job and the numbers reflected that.”

“We have always been proud of the work our SORN (Sex Offender Registration and Notification) Office has done and for many years we have a great partnership with Marshal Elliott and his office. It is due to this diligent hard work and close relationship that we are able to keep our compliance rates well above national averages.” Stated Chief Deputy Robert Izzo of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

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 USMS 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 – Painesville Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies: U.S. Marshals Service, Eastlake Police Department, Willowick Police Department, Willoughby Police Department, Willoughby Hills Police Department, Wickliffe Police Department, Mentor Police Department, Mentor-on-the-lake Police Department, Painesville Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Geauga County Sheriff’s Department, Ashtabula Police Department, Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Middlefield Police Department, Lake County Narcotics, Conneaut Police Department, Chester Township Police Department, and Russell Township Police Department.