Latest U.S. Marshals Operation Nabs More Than 4,400 Fugitives, Including Over 100 in Kansas City

Kansas City, MO – The U.S. Marshals Service concluded its latest high-impact fugitive apprehension initiative, dubbed Operation North Star III (ONS III). The focus of this 20-city collaborative enforcement initiative resulted in 4,455 fugitive arrests. Of those arrested, 2,818 were wanted for violent offenses, to include homicide, forcible sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and firearms violations. During this 3-month enforcement effort, investigators seized 555 firearms, more than $1 million in illicit currency and 85 kilograms of illegal narcotics.

The primary jurisdictions of ONS III were Albuquerque; Baltimore; Buffalo, New York; Chicago; Cleveland; Columbus, Ohio; Detroit; Houston; Indianapolis; Jackson, Mississippi; Kansas City, Missouri; Los Angeles; Memphis, Tennessee; Milwaukee; New Orleans; New York; Oakland, California; Philadelphia; Puerto Rico; and Washington, D.C.

Investigators in Kansas City arrested over 104 subjects wanted for offenses such as homicide, assault, robbery, sexual offenses, and weapons violations as part of the operation. Ten firearms were seized from prohibited persons as well as .258kg of illegal narcotics.

“The U.S. Marshals Service is committed to assisting victims of violent crime seek justice. Through initiatives like Operation North Star III, we pursue those accused of violent crime and remove them from the streets of our community,” said U.S. Marshal Scott Seeling. “Partnerships with the community and other local law enforcement agencies are critical to our shared interest in seeking justice. I encourage law enforcement and the community to continue to strengthen our relationships to break the cycle of violence in Kansas City.”

This enforcement action marks the third ONS since July 2022. In total, US Marshals have apprehended more than 6,700 wanted fugitives, of which 900 were charged with homicide, in addition to removing more than 900 weapons associated to violent crime. The concept behind interagency law enforcement operations such as ONS evolved largely from regional and district fugitive task forces. Since the 1980s, the U.S. Marshals Service has combined their resources and expertise with local, state, and federal agencies to find and apprehend dangerous fugitives.

The U.S. Marshals Midwest Violent Fugitive Task Force-Kansas City Division, operates in conjunction with members of the Kansas City and St. Joseph Missouri Police Departments, Nodaway and Buchanan County Sheriff’s Offices, Missouri State Highway Patrol and other federal law enforcement partners. The task force objectives are to seek out and arrest fugitives charged with violent crimes, drug offenses, sex offenders and other serious felonies. It also provides direct support to law enforcement agencies in tracking down and recovering missing children. Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 67 local fugitive task forces, 8 regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.