U.S. Marshals Service Operation Targets Violent and High-Priority Fugitives in Wyoming

Cheyenne, WY - The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) District of Wyoming, working in partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, recently concluded Operation Spring Cleaning, a targeted fugitive enforcement initiative focused on locating and apprehending violent and high-priority fugitives with ties to Laramie County and surrounding communities.

The operation focused on individuals wanted for serious offenses who posed an elevated public-safety concern or whose cases had remained outstanding for an extended period.

Through coordinated investigative efforts, surveillance, information sharing, and assistance from law enforcement partners across multiple jurisdictions, the operation resulted in several arrests and the resolution of numerous outstanding fugitive investigations.

Among the results of the operation:

•    Destiny Johnson was arrested by the USMS and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Cheyenne. Johnson was wanted on an Endangering a Child charge.

•    Dominique Stanford, identified as one of Laramie County’s Top Ten Most Wanted, was arrested in Fargo, North Dakota, by the U.S. Marshals Service in coordination with Wyoming investigators. Stanford was wanted for Felony Possession of Methamphetamine.

•    Ashley Bennett, also identified among Laramie County’s Most Wanted, was located and arrested by USMS personnel in California. Bennett was wanted on multiple charges, including Child Endangering with a Controlled Substance.

•    Melissa Nau, wanted for Assault, was located after Deputy U.S. Marshals conducting surveillance in Cheyenne developed information indicating she was in the area. Investigative efforts subsequently resulted in the resolution of the warrant.

•    Ricky Sofele, wanted in connection with an Assault Leading to Serious Bodily Injury, was arrested with assistance from the USMS District of Utah. The investigation required coordination across jurisdictions after investigators developed information concerning his location outside Wyoming.

In addition to these arrests, investigators resolved several other outstanding cases after determining through investigative checks that the wanted individuals were deceased or had been deported from the United States. These efforts allowed law enforcement agencies to close long-standing cases and ensure that fugitive databases accurately reflected the status of those investigations.

“Operation Spring Cleaning demonstrates what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies come together and combine their resources, intelligence, and expertise toward a common mission,” said Michael Thomas, Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal for the District of Wyoming. “These investigations extend well beyond jurisdictional boundaries. Our responsibility is to pursue violent and dangerous fugitives wherever the investigation leads and to work alongside our partners to make Wyoming communities safer.”

The U.S. Marshals Service acknowledges the assistance of its federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in Wyoming and across the country whose cooperation contributed to the operation’s success.

Several investigations associated with Operation Spring Cleaning remain active. The U.S. Marshals Service encourages anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive to contact the 24-hour U.S. Marshals Service tip line by calling 1-877-WANTED2 (1-877-926-8332), or send tip information to usmstips@usdoj.gov.  Members of the public should never attempt to apprehend a fugitive themselves.

About the U.S. Marshals Service

The U.S. Marshals Service is the federal government’s primary agency for fugitive investigations. The agency works closely with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement partners to locate and apprehend dangerous fugitives and support public safety throughout the United States.