U.S. Marshals Task Force Continues to Focus on Non-Compliant Sex Offender Fugitives

Cleveland, OH – During the month of January, members of the U.S. Marshals led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) concentrated their efforts in Cuyahoga County on fugitives wanted for failing to register as sex offenders.  

Over the course of three weeks, members of the task force were able to track down 7 fugitives wanted by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department for failing to register as sex offenders.  Each of those fugitives had warrants for their arrest with various underlying sexually oriented law violations, such as rape, gross sexual imposition, sexual battery, and pandering sexually oriented material to a minor. One of the fugitives arrested during this timeframe was Christopher Jarvis, 42.  In addition to being labeled a non-compliant sex offender for failing to register his address in the appropriate timeframe, he was also wanted by the Cleveland Division of Police for a new case.  The charges against him the new case were two counts of rape and one count of gross sexual imposition.  Jarvis was located and arrested at a home in Lakemoor, Illinois by members of the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force (GLRFTF).

In addition to those arrested for their active warrants, another 3 investigations were initiated into possible violations of federal sex offender registration requirements.  Those cases will be reviewed and investigated by members of the NOVFTF. 

The NOVFTF will continue to focus on fugitives wanted for sexually oriented crimes as well as those who fail to register their address as they are required to do by law.  To support this mission, the NOVFTF will begin featuring these fugitives in media releases on the first Wednesday of every month.  Fugitives, their current crimes, underlying offenses, and photos will be provided to the media and the public in anticipation that the public will be able to provide tips into the fugitive’s whereabouts.  As with all fugitive cases, reward money is available for information directly leading to the arrest of these fugitives.  

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “Past, present, and future cooperation with our state and local partners is what makes our communities safer, especially from fugitives who are also predators that prey on some of the most vulnerable victims in our community, our children.

Our task force will continue to focus our efforts on unregistered sex offenders as well as anyone wanted for sex offenses anywhere in northern Ohio.”

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 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 – Cleveland Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies:  U.S. Marshals Service, Cleveland Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department, Euclid Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Independence Police Department, Parma Police Department, Aurora Police Department, Solon Police Department, Cleveland RTA Police Department, Westlake Police Department, Bedford Police Department, Middleburg Heights Police Department, Newburgh Heights Police Department and the Metrohealth Police Department.