Operation Violence Reduction Nets 33 Arrests on Maui

A total of 33 people were arrested on Maui as part of an initiative to reduce violent crime.  The arrests were part of a larger nationwide operation led by the US Marshals Task Force in cooperation with county police departments and other state agencies.

Operation Violence Reduction 12 began on Monday Feb. 1, 2016 and was conducted over a six week period, simultaneously nationwide in all 94 federal judicial districts which include all 50 states and 3 US Territories.

The six-week operation resulted in the arrest of 162 fugitives (breakdown included below), the execution of 258 outstanding state arrest warrants, and generated a total bail amount of $6,846,098 for all warrants executed. In addition various user amounts of narcotics were recovered and seized during arrest operations. All seized narcotics were turned over to the respective police departments for further investigation and prosecution of new charges.

Statistical Breakdown per Island:

Maui

Total Arrested: 33
Total Warrants Executed: 73
Total Bail from Executed Warrants: $3,679,900
Of the 33 Arrested, Total Past Arrests: 434 (average of 13 prior arrests per person)

Oahu
Total Arrested: 103
Total Warrants Executed: 152
Total Bail from Executed Warrants: $3,047,073
Of the 103 Arrested, Total Past Arrests: 2,805 (average of 27 prior arrests per person)

Big Island
Total Arrested: 26
Total Warrants Executed: 33
Total Bail from Executed Warrants: $119,125
Of the 26 Arrested, Total Past Arrests: 588 (average of 22 prior arrests per person)

“We stress the tremendous Lokahi in Hawaii’s Law Enforcement, which includes local, state, and federal agencies who make a difference against these career criminals who continue to offend our magnificent state.” said U.S. Marshal for the District of Hawaii Gervin Miyamoto.

This is the second consecutive year the US Marshals Service has conducted a high-impact national fugitive apprehension initiative focusing on the country’s most violent offenders. Nationwide the operation apprehended more than 8,000 fugitives.

Agencies participated in the effort included the US Marshals Task Force, Honolulu Police Department , Maui Police Department, Hawaii Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, conducted a six-week operation, called Operation Violence Reduction 12, targeting fugitives with outstanding state felony arrest warrants.

The US Marshals Task Force which included Task Force Officers from HPD, MPD, HCPD, Customs and Border Protection, Social Security Administration Office of Investigations, ICE-Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office coordinated efforts to make the biggest impact to reduce violent crimes state-wide. The focus of the operation targeted fugitives wanted for crimes of violence to include homicide, assault, robbery, firearms/explosives, sex offenses, narcotics, arson, abduction/kidnapping, crimes against children, and gang/organized crime affiliations.

The joint efforts of the U.S. Marshals, HPD, MPD, HCPD, and ATF in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Hawaii High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area showcased the importance of multi-agency operations to maximize resources and make an impact against crime in our communities. In previous missions, the Kauai Police Department was instrumental in apprehending many of its career criminals as well. “By doing so a large number of fugitives wanted for violent crimes and large amounts of narcotics were removed from the streets of Hawaii in a short amount of time making our communities safer,” said officials with the US Marshals service.

In order to have the greatest impact on violent crime, Operation VR12 focused on fugitives who had three or more prior felony arrests for crimes such as murder, attempted murder, robbery, aggravated assault, arson, abduction/kidnapping, weapon offenses, sexual assault, child molestation and narcotics. Investigators increased their focus on fugitives accused of sex crimes and on the recovery of missing children.

The U.S. Marshals Hawaii Task Force is comprised of various federal, state, and county law enforcement agencies to include the Maui Police Department, Hawaii County Police Department, Kauai Police Department, Honolulu Police Department, State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office, Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office, State of Hawaii Probation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Social Security Administration Office of Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations, and Hawaii HIDTA.

Operation Violence Reduction 12. Photo courtesy US Marshals

Operation Violence Reduction 12. Photo courtesy US Marshals

Operation Violence Reduction 12. Photo courtesy US Marshals

Operation Violence Reduction 12. Photo courtesy US Marshals

Operation Violence Reduction 12. Photo courtesy US Marshals