Thread: C.B.P. Arrests 5 Fugitives in Virgin Islands

C.B.P. News Release

CBP Arrests 5 Fugitives in Virgin Islands

(Friday, September 19, 2008)

U.S. Virgin Islands – During the last couple of days, CBP officers in St. Thomas and St. Croix have identified and coordinated the arrest of five fugitives with arrest warrants in Florida, California, Kentucky and New Jersey.

Yesterday Customs and Border Protection officers at St. Thomas ran system checks on passenger Anthony Knueppel when departing to Atlanta. Knueppel had an outstanding arrest warrant for burglary/theft in Atlanta. CBP officers confirmed that warrant was valid and relayed information to CBP personnel in Atlanta. Plane was received by CBP; fugitive arrested and turned over to local police to complete extradition proceedings.

On September 14, Customs and Border Protection officers at the Cyril E. Airport processed passenger, Dean Dougherty, while departing St. Thomas to Florida. During system checks, CBP officers discovered that Mr. Dougherty had an outstanding arrest warrant in Florida for a parole violation. Passenger was arrested upon arrival and turned over to the sheriff’s office for final processing.

Fugitive, John C. Ellison, was arrested by Maryland Police on September 13th after system checks performed by CBP Officers at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix disclosed that Mr. Ellison had an outstanding arrest warrant in Florida for probation violation. CBP Officers provided flight information to local law enforcement personnel to ensure that fugitive was picked up upon arrival.

CBP Officers also identified fugitive, Chad Norman, departing St. Thomas to Miami on September 10. Norman had an outstanding arrest warrant in California for parole violation – possession/manufacturing dangerous drugs. CBP officers contacted originating agency in California and confirmed that arrest warrant was valid. The warrant did not include extradition from the US Virgin Islands. Nevertheless, information was relayed to CBP in Miami and passenger was met along planeside, arrested upon arrival and turned over to Miami Dade Police for extradition to California.

The fifth fugitive arrested was Jeffrey Eldon. Passenger had an outstanding arrest warrant for flagrant non support in Kentucky. CBP officers in St. Thomas relayed information to CBP officers in Miami who met the plane, arrested the fugitive and turned him over to Miami Dade Police for extradition.

These apprehensions were the direct result of CBP’s use of law enforcement intelligence systems during inspections and CBP officers’ attention to details during interviews and inspection of documents.

“These arrests are possible thanks to the diligence and perseverance of our CBP officersâ€

The people arrested were all American citizens.. The Virgin Islands are outside the main customs and border area so when I go there and come back I need to go through CBP though I am a citizen.