Probation roundup nabs 60 this week
47 similar busts made recently

By Thomasi McDonald - Staff Writer
Published: Sat, Apr. 04, 2009 02:00AMModified Sat, Apr. 04, 2009 05:21AM

RALEIGH -- Federal marshals and local police rounded up 60 probation violators this week in an intensive operation aimed at finding people who had eluded authorities.

The effort was the culmination of a fugitive roundup in the Raleigh area that started in early February, the U.S. Marshal's Service said.

Altogether, authorities made 107 arrests since the start of the operation, it said. Officers also recovered three firearms, ammunition and counterfeit drugs.

Brian Konig, a deputy marshal, said Friday that the operation, dubbed "March Madness," began at the behest of two Wake County probation officers assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Fugitive Task Force. Konig said the operation was not a response to increased scrutiny of the state probation system over the last year.

"We routinely do roundups for all our agencies," Konig said. "It just happened to be probation's turn."

A News & Observer series highlighted a probation system that has lost track of thousands of convicted criminals and leaders who had missed chances to improve outdated technology and fill vacancies that add to officers' workloads. The series led to an overhaul of the state probation system. Alvin W. Keller, a retired Marine colonel, replaced Theodis Beck as correction secretary, and Robert Lee Guy, head of the probation system, resigned.

Konig said the two Wake County probation officers gathered the names of about 950 probation absconders and violators and began compiling information on their possible whereabouts. Over the several weeks, 47 were found and arrested, and two were found to be incarcerated in other facilities.

The operation culminated with a four-day roundup that began Monday morning, Konig said. By Thursday afternoon, the multi-agency task force had found 60 more probation absconders, he said.

The arrests included: Anthony Rashon Deans, wanted for armed robbery and absconding from probation in Wilson County; Roy Frieson, probation violator found with a shotgun, 9mm pistol, counterfeit narcotics, and assorted drug paraphernalia; Linwood Davis, who police say is a gang member and who is wanted for trafficking in narcotics; and Cesar Riano, who had probation violations for fleeing to elude arrest and DWI and now faces a review of his immigration status.

Wake County's top officers were pleased with the operation. "Some of those who do not abide by the lawful conditions of their probation or parole continue to commit crimes," said Raleigh Police Chief Harry P. Dolan in a statement. The roundup cuts "likelihood that members of this community will become crime victims."

thomasi.mcdonald@newsobserver.com or 919-829-4533

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