Operation North Star III (ONS III), the U.S. Marshals Service’s latest high-impact fugitive apprehension initiative, has led to a significant number of arrests in 20 cities over three months. The operation resulted in the apprehension of 4,455 fugitives, with 2,818 of them wanted for violent offenses such as homicide, forcible sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and firearms violations. Law enforcement officers also seized 555 firearms, over $1 million in illicit currency, and 85 kilograms of illegal narcotics.
The primary jurisdictions targeted in Operation North Star III were Albuquerque, Baltimore, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Jackson, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Memphis, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York, Oakland, Philadelphia, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. In Puerto Rico alone, 105 fugitives were apprehended, including individuals from the Puerto Rico Police Department’s 10 Most Wanted list and the U.S. Marshals’ 10 Most Wanted list, as well as seven fugitive sexual offenders.
Several notable arrests were made during the operation. Heidy Marmolejo-Garcia was arrested for her involvement in the homicide of her ex-boyfriend. Martin V. Vazquez, wanted for aggravated assault and sexual assault of a minor since 1993, was apprehended with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals. Osward Oliveras-Cardona, a prime suspect in several homicides, was located and arrested after opening fire on municipal officers. Santiago Apolinar-Rondon, wanted for the homicide of two brothers, was also successfully apprehended. Furthermore, Michael Reyes-Vázquez, the leader of a criminal organization involved in drug trafficking and multiple homicides, was brought to justice.
The inclusion of Puerto Rico in Operation North Star III is of significant importance to the U.S. Marshals Service’s District of Puerto Rico. U.S. Marshal Wilmer Ocasio-Ibarra recognizes the honor bestowed upon his workforce and the positive impact their efforts have had on the reduction of criminal violence in Puerto Rico and the participating cities. The successful apprehension and prosecution of these violent and dangerous fugitives would not have been possible without the cooperation of citizens and the support of sister law enforcement agencies.
Operation North Star III marks the third ONS operation since July 2022. In total, the U.S. Marshals have apprehended more than 6,700 wanted fugitives, including 900 charged with homicide. Additionally, over 900 weapons associated with violent crimes have been removed from the streets. The concept of interagency law enforcement operations like ONS has evolved from regional and district fugitive task forces. Since the 1980s, the U.S. Marshals Service has collaborated with local, state, and federal agencies to effectively locate and apprehend dangerous fugitives.
Operation North Star III serves as a testament to the dedication and effectiveness of the U.S. Marshals Service and its partner agencies in ensuring the safety and security of communities across the United States. By targeting violent offenders and removing illegal weapons and drugs from circulation, these operations contribute significantly to the overall reduction of crime rates and help restore peace and order in affected areas. The U.S. Marshals Service remains committed to its mission of bringing fugitives to justice and ensuring the well-being of the American people.
