‘Operation Spring Clean' nets 117 arrests of violent felons across the state, US Marshals Service says
The U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, based in Boston, teamed up with regional law enforcement to make arrests on charges of homicide, robbery, as well as sex offenses, felonious assaults, and narcotics and gun violations, the statement said.
'The success of this operation is truly a testament to the dedication to duty and the commitment to teamwork exhibited by our local, state, and federal partners,' acting U.S. Marshal Matt Lawlor said in the statement.
'The USMS is committed to reducing violence in our communities by apprehending and removing violent offenders that are negatively impacting our local communities across the Commonwealth,' Lawlor said.
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The sting, which was part of a larger action dubbed 'Operation Take Back America,' also netted nine guns, 544 rounds of ammunition, and 188 grams of narcotics, according to the statement.
The nine cities and communities targeted in the operation were identified as high crime area by a federal initiative called Project Safe Neighborhoods, the marshals service said.
The operation also aimed to zero in on people with ties to drug trafficking organizations and transnational criminal organizations.
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As a result, an MS-13 gang member wanted out of Worcester Superior Court for murder and firearm charges was arrested as part of the sweep on May 30 in Pawtucket, R.I., the statement said.
The gang member had been wanted since June 2024 and had a criminal history that included assaults and dangerous weapons, the marshals service said.
The US Marshals Service is the federal government's primary agency for fugitive investigations and it has the broadest arrest authority among federal law enforcement agencies, the statement said.
Tonya Alanez can be reached at
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