U.S. Marshals-led operation targeted fugitives wanted for violent crime in and around Lawrence
BOSTON – After a five month operation, dubbed “Operation Triple Beam,” 146 individuals, including dozens of fugitives and 52 alleged gang members, wanted for violent crimes have been arrested in and around the City of Lawrence.
Led by the U.S. Marshals Massachusetts Fugitive Task Force, including the Lawrence Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police, Operation Triple Beam focused on violent offenders and gang members wanted for narcotics trafficking and other violent crimes. Since the Operation began on Jan. 1, 2019, 146 individuals who were wanted for various outstanding criminal offenses, including murder, narcotics trafficking, rape – including rape and sexual assault of children – kidnapping, and armed home invasions, have been arrested.
“Operation Triple Beam is a nationwide initiative in which federal resources are deployed to help state and local law enforcement round up dangerous fugitives living in our most vulnerable communities,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “Removing these fugitives, including alleged rapists, murderers, and drug traffickers, will make Lawrence and neighboring towns safer. Law-abiding residents of Lawrence should be able to live and work without fear. My thanks go to the U.S. Marshals Service, the Lawrence Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police, for executing this highly successful operation. This kind of coordinated enforcement effort not only reduces criminal activity, but is a reminder that increased enforcement is here to stay, at least until drug trafficking and other crime drops significantly in Lawrence and surrounding regions.”
“Operation Triple Beam was a targeted enforcement initiative by the U.S. Marshals Service to address violent crime, including guns, narcotics and gang violence in an effort to address violent crime in and around the City of Lawrence,” said United States Marshal John Gibbons for the District of Massachusetts. “Today’s announcement is the culmination of months of hard work and dedication to root out dangerous violent criminals and fugitives, bringing them to justice. We believe that these arrests will have a positive impact on the local community making the streets safer and improving the quality of life for the residents. We want to thank our partners in the Lawrence Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police for their cooperation and invaluable assistance.”
“Our Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section is an extremely active unit that, on a daily basis, tracks and arrests subjects of criminal warrants — to bring them to justice for their past violent crimes and to get them off Massachusetts streets before they can hurt another victim,” said Massachusetts State Police Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin. “Our unit frequently works with US Marshals and local police in concerted efforts to locate and arrest dangerous criminals, and was happy to do so again as part of the highly successful Operation Triple Beam.”
“I can’t thank the United States Marshals Service and the United States Attorney’s Office enough for their continued commitment here in Lawrence,” said Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque. “This latest extremely successful operation is yet another example of our strong partnership and our commitment to working together to make Lawrence safer. Let this be a strong message to all that criminals will not take refuge here.”
The men and women arrested during this operation have been charged in both state and federal courts.
Operation Triple Beam is a national effort led by U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Forces around the country and aims at providing communities with immediate relief from gang-related violence by targeting fugitive gang members and the organizations responsible for committing violent crimes.
The Operation in Lawrence resulted in the seizure of eight pistols; one semi-automatic rifle; one 12-gauge shotgun; and more than two kilos of drugs, including cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, heroin and marijuana.
U.S. Attorney Lelling; U.S. Marshal Gibbons; Colonel Gilpin; Chief Vasque; and Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett made the announcement today.