U.S. Marshals Make 152 Arrests In Houston In Violent Crime Crackdown

HOUSTON, TX — The U.S. Marshals Service recently announced the results of a monthlong initiative to fight high rates of shootings and other violent crimes in major U.S. metros — arresting fugitives wanted in connection with such crimes.

Operation North Star focused its efforts on fugitives in Houston and nine other U.S. metros hit by a large number of homicides and shootings. Various regional task forces teamed up with local law enforcement agencies in June to prioritize and arrest fugitives accused of using firearms to commit violent crimes or who showed risk factors of violent behavior, according to a news release.

The other metropolitan areas included in Operation North Star are Baltimore, Chicago, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Memphis, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

"By partnering with our local and state partners, we are able to hone in on the most dangerous criminals who cause the most harm," U.S. Marshals Service Director Ronald Davis said.

Operation North Star resulted in more than 1,500 arrests across the 10 focus areas, including 230 arrests in connection with homicide and another 131 in connection with sexual assault. The investigations yielded 166 guns, more than $53,600 in cash and more than 33 kilograms of drugs, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

In Houston, the initiative resulted in the arrests of 152 people charged with various crimes, including homicide, sexual assault and robbery. Law enforcement also filed drug charges in some cases.

During the arrests, law enforcement confiscated 12 firearms, two kilograms of drugs and cash worth $17,000, according to the news release.

U.S. Marshals in the Houston area were assisted by the Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff's Office, constable's offices in Harris County Precincts 1 and 5, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Attorney's Office, and Harris County District Attorney's Office.

Some of the notable arrests made under Operation North Star include:

• Rashaan Vereen, 34, a suspect in a June 4 shooting in Philadelphia which killed three people and injured 11 more. Quran Garner, 18, and a 15-year-old suspect were also arrested in connection with the shooting.
• Prince Cunningham, 49, who was wanted in Aurora, Illinois, in connection with a cold case homicide from 2003.
• Robert Bakersville, 28, who was arrested by the D.C.-area task force in connection with a homicide. Ammunition and parts consistent with building a ghost gun were confiscated during his arrest. Ghost guns are unregistered and untraceable homemade firearms.

Operation North Star is the latest effort in decades of large-scale cooperation between law enforcement agencies in the United States. The U.S. Marshals Service has led and participated in similar interagency law enforcement initiatives since the 1980s.

"The Justice Department is committed to doing everything we can to protect our communities from violent crime and end the plague of gun violence," U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said. "I am grateful to the U.S. Marshals Service and the many federal, state, and local task force partners who carried out this operation, and who continue to work to keep the American people safe each and every day."