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Hundreds of fugitives taken off streets in N.J.
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ATLANTIC CITY - June may have been a bad month for weather, but it was a good one for law enforcement agencies throughout the state.
Operation FALCON - Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally - closed 985 warrants by capturing 846 wanted gang members and violent crime suspects during the month. In southern New Jersey, 221 fugitives were caught closing 250 warrants. Forty-seven had ties to Atlantic City.
"It is truly a force multiplier," said John Mooney, the city's police chief.
Atlantic City also helped lock up several fugitives, including one wanted in Los Angeles.
Francisco Amarante, 28, allegedly advertised himself as a cell phone distributor on the Internet, then robbed those he lured at gunpoint. The New York/New Jersey Task Force was able to trace him to Atlantic City, where he was arrested in a casino hotel room June 4.
The annual cooperative effort shows what can be done when municipal, state and local agencies come together, U.S. Marshal James Plousis said Thursday.
"If you're on the run, you're better off surrendering," Plousis said. "We may not catch you today, but we will catch you down the road."
And for those who don't surrender, Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel promised punishment.
"There's going to be a consequence, and that will be conviction for these crimes," he said.
The effort is mutually beneficial, said Inspector Jack Leo, who heads the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force's office based in Egg Harbor Township.
"They have us working their cases, and we have them helping us," he said, adding that the manpower is a big help for his office, which has just 10 full-time officers.
"As long as you get them out of my town, I don't care who locks them up," said Pleasantville Police Chief Duane Comeaux. "I don't care who puts the handcuffs on."
And there were lots of handcuffs being used in June.
Anthony Prestopino, 43, was released from Bayside State Prison on Sept. 28, under the intensive supervision program. Almost immediately, he violated the terms, police said. He stayed free more than eight months, but couldn't avoid capture during the crackdown.
The convicted felon - whose violent past includes assault and domestic violence arrests, according to law enforcement - was arrested June 16 on Bacharach Boulevard in Atlantic City.
"This isn't going to be a one-time deal," Atlantic County Sheriff Frank Balles said. "You can run, but you can't hide."
More than 91,000 fugitives have been caught since the program's inception, according to the U.S. Marshals.
E-mail Lynda Cohen:
FALCON results
County Arrests Warrants
Atlantic 92 109
Cape May 24 27
Cumberland 24 33
Ocean 81 81
Posted in Atlantic on Friday, July 10, 2009 3:05 am
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