The U.S. Marshals Service has wrapped up "Operation Spring Cleaning," leading to the arrest of 117 fugitives. The action spanned across nine Massachusetts cities, including Brockton, Holyoke, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Springfield, and Worcester. Arrests carried out during this 45-day initiative, from March 31 to May 30, targeted violent offenders with charges ranging from homicide to drug and gun possession, as reported by Boston 25 News.
Among those nabbed in the sting was a member of the notorious MS-13 gang, wanted for murder charges as well as carrying a loaded firearm without a license out of Worcester Superior Court, as mentioned by MassLive. With a rap sheet that includes assaults and dangerous weapons offenses, the individual had been on the run since June 2024 and was apprehended in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
According to acting U.S. Marshal Matt Lawlor in a statement obtained by Boston 25 News, "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." The coordinated effort involved members from U.S. Marshals, Worcester and Pawtucket Police Departments, and Massachusetts State Police.
As part of the operation, authorities seized nine firearms, 544 rounds of ammunition and 188 grams of narcotics, further denting the capabilities of local criminal activities. The cities chosen for Operation Spring Cleaning were identified by the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, aiming at reducing violent crimes in areas known for high criminal activity.
This crackdown on fugitives and violent criminals reflects the U.S. Marshals's ongoing commitment to "reducing violence in our communities by apprehending and removing violent offenders that are negatively impacting our local communities across the Commonwealth," Lawlor told Boston 25 News. The Massachusetts Fugitive Task Force, a Boston-based unit formed in 1999, played a crucial role, working in tandem with state and local agencies throughout the operation.
