The U.S. Marshals Service is asking for the public’s help to track down Justin John Shorey, a Schertz man now wanted by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force after authorities say he violated the terms of his federal supervised release tied to a 2020 conviction. Shorey previously served a federal prison sentence for aiming a laser pointer at a San Antonio Police Department helicopter and was on supervised release when a new warrant was issued for his arrest.
According to federal agents, the trouble started when Shorey was cited by the Transit Police Department for possession of a controlled substance and then allegedly failed to report that law-enforcement contact to the U.S. Probation Office, as reported by WOAI. Investigators also allege he skipped required in-person check-ins at the federal probation office in San Antonio and stopped communicating with his probation officer altogether. The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force is now working alongside the U.S. Marshals to find him.
Federal case and sentence
Court records show Shorey pleaded guilty in November 2019 to aiming a laser at a San Antonio Police Department helicopter. A federal judge sentenced him in 2020 to 51 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. Prosecutors said the laser incident happened on February 17, 2019, while officers were searching from the air for a shooting suspect.
The laser beam struck the pilot in the eyes and temporarily interfered with his ability to read the helicopter’s gauges, according to court documents cited in the federal press release. At the time, prosecutors stressed that targeting aircraft with lasers poses a serious public-safety risk and warned that federal authorities would pursue those cases aggressively.
What the Marshals say about Shorey
The U.S. Marshals describe Shorey as about 6 feet 2 inches tall and roughly 207 pounds, with several distinctive tattoos, including a Grim Reaper on his left foot and a demon with female hands holding a cross on his right leg, as reported by WOAI. His last known location is listed as the Northeast Side of San Antonio.
Officials say Shorey should be considered wanted on a federal warrant and may still be in the local area. They are asking residents to keep an eye out but to let law enforcement handle any contact.
Why laser strikes draw federal attention
Pointing lasers at aircraft is a federal crime because even a brief hit can temporarily blind or disorient pilots. The Federal Aviation Administration has logged thousands of laser-strike reports in recent years and works closely with law enforcement to pursue civil and criminal penalties, according to the FAA. The agency notes that civil fines can exceed $11,000 per violation, with even steeper totals in cases involving multiple strikes.
Anyone with information on Shorey’s whereabouts is asked to contact the U.S. Marshals’ Lone Star Fugitive Task Force at (210) 657-8500, per the U.S. Marshals Service, or call the national tip line at 1-888-869-4589. Authorities advise the public not to approach him and to report any tips directly to law enforcement.
