Nationwide Sweep by U.S. Marshals Puts 345 Dangerous Sex Offenders Behind Bars

Washington – Today the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) concluded Operation Guardian, a three-year, national initiative specifically targeting the country’s most dangerous noncompliant sex offenders. Deputy marshals and law enforcement partners arrested 345 individuals who had failed to register with state authorities as required by law.

Marshals worked with state and local officials to identify specific non-registering fugitives based on their danger to the public and prior convictions for sex offenses. As of today, USMS investigators have located 427 offenders of 444 sought (or 96 percent of those targeted), including 82 individuals found outside the United States. These individuals represent more than 500 prior convictions for sexual offenses.

“I’d like to thank each of the Deputy U.S. Marshals and state and local law enforcement officials who contributed to the success of this important operation. These dedicated professionals have helped to make our communities safer by taking dangerous fugitives off the streets,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “Today’s announcement sends a clear message: that the Justice Department and its allies are firmly committed to safeguarding our nation’s young people from all forms of exploitation and abuse. And we are determined to bring noncompliant sex offenders to justice.”

“The United States Marshals Service will not tolerate noncompliant and violent sex offenders who evade the law. The message we send to these individuals is there is nowhere you can hide,” said Director Stacia Hylton of the U.S. Marshals Service. “Operation Guardian enabled us to bring to bear the full weight of international, federal, state and local law enforcement resources and intelligence to locate the most egregious sex offenders—those who have victimized innocent children.”

The USMS assigns 129 criminal investigators to conduct sex offender, non-registrant investigations on a full-time basis. Operation Guardian was a collaborative effort led by the Marshals Service in cooperation with Interpol, the Diplomatic Security Service, Customs and Border Protection, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

“The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is proud to partner with the U.S. Marshals in helping to protect our nation’s children,” said John Ryan, chief executive officer, NCMEC. “We applaud the overwhelming success of Operation Guardian which located hundreds of the country’s most dangerous noncompliant sex offenders.”

Among those arrested during Operation Guardian were:

    Lee Roy Ramirez, one of “Wisconsin’s Most Wanted,” on April 22 in Portland, Ore. Ramirez was wanted by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections since 2003 for probation violation on an original charge of second degree sexual assault of a child. The intensive fugitive investigation covered several states and ultimately led investigators to Oregon. Ramirez is in custody in Oregon awaiting extradition back to Wisconsin.

    James K. Jenkins, on Oct. 9, 2012, in Garland, Texas. Jenkins was wanted in DeKalb County, Ga., for failure to register as a sex offender and for probation violation based on a weapons offense. His original offense occurred Dec.15, 1999, when he raped a 15-year-old girl. He was convicted of statutory rape and sentenced to three years in prison, seven years of probation, and required to register as a sex offender in the state of Georgia. Jenkins moved and did not notify the Probation Office or the Sheriff’s Office of his location. In October 2012, a Crimestoppers program received an online tip that placed Jenkins in Garland, Texas. Investigators conducted surveillance and arrested Jenkins with a loaded .38-caliber handgun in close proximity.

    David Sherant, arrested Oct. 3, 2012, by DUSMs from the District of Nevada and members of the Las Vegas SOAP Task Force. Sherant was wanted by the Utah Department of Corrections for violating his term of supervision by failing to register as a sex offender. He was convicted in August 2000 of sexual exploitation of a minor. After release from the Utah State Prison, Sherant absconded parole, and failed to register as a sex offender as required by law. Investigators learned that the 31-year-old Sherant was passing himself off as 18-year-old "Mikey Miller" currently residing in Las Vegas. On Oct.15, 2012, Sherant was extradited to Utah. His probation was revoked and he was remanded to the custody of the Utah Department of Corrections.

    Darrell Craig Sinclair, on Feb. 28, 2012, in Mexico. Sinclair was wanted by the Riverside County, Calif., Sheriff’s Department for almost 10 years on a $500,000 arrest warrant for failure to register as a sex offender. He was previously convicted of one count of lewd acts against a child in Los Angeles County in 1976, and seven counts of lewd acts against a child in Orange County, Calif., in 1983. USMS investigators determined that Sinclair was in Ajajic, Mexico, and he was taken into custody by Mexican Immigration Officials. Mexican immigration officials escorted Sinclair to Los Angeles International Airport, where he was arrested by Deputy U.S. Marshals.

    Michael Rybkin, on Nov. 9, 2010, in New York City. Rybkin was wanted by the Hudson County, N.J., Sheriff’s Department for a parole violation and by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on a warrant of deportation, and is a sex offender in the State of New Jersey. Rybkin is a German citizen. USMS investigators developed information that Rybkin was residing in New York City and using the internet. Rybkin, who was previously banned from NYC Public Libraries, was observed masturbating in front of two female children in October 2010 at a library, but eluded capture. On Oct. 27, 2010, Rybkin was charged by the USMS with violating the Adam Walsh Act and a federal warrant was issued for his arrest. On Nov. 9, 2010, USMS investigators arrested Rybkin at the Grand Central Branch of the NYC Public Library. On March 10, 2011, Rybkin pleaded guilty to the AWA violation, and was sentenced Jan.19, 2012, by U.S. District Court Judge William Pauley to 63 months incarceration and lifetime supervised release on electronic monitoring.

The Behavioral Analysis Unit at the USMS National Sex Offender Targeting Center worked with the investigators to identify information related to the fugitives across a number of personal or social dimensions, including past sexual offending behavior. The prior convictions of the located offenders represent hundreds of victims and thousands of known sexual assaults. Most of the sexual assault events were engaged against children, and many involved extreme violence.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates more than 700,000 sex offenders reside in the U.S. and that more than 100,000 are classified as noncompliant or unregistered. Since its inception in 2006, the SOIB has planned and executed more than 900 sex offender compliance and enforcement operations. During these operations, the USMS partnered with more than 4,800 state and local law enforcement agencies to conduct more than 150,000 compliance checks.