U.S. Marshals Arrest Fraud Suspect After Threats to Harm Law Enforcement

Alexandria, VA – U.S. Marshal Robert Mathieson announces the capture of Archie Terrace Darby. Darby was wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in the federal District of South Carolina (D/SC) for a supervised release violation stemming from an underlying charge of fraud.

Darby was arrested by the U.S. Secret Service in April 2010 and was convicted of fraud. The convicted felon was sentenced to serve three years in prison, followed by a court-ordered term of supervised release.

On Sept. 25, 2013, the U.S. District Court for D/SC issued an arrest warrant charging Darby with supervised release violation. The D/SC alleges that Darby has failed to follow the court-ordered conditions of supervised release on many instances. Investigators assigned to the U.S. Marshals’ fugitive task force in South Carolina quickly began working to locate the fugitive.

Investigation led law enforcement to learn of Darby’s extensive criminal history including assault and battery, burglary, armed robbery, possession of a firearm, resisting arrest and much more. On one past law enforcement endeavor, Darby fled and ultimately became violent with Deputy U.S. Marshals. This criminal history, along with the fugitive’s identification as a known Bloods gang member, led the USMS to consider the suspect as armed and dangerous.

DUSMs in South Carolina developed information which led them to believe that Darby fled to the DC, Maryland, Virginia area. Task force officers in South Carolina quickly informed their counterparts in VA about the case and requested assistance. As investigators in VA continued with the investigation, Darby began posting threatening remarks on social media directed towards law enforcement. His comments included references of knowing that he was being followed by law enforcement officers and intending to shoot first.

After months of following various leads, the USMS task force arrested Darby yesterday without incident in an apartment complex on Gorman Avenue in Laurel, MD.

The U.S. Marshals-led fugitive task force within E/VA is made possible by the collaboration of the U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Secret Service, Alexandria Police Department, Virginia State Police, Fairfax County Police Department, Fairfax County Sheriff's Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Diplomatic Security Service.

The task force within the Metropolitan D.C. area was founded in 2004 and, to date, has arrested tens of thousands of fugitives. The success of the task force directly correlates to it being a truly joint endeavor. Each agency brings its unique skills and expertise toward the common goal of pursuing and arresting the worst of the worst.

The U.S. Marshals Service arrested more than 36,000 federal fugitives, 86,700 state and local fugitives, and 11,800 sex offenders in fiscal year 2013. Our investigative network and capabilities allow for the unique ability to track and apprehend any fugitive who attempts to evade police capture, anywhere in the country.