$18 Million Awarded to Fight Violence Due to Methamphetamine, Heroine and Gangs

The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services has awarded nearly $18 million in grants to fight violent crime through addressing methamphetamine production, opioid use and gang activity. About $6 million will go to seven state-level law enforcement agencies to investigate illicit activities related to the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine. Close to $5.8 million will go to six state-level law enforcement agencies to investigate illicit activities related to the distribution of heroin or unlawful distribution of prescriptive opioids. Close to $5.8 million will go to nine multijurisdictional task forces to address gang activity. For more information, go to http://ojp.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/2015/ojp09282015_3.pdf.

Justice Department Announces $17 Million to Support Sex Offender Registration, Assessment, Intervention

The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs announced more than $17 million in Fiscal Year 2015 grant assistance for states, territories and tribal governments to use in implementing and enhancing sex offender programming throughout the United States. The funding will be used to develop or enhance sex offender registration programs; improve law enforcement and other justice agency information sharing as it relates to sex offender registration and notification; and implement other efforts that further the objectives of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), Title I of the Adam Walsh Act. For more information, go to http://ojp.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/2015/ojp09242015_2.pdf.

U.S. Marshals Arrest Murder Suspect

Springfield, MO - Alfred C. Lomax, the United States Marshal for the Western District of Missouri, announces the arrest of fugitive Timothy L. Murray.

On September 30, 2015, investigators with the U.S. Marshals Service Southern Missouri Fugitive Task Force, along with the Springfield Police Department, located and arrested fugitive Timothy Murray at a residence in Springfield, Missouri. Murray, 28, was charged on September 17, 2015, in Christian County, Missouri with one count of 1st Degree Murder, and one count of Armed Criminal Action. These charges stemmed from the shooting death of Christopher Younes, 35, of Marshfield in June 2014. Also charged in this case, were Albert Romero, 40, and Gabriella Shields, 27, both of whom are already in custody. Shields was arrested on September 23rd in Cookeville, Tennessee by the U.S. Marshals Service, Middle Tennessee Joint Fugitive Task Force. The charges against Murray, Shields and Romero follow a joint criminal investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office.

A warrant was issued for Murray’s arrest on September 17, 2015. The search for Murray was conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service-Southern Missouri Fugitive Task Force in conjunction with the Springfield Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office. Information was developed during the course the fugitive investigation which indicated that Murray was hiding at a residence in Springfield, Missouri. Based upon this information, investigators from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Springfield Police Department responded to residence in West Springfield. Once there, officers located and arrested Shields without further incident.

Further inquiries regarding this arrest can be directed to Supervisory Deputy United States Marshal Darren Lane at 417-851-5273.

The U.S. Marshals Service-Southern Missouri Fugitive Task Force is a team comprised of law enforcement officers from the U.S. Marshals Service, Christian County Sheriff’s Office, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Springfield Police Department, Joplin Police Department, Ash Grove Police Department, and the Nixa Police Department. The task force’s objective is to seek out and arrest violent fugitives and sexual predators.