Operation Triple Beam, a U.S. Marshals-led 90-day operation to reduce violent gang crime, concluded Aug. 1 and resulted in 120 arrests.
The operation was conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force, along with the Fort Myers Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Cape Coral Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
OTB was designed to target and arrest violent fugitives and criminal offenders who committed high profile crimes such as homicide, felony assault and sexual assault, illegal possession of firearms, illegal drug distribution, robbery and arson. Each local, state and federal agency employed enforcement techniques and statutory authority in order to disrupt the criminal operations of violent gangs and offenders in Fort Myers and surrounding areas.
In addition to the 120 arrests, law enforcement officers seized 45 firearms, more than $100,000 dollars in drugs — to include marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin — and more than $18,000 in currency.
“The success of Operation Triple Beam is directly attributed to the collaboration of Fort Myers and Cape Coral Police Departments, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, along with the U.S. Marshals Service, ATF, the
J.S. Attorney’s Office and the State Attorney’s office for the 20th Judicial Circuit all working together as one team focusing on a common enemy: criminals and gang members who have plagued the greater Fort Myers area,” said William B. Berger, U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Florida. “This effort marks a never-ending commitment by the U.S. Marshals Service and specifically the Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force to assist the local Fort Myers law enforcement community in their quest in eliminating this dangerous criminal element on a permanent basis.”
As the sponsor of this initiative, the U.S. Marshals Service, Middle District of Florida, along with the command staff of the Florida/Caribbean Regional Task Force formally recognized all OTB law enforcement participants and their respective departments for their outstanding efforts in a separate ceremony.
Members of the U.S. Marshals Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force, Fort Myers division:
- Fort Myers Police Department
- Cape Coral Police Department
- Lee County Sheriff’s Office Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Collier County Sheriff’s Office
For more information about the U.S. Marshals, please visit http://www.usmarshals.gov
