Operation Washout Nets 27 Arrested in U.S. Marshal Service

Fort Myers, FL – On March 31, the U.S. Marshals Service's Florida Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force personnel from Fort Myers partnered with state and local agencies to conduct Operation Washout, a U.S. Marshals Service national initiative focused on the investigation and arrest of violent fugitives and gang members with active arrest warrants.

Operation Washout brings together state, local, and federal law enforcement to focus on specific areas impacted by drug trafficking and gang violence, and targets those with the greatest propensity for crime. Several agencies partnered with the Fort Myers Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (NETFORCE) which led to the numerous arrests and narcotics seizures.

"This Department of Justice initiative is key to keeping violent criminals off the streets, especially in Fort Myers," said United States Marshal for the Middle District of Florida William Berger.

The operation led to 27 arrests, the seizure of 19 firearms, $146,000 in U.S. currency, $200,000 worth of cocaine, four kilograms of heroin, over seven kilograms of MDMA, two pounds of fentanyl and over one thousand grams of methamphetamine.

"The United States Marshals Service would like to thank Fort Myers Police Department (FMPD) Chief Derrick Diggs and the continued partnership between both agencies," said Berger.

"The relationship between the U.S. Marshals Service, FMPD and the Fort Myers Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (NETFORCE) was crucial to the success of this operation."