U.S. Marshals Arrest Non-Compliant Sex Offenders During Operation Trick or Treat 4

ARLINGTON, Va. – During the month of October, the U.S. Marshals Service partnered with more than 127 law enforcement agencies to conduct Operation Trick or Treat 4, a nationwide enforcement initiative during the Halloween season to investigate and arrest non-compliant and fugitive sex offenders. This annual operation, spearheaded by the U.S. Marshal Service’s Sex Offender Investigations Branch, continues to hold convicted sex offenders accountable for failing to comply with legal requirements placed on them, such as registering their addresses with local authorities.

Operation Trick or Treat 4 resulted in 197 arrests, including 114 sex offenders for failing to register and 57 sex offenders for other offenses, as well as 26 other individuals for various criminal activities. Non-compliant sex offenders should be aware the operation is not over, and enforcement efforts in certain communities will continue through Halloween.

In 77 counties across 27 states, law enforcement personnel conducted 4,183 compliance checks where officers went to the registered addresses of convicted sex offenders to confirm these addresses were correct. These efforts revealed 316 sex offenders who were not compliant with their registration requirements, including not living where they claimed to be residing. These compliance checks also revealed sex offenders who were in violation of their probation or parole requirements or were in violation of Halloween-specific rules. During the operation, Deputy U.S. Marshals initiated federal criminal investigations for failure to register as a sex offender, including cases originating from compliance checks.

“For the fourth year, the U.S. Marshals partnered with law enforcement agencies across the nation to make Halloween safer. I commend our men and women, as well as our partner agencies, who dedicated themselves to this year’s operation,” said U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces S. Serralta. “Our critical mission to investigate federal sex offender registration crimes and hunt down fugitive sex offenders never stops.”

The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 authorizes the U.S. Marshals Service to assist law enforcement authorities in the location and apprehension of non‐compliant and fugitive sex offenders; investigate violations of the Adam Walsh Act for federal prosecution; and assist in the identification and location of sex offenders relocated because of a major disaster. As the federal government’s primary agency for sex offender and fugitive investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service uses its resources and investigative expertise to make communities safer.

Law enforcement personnel in select counties from the following 37 federal judicial districts participated in Operation Trick or Treat 4 (in alphabetical order by state): District of Arizona, Eastern District of Arkansas, Central District of California, Eastern District of California, Northern District of California, Southern District of California, Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, District of Hawaii, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois, Southern District of Indiana, Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa, District of Kansas, Eastern District of Kentucky, Western District of Kentucky, District of Maine, District of Maryland, Western District of Michigan, Western District of Missouri, District of Montana, District of Nevada, District of New Jersey, Northern District of New York, Western District of North Carolina, Southern District of Ohio, Eastern District of Oklahoma, Eastern District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Utah, Western District of Virginia, Eastern District of Washington, and Eastern District of Wisconsin.

View Operation Trick or Treat 4 photos and U.S. Marshals Service B-roll here:
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD8YKY 
B-roll (from prior ops):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/usmarshals/54103807712/in/album-72177720321279522/ 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/usmarshals/54104931068/in/album-72177720321279522/ 

Please attribute photos and videos to “United States Marshals Service, Sex Offender Investigations Branch.”

A fact sheet about the U.S. Marshal Service’s sex offender mission can be accessed at: https://www.usmarshals.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2026-Sex-Offender-Investigations.pdf