U.S. marshals arrest 13 ‘most wanted’ sex offenders in Iowa

CEDAR RAPIDS — The U.S. Marshals Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force conducted “Operation Most Wanted” to apprehend Iowa’s most wanted fugitive sex offenders.

According to a news release Friday, the 13 offenders were captured and arrested throughout Iowa.

These arrests resulted in the seizure of two firearms, multiple rounds of ammunition, narcotics, and three new criminal cases presented to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for consideration.

Of the 13 arrested, seven offenders had convictions for crimes against children under the age of 13, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

All those arrested — their names were not released — were in non-compliance with Iowa Sex Offender Registry laws, which require offenders to keep their addresses updated.

The registry, which became law July 1, 1995, is maintained and updated daily by the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

About 6,549 sex offenders are registered in Iowa.

The offenders listed on the “most wanted” website are in non-compliance and have active arrest warrants on file. Forty-nine offenders remain on the most wanted list, which can be found at iowasexoffender.gov/mostwanted.

The fugitive task force is offering cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of non-compliant sex offenders. Tips are confidential and anonymous.

“Ensuring our community’s safety is a continual effort, and our deputy marshals in Iowa will continue to track these offenders who are deliberately out of compliance,” Northern Iowa Acting U.S. Marshal Chris Barther said in a statement.

“The Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood relies upon the ongoing efforts and relationships between law enforcement agencies, nonprofit entities, advocacy organizations and many others to protect and defend children against sexual exploitation and abuse.”

The relationship between the marshal’s service and the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s sex offender registry is an “invaluable one,” Iowa Department of Public Safety Special Agent in Charge J. Hunter Bellon said in a statement.

The marshal’s expertise in fugitive apprehension, coupled with the “local knowledge of our special agents, sheriff’s deputies and police officers, creates a very strong and effective law enforcement resource,” he said.

“Much of the success of this operation can be attributed to the vigilant efforts of our community members,” Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Phil Hartung said in a statement, noting tips help locate offenders.

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