Boston, MA - After a four week operation, dubbed “Operation Washout," 30 individuals, including multiple alleged gang members wanted for violent crimes, have been arrested in and around the City of Holyoke.
Led by the U.S. Marshals Massachusetts Fugitive Task Force, including the Holyoke Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, Operation Washout focused on violent offenders and gang members wanted for narcotics trafficking and other violent crimes. Since the Operation’s inception in August, 30 individuals who were wanted for various outstanding criminal offenses, including narcotics trafficking, rape, kidnapping, firearms possession, and aggravated assault, have been arrested. 863 grams of heroin and cocaine were seized along with one firearm.
“Operation Washout was a targeted enforcement initiative by the U.S. Marshals Service to address violent crime, including guns, narcotics, and gang violence in the City of Holyoke," said United States Marshal John Gibbons for the District of Massachusetts. “The operation was the culmination of four weeks of hard work and dedication to root out dangerous violent criminals and fugitives, and bring them to justice. We believe that these arrests will have a positive impact on the local community making the streets safer and improving the quality of life for the residents. The cooperation and assistance of our partners in the Holyoke Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Hampden District Attorney’s Office was absolutely invaluable."
Chief Manny Febo of the Holyoke Police Department stated, “I would like to thank the U.S. Marshals Service along with all of the other agencies that assisted in this operation. These partnerships reduce the number of violent offenders who continue to commit crimes in the city of Holyoke. I look forward to continuing a maximum pressure campaign on those repeat violent offenders along with all of our law enforcement partners."
It is said that all success is shared, and this is especially true in law enforcement, where partnerships are vital to identifying and apprehending criminals and improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods and communities. The results of this operation speak volumes about the effectiveness of our collaboration with the United States Marshals Service and local police to further our joint warrant apprehension mission," said Massachusetts State Police Colonel Kerry Gilpin.
The men and women arrested during this operation have been charged by the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office and other surrounding counties.
Operation Washout is a national effort led by U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Forces around the country and aims to provide communities with immediate relief from gang-related violence by targeting fugitive gang members and the organizations responsible for committing violent crimes.
