Operation Falcon Sends Dozens to Jail

By Debbie Williams Reporter

Operation Falcon lands dozens of sex offenders, murder suspects and other violent felons behind bars. Operation Falcon Sends Dozens to Jail

Published: Tue, August 28, 2007 - 5:17 pm Last Updated: Wed, August 29, 2007 - 6:18 pm

Debbie Williams

Catching bad guys is not always as easy as it sounds, but when local, state and federal law enforcement agencies team up the results can be impressive.
It’s the result of months of work, state, local and federal authorities working together to bring in fugitive felons. "These aren't guys wanted for fraud or bad checks," says Deputy U.S. Marshal Dominic Guadagnoli. It is part of “Operation Falcon” which stands for Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally. "It's not just targeting drugs its any kind of violent felons. Murder, rape, sex offenders are a big target. Gang members are a big target. Assault and battery, firearms, armed robberies, that kind of thing." The five day search for fugitive felons stretched from Pensacola to Gainesville and when all was said and done more than 200 were behind bars. "We're talking hundreds but if we only get two it's two we didn't have in jail especially if they are violent fugitives," says Guadagnoli. Of the 210 fugitives arrested 83 were in Tallahassee, 50 in Gainesville and 67 in Pensacola, making the streets a little bit safer, says Guadagnoli. "I'd like to think so. I wish we could do something like this more often." Among those arrested two murder suspects and 19 sex offenders.