In partnership with local, state and federal authorities, the FBI in Pittsburgh announced it had arrested 19 fugitives during the FBI’s five-day nationwide initiative – Operation Summer Heat.
Officials said that from Oct. 6 to Oct. 10, FBI Pittsburgh, along with the U.S. Marshals Service, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Fugitive Apprehension Unity, had identified targets, collected intelligence, conducted investigative analysis and moved to arrest the individuals. The arrested individuals were not named in the press release.
The primary focus of the operation was the Western Pennsylvania region, but the arrests took place as far away as North Carolina and Kansas, the FBI said. The subjects were arrested for offenses ranging from drug trafficking, sexual battery of a child, rape of children, and human trafficking to firearms possession and terroristic threats.
“Law enforcement at all levels shares the same goal: protect the communities we serve. This operation proves our commitment to that mission,” FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek said. “It does not matter if you’re in Western Pennsylvania, across the United States, or anywhere else in the world, the FBI and our partners will find you and will bring you to justice.”
Along with the arrest, FBI agents seized three firearms, 28.8 grams of crack cocaine, 77.6 grams of heroin and fentanyl, and 722.6 grams of marijuana.
“We are fortunate in western Pennsylvania to have great partnerships in law enforcement and when that cohesiveness involving our various agencies results in dangerous people being taken off the streets, that is a good day for law enforcement and for our residents,” Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus said.