Boston, MA – The U.S. Marshals Service District of Massachusetts has announced the successful conclusion of Operation 250th, an intensive summer violent-crime reduction and fugitive apprehension initiative in Massachusetts that resulted in the apprehension of more than 300 violent fugitives and the clearance of 335 warrants during the operation.
Launched in May 2026 in honor of America’s 250th birthday, Operation 250th set an ambitious goal of apprehending more than 250 violent fugitives during the summer months. The USMS District of Massachusetts Fugitive Task Force surpassed that goal, apprehending 301 individuals wanted for murder, attempted murder, sexual offenses, crimes against children, armed robbery, firearms violations, narcotics offenses, and other serious violent crimes.
Operation 250th was designed as a coordinated violent-crime reduction initiative targeting individuals with active violent felony warrants, while developing actionable criminal intelligence to support ongoing investigations. The operation concentrated enforcement resources in Project Safe Neighborhoods target areas and other high-crime areas throughout Massachusetts.
“The success of Operation 250th is a testament to the extraordinary work of the men and women of the U.S. Marshals Service and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners,” said Dennis Matulewicz, head of the U.S. Marshals Service for the District of Massachusetts. Matulewicz continued, “As America’s first federal law enforcement agency and its premier fugitive apprehension agency, pursuing dangerous fugitives has been at the heart of the U.S. Marshals Service mission for more than two centuries. Operation 250th honored that legacy through action. These results represent dangerous offenders removed from our communities, victims and families brought one step closer to justice, and communities made safer throughout Massachusetts and across the country.”
Operation 250th was led by the USMS DMAFTF and brought together federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in a sustained effort to identify, prioritize, locate, and apprehend violent fugitives. The task force, comprised of investigators from the USMS
District of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Police, Boston Police, Worcester Police, Springfield Police, and numerous other local and federal law enforcement agencies, along with the USMS Domestic Investigations Branch, shared intelligence, coordinated enforcement activity, and directed resources toward offenders presenting significant threats to public safety.
The operation extended beyond Massachusetts as investigators pursued fugitives across state lines and international borders. District investigators worked with other USMS districts and law enforcement partners across the United States and internationally to locate fugitives who had fled Massachusetts, while also apprehending dangerous fugitives from other jurisdictions who were located within the Commonwealth.
In addition to apprehending 301 violent offenders and clearing 335 warrants, Operation 250th resulted in the seizure of 14 firearms, 560 rounds of ammunition, 5.7 kilograms of narcotics, including 2.8 kilograms of fentanyl, and $13,050 in currency, while generating investigative leads and actionable intelligence supporting ongoing fugitive and violent-crime investigations.
Among those apprehended during Operation 250th were individuals wanted for some of the most serious violent offenses investigated by law enforcement. Examples of significant apprehensions include:
Jalisa Fullard was Wanted for Kidnapping: Fullard was wanted in Massachusetts on two counts of kidnapping and endangering a minor after allegedly fleeing the Commonwealth with three children, ages 16, 15, and 12, over whom she did not have legal custody. USMS DMAFTF Investigators developed information that Fullard and the children were staying in hotels in Scottsdale, Arizona. On July 10th, members of the USMS Arizona Wanted Violent Offender Task Force located and arrested Fullard and safely recovered all three children.
Bryan Gomez was an International Fugitive Wanted for Double Homicide: Gomez was the subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice and sought in connection with two murders in the Dominican Republic in 2021, and was wanted on an outstanding Massachusetts assault and battery charge. USMS DMAFTF Investigators developed information concerning Gomez’s presence in Massachusetts. On July 23rd, investigators located and arrested Gomez in Worcester.
Irving Sarmiento was Wanted for Rape of a Child: Sarmiento was wanted in Tennessee on a charge of rape of a child stemming from a 2023 investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse. After years of investigation, USMS DMAFTF Investigators developed information that Sarmiento had fled the state and was living in the Boston area, where he was reportedly using another name on social media. On August 20th, members of the USMS DMAFTF and Brookline Police located and arrested Sarmiento at a construction site in Brookline.
Jamie Martinez was Wanted for Homicide: Martinez had been wanted in Massachusetts since 2010 on a homicide warrant in connection with an Essex County investigation. With assistance from the USMS in Mexico, Martinez was arrested in Mexico. On September 2nd, the USMS District of Massachusetts executed the extradition of Martinez from Mexico to Massachusetts, where he was taken into custody.
“The numbers tell an important story, but the true measure of this operation is its impact,” Matulewicz said. “Every apprehension represents a dangerous offender who can no longer evade justice. Every cleared warrant represents another step toward accountability. Operation 250th demonstrates what we can accomplish when law enforcement works together as one team with one mission.”
The success of Operation 250th was built upon the longstanding partnerships of the USMS DMAFTF. By combining the fugitive investigative expertise of the USMS with the personnel, intelligence, resources, specialized capabilities, and local knowledge of its partner agencies, the task force was able to pursue violent offenders across jurisdictional, state, and international boundaries.
USMS DMAFTF participants include the USMS District of Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Police, Boston Police, Brockton Police, Cambridge Police, Chicopee Police, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, Haverhill Police, Lowell Police, Middlesex Sheriff’s Department, New Bedford Police, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department, Quincy Police, Randolph Police, Rochester Police, Springfield Police, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, West Springfield Police, Worcester Police, Massachusetts National Guard Counter Drug Program, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
The USMS and its law enforcement partners remain committed to identifying, locating, and apprehending violent fugitives; developing actionable intelligence; and working collaboratively to enhance public safety throughout Massachusetts and across the nation.
The USMS reminds the public that criminal charges and allegations are accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of any State or Federal Fugitive please contact the USMS at 1-877-WANTED2 or submit a tip via email to usmstips@usdoj.gov.
