Federally Wanted Fugitives Arrested in North Carolina

Safe Streets Task Force Coordinates two Fugitives Arrests within Hours of Alert

MOST WANTED NEWS -- The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Violent Criminal Apprehension Team arrested two federally wanted fugitives. Both fugitives, Seferino Campos, 37, and Maurice Lemont Williams, 34, were wanted for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution and were arrested without incident.

The Seferino Campos arrest warrant originated in California from state charges of rape and sodomy of a child, while Maurice Lemont Williams arrest warrant originated in Columbus, Ohio for federal drug charges.

The FBI's Safe Streets Task Force in Charlotte received information about the fugitives on Wednesday. Both fugitives were arrested very shortly after, and officers nailed Campos within one hour of the alert. In all, the combined work of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force arrested the two fugitives in Charlotte within 24 hours.

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Colleen Moss, who oversees criminal investigations in the state of North Carolina said:

"The Safe Streets Task Force exists for this very reason; we have to respond immediately to situations that pose threats to the community. Charlotte is safer place because all of our partner agencies act as a cohesive team."

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe said:

"Criminals don't stay in city, county, or state jurisdictions anymore. Our partnerships with the FBI and other federal agencies allow us to go after the criminals who think they can hide out in Charlotte. It also allows us to go after fugitives who think if they leave town, they will escape justice in Mecklenburg County. Thinking like that doesn't apply anymore, and these arrests prove it."

North Carolina has four Safe Streets Task Forces:

• Charlotte Safe Streets Task Force
• Piedmont Triad Safe Streets Gang Task Force
• Raleigh Durham Safe Streets Task Force
• Wilmington Safe Streets Task Force

In January 1992, the FBI created the "Safe Streets Violent Crime Initiative," which is designed to allow each FBI field office to address violent street gangs and drug-related violence through the establishment of sponsored, long-term, proactive task forces. These task forces focus on violent gangs, crimes of violence, and the apprehension of violent fugitives. The Violent Gang Safe Streets Task Force is a collaboration of the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies joining together to address the violent crime plaguing their communities. The Safe Streets Task Force concept expands cooperation and communication among law enforcement agencies, therefore, increasing productivity and avoiding duplication of investigative efforts. The FBI's Safe Streets and Gang Unit administers 152 of these task forces nationwide.