U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE APPREHENDS ACCUSED HUMAN TRAFFICKER

The following excerpt is from the U.S. Marshals Service:

“Albuquerque, NM - On February 29, 2012
 Deputies with the United States Marshals Service arrested accused human trafficking offender Rufus Byers. Byers has been wanted since December 2011 and was featured on last Friday's America's Most Wanted. Agents with the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office (NMAGO) and The United States Marshals Service worked closely to locate Byers.

Byers was initially arrested on December 5, 2011, posted bond, and was released from the Metropolitan Detention Center on December 9, 2011. He then fled New Mexico. Byers had been indicted and a bench warrant for his arrest was issued December 15, 2011. Byers is charged with one (1) count Human Trafficking; one (1) count Promoting Prostitution; and, one (1) count Accepting the Earnings of a Prostitute.

Agents with the NMAGO and the United States Marshals Service Developed information that Byers was possibly in Texas, and then referred the case to the Marshals Service’s Joint East Texas Fugitive (JETF) Task Force for investigation. Deputies and JETF Task Force Officers in Texas were able to locate and arrest Byers in Dallas, Texas on February 29, 2012.

United States Marshal for the District of New Mexico Conrad E. Candelaria "the Marshals Service is known for its effectiveness in pursuing violent fugitives, despite the rigors and challenges that might be faced and always mindful that with investigative perseverance the results are the arrests of dangerous fugitives that will no longer harm innocent members of our communities. The Marshals Service recognizes the extraordinary partnerships that are consistently relied upon and fortunately the District of New Mexico is partners with the New Mexico Attorney General's Office and testament of this great partnership is the arrest of this dangerous fugitive that will now have to answer to the many crimes committed".