Operation Triple Beam-Prolific ran from Aug. 24 through Sept. 25 and brought together federal, state and local law enforcement agencies under the leadership of the U.S. Marshals Service District of New Mexico.
By Levi Gwaltney for Las Cruces Digest
Sources: City of Las Cruces, United States Marshal Service
Images: Courtesy
A five-week law enforcement operation targeting violent fugitives, firearms and narcotics offenders in Las Cruces and surrounding communities resulted in 237 arrests and the seizure of 17 firearms, federal and local officials announced Thursday.
Operation Triple Beam-Prolific ran from Aug. 24 through Sept. 25 and brought together federal, state and local law enforcement agencies under the leadership of the U.S. Marshals Service District of New Mexico.
Officials gathered at Las Cruces City Hall on Oct. 2 to announce the results.
In addition to the arrests and firearms, authorities reported recovering two vehicles and seizing 54 grams of cocaine, 403.4 grams of methamphetamine and 110 grams of fentanyl during the operation.
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U.S. Marshal for the District of New Mexico David O. Barnett Jr. said Operation Triple Beam is a U.S. Marshals Service violent-crime reduction initiative, with the southern New Mexico effort designated “Prolific.”
“The United States Marshals Service partnered with Las Cruces Police Department and other local, state and federal agencies as part of Operation Triple Beam-Prolific, an initiative focused on identifying and arresting violent fugitives, targeting illegal firearms and removing dangerous drugs from our communities,” Barnett said.
While the five-week operation has ended, Barnett said cooperation among the participating agencies will continue.
September rifle case highlighted during operation
FBI Albuquerque Division Special Agent in Charge Justin Garris highlighted the Sept. 1 arrest of Charles Reeser as an example of a case arising during the operation.
The case was previously reported by Las Cruces Digest (“Las Cruces Man Accused of Pointing Loaded Rifle at Federal Agents“).
According to Garris, Homeland Security Investigations agents were assisting U.S. Marshals with surveillance at a Las Cruces apartment complex while searching for a wanted person when they observed Reeser handling an AK-47-style rifle inside a vehicle.
Photo Courtesy U.S. Department of Justice
Garris said Reeser, who was not originally the subject of the agents’ investigation, allegedly stepped from the vehicle and pointed the rifle at a passing vehicle. He then allegedly entered a residential street, assumed a shooting position and pointed the loaded rifle toward the federal agents from approximately 20 yards away.
Reeser was taken into custody without incident.
Federal prosecutors subsequently accused Reeser of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The allegations against him remain accusations unless and until proven in court.
Federal prosecutors signal increased involvement
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison said the operation also gives federal prosecutors an opportunity to review cases that could qualify for prosecution in the federal court system.
“When federal law gives us an opportunity to change the consequences for someone committing serious crimes, we are going to take a hard look at that case,” Ellison said in the U.S. Marshals Service announcement.
At Thursday’s press conference, Ellison emphasized differences between federal and state sentencing.
“Criminals in Las Cruces should be on notice that the federal system is different,” Ellison said. “You will serve at least 85% of your sentence, and often the full sentence. And there is no parole in the federal system.”
Ellison said offenders should not assume that consequences they encountered in previous cases will necessarily apply if a future case results in federal prosecution.
More than 2,000 people on warrant status, DA says
Third Judicial District Attorney Fernando Macias placed the fugitive effort within the larger context of outstanding warrants in the area.
“We have over 2,000 individuals that are out on warrant status,” Macias said. “That means individuals who are avoiding the responsibility of responding to the charges that they’re facing.”
Macias said the arrests made during Operation Triple Beam allow prosecutions to proceed in cases that otherwise cannot move forward while defendants remain at large.
Police chief says totals are in addition to regular enforcement
Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story emphasized that the results announced Thursday represent activity attributed specifically to personnel assigned to Operation Triple Beam-Prolific.
The figures are “in addition to the work that’s being done by officers and agents as part of their normal duties,” Story said.
“This is only the statistics for the people that were dedicated to this operation,” he said.
Story said the numbers should also be viewed in terms of the people affected by violent crime, firearms and illegal drugs.
“Every single one of those numbers represents a person,” Story said. “It represents a potential victim that is spared, or a life that is saved.”
Corrections officers account for 27 arrests
The New Mexico Corrections Department said officers from its Probation and Parole Division’s Security Threat Intelligence Unit made 27 arrests of justice-involved individuals on warrant status during the operation.
The unit also recovered a firearm and seized illegal drugs, according to Adult Probation and Parole Director Lupe Sanchez.
Sanchez said the department places a priority on enforcement and community safety while also providing rehabilitative and behavioral health services to incarcerated people and those under community supervision.
Nine agencies participated
Operation Triple Beam-Prolific was led by the U.S. Marshals Southwest Investigative Fugitive Team.
Participating agencies included the U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Las Cruces Police Department, New Mexico State Police, New Mexico Corrections Department and the Office of the Third Judicial District Attorney.
Barnett said the results demonstrate what agencies can accomplish by combining resources across jurisdictions.
“The success of Operation Triple Beam-Prolific reflects the strength of the partnerships we have built across New Mexico,” Barnett said. “When local, state, and federal partners work together, we can identify violent offenders, take them off our streets, and remove illegal firearms and dangerous drugs from our communities.”
Although Operation Triple Beam-Prolific formally ended Sept. 25, Barnett said Thursday that the joint work will continue.
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