CHARLESTON, S.C. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations, at Charleston seaport arrested two U.S. citizens Monday. The individuals arrived on a cruise ship from the Bahamas and were taken into custody on outstanding warrants out of Virginia and Florida.
CBP officers determined Michelle Fletcher, 48, of North Chesterfield, Va., to be the subject of an arrest warrant obtained by the Henrico County, Virginia, Sheriff’s Office.
Arriving on the same cruise, was Aaron Washington, 33, of Lancaster, Pa. Mr. Washington was the subject of an arrest warrant from the Osceola County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office. CBP officers verified the validity of the warrants and matched them to the Fletcher and Washington.
The two individuals were turned over to the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office for extradition.
“As the nation’s border security agency, CBP officers at times encounter travelers with outstanding arrest warrants and work to return them to the jurisdictions that initiated their criminal charges,” said Charleston Acting Area Port Director Joanne Fogg. “We work closely and effectively with our local and state law enforcement partners to accomplish that mission together.”
CBP’s Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the U.S. while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. CBP conducts inspection operations and intercepts currency, weapons, prohibited agriculture products and other illicit items, and on average arrests 22 wanted persons a day at U.S. ports of entry nationwide. View CBP Snapshot to learn some of what CBP achieves “On a Typical Day.”
