EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)), published as received.

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – After a final arrest last weekend, federal authorities are releasing the 
results of a month long, large scale, multi-agency, law enforcement operation led by the U.S. 
Marshals Service, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, operating primarily throughout March 
2022. The operation resulted in more than 150 arrests, including three individuals being charged 
with homicide in St. Clair County in connection with one of the firearms seized.

Multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies worked countless hours concentrating 
their  efforts  on  known  gang  members,  wanted  subjects,  and  other  known  violent  
offenders. Operation Washout (OWO) is a United States Marshals initiative deployed to local areas 
to bring immediate  relief  from  violent,  gang  related  crime.  The  goal  is  to  foster  safer 
 communities  by investigating  and  arresting  fugitives  and  members  of  criminal  
organizations  responsible  for committing violent crimes.

The detail yielded 153 arrests with 55 of those subjects being identified as gang members. Also 
seized were 62 firearms, $42,974 in U.S. Currency, two vehicles, and 26.9 kilograms of narcotics. 
Enforcement  operations  were  focused  on  Madison  and  St.  Clair  counties,  in  addition  to  
the Centralia region.

“Federal law enforcement is at its best when coordinating our resources to focus on those who 
present the biggest threat to public safety,” said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “I 
credit the U.S. Marshals Service for their excellent work. They perform an incredibly valuable 
service to the community by searching for and apprehending the most violent offenders in the most 
dangerous areas.”

“This operation is a great example of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners 
working together to have a significant impact on reducing violent crime in our communities,” said 
Jeremy Wyatt, Acting United States Marshal.   “Thank you to all of the law  enforcement officers 
that participated in this operation and put it on the line every day to ensure a safer community 
for everyone.”
Participating agencies included U.S. Marshals Service, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, The   Bureau   of   Alcohol,   Tobacco,   Firearms,   and   Explosives   (ATF),   Federal   Bureau  
 of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, Safe Streets Task Force, U.S. Department of Homeland 
Security Investigations (HSI), Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Corrections – Parole 
(IDOC), St. Clair County Drug Tactical Unit (DTU), St. Clair County Probation, Granite City Police  
Department,  Alton  Police  Department,  Belleville  Police  Department,  Centralia  Police 
Department,  St.  Clair,  Madison,  Jefferson,  Effingham,  Marion,  and  Clinton  County  
Sheriff’s Departments.