US Marshals Sex Offender Sweep Targets Illinois

The United States Marshals just completed a massive crackdown that targeted sex offenders and Illinois was part of that effort to bring those in violation for these awful crimes to justice.

This new crackdown by the US Marshals was conducted as Operation Adam’s Watch in honor of Adam Walsh, the son of John Walsh of America's Most Wanted fame. It was a multi-week enforcement effort that included 37 different geographical locations in many states and the US Marshals say that Illinois was one of their targeted regions. The operation focused on identifying, locating, and apprehending non-compliant sex offenders and it resulted in the arrest of more than 330 fugitives wanted for failure to register as a sex offender, sex assault, or other sex offenses.

"The USMS, having a robust network of federal, state, and local partners, was the logical choice to implement the Adam Walsh Act,” said U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta. "We are the best in the world at finding people. We have the tools and the talent no one else has. When the Adam Walsh Act became law, it made sense for us, along with our partners, to make sure noncompliant sex offenders are back off the streets and not a threat to those who could become victims."

According to Wikipedia, Adam Walsh was abducted from a mall in Hollywood, Florida on July 27, 1981. His severed head was found two weeks later. Convicted serial killer Ottis Toole reportedly confessed to the crime, but later recanted his statement and was never brought to justice as evidence from the case was lost. That's why his father John Walsh became an advocate for violent crime victims and began the America's Most Wanted TV series.