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Facts and Figures 2003


Fugitives

Under the Fugitive Program, the FBI locates and apprehends individuals wanted in connection with substantive FBI investigations. The FBI also assists local and state law enforcement agencies in apprehending highly sought fugitives who may have fled across state lines or left the country. The primary emphasis is on fugitives sought for serious or violent criminal acts, including those engaged in large-scale drug trafficking.

The FBI is the primary federal law enforcement agency with statutory authority to investigate fugitive matters where the fugitive is wanted on state charges and has crossed state lines. The FBI's policy and objective in investigating fugitive matters is to effect the swift location and capture of fugitives, particularly those wanted in connection with violent crimes and substantial property loss or destruction. The FBI is increasingly tasked to assist with coordinating apprehension efforts of US fugitives abroad. These fugitives, who fled foreign jurisdiction and are believed to be in the United States, are wanted for crimes of violence, including murder, kidnapping, and robbery.

The "Top Ten" is a publicity program founded by the FBI in March 1950, along with the national news media. It is designed to publicize particularly dangerous fugitives who might not otherwise merit nationwide attention. The program concentrates on nationwide crime and terrorism, serial murders, and drug-related crimes. Since its creation, the Top Ten program has resulted in the location or apprehension of 446 fugitives. For more information on this program, including photographs and descriptions of the current Top Ten, go to http://www.fbi.gov/mostwant/topten/fugitives/fugitives.htm.

CASE STUDY: ERIC FRANKLIN ROSSER
Eric Franklin Rosser was wanted by authorities for his alleged involvement in numerous offenses, including the production of a videotape in Thailand which depicted sexually explicit conduct between him and an eleven-year-old girl. Rosser later distributed the videotape to a resident of Bloomington, Indiana. He also allegedly conspired to transport, distribute, and receive videotapes, photographs, and magazines containing child pornography involving female children between the ages of nine and eleven years old. Some of these photographs and visual depictions were placed on the Internet as a direct result of being smuggled, allegedly by Rosser, from the United States to Thailand. Rosser was indicted on March 21, 2000, in the Southern District of Indiana and charged with the production, distribution, receipt, and transportation of child pornography. As an admitted pedophile, Rosser was considered dangerous, especially to children.

The FBI placed Rosser on its list of "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" on December 27, 2000. Rosser was also featured on the television program America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back. After the program aired, a viewer's tip led authorities to believe that Rosser was in the area and, after surveillance was initiated, Rosser was seen walking on a city street and then entering a building. Law enforcement authorities followed Rosser into the building and proceeded to place him in custody. Rosser was taken into custody on August 21, 2001, at a business in Bangkok, Thailand. Members of the Crime Suppression Bureau of the Thai National Police, in cooperation with the FBI's Legal Attaché Office in Bangkok, Thailand participated in the arrest.

 


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