Puño Airlines
In 1985, the Fugitive Investigative Strike Team VIII, part of the United States Marshals Service, set up Puño Airlines, a front organization to lure wanted criminals into the open where they could be arrested – by sending a letter suggesting the fugitive had won a free flight, a weekend in the Bahamas, and $350 in spending money.[2] In total, 200 fugitives were sent the offer, and 14 were arrested after showing up to claim their winnings.[3]
The FIST VIII had set up a Puño Airlines (puño is
Two of the arrested fugitives did not realise the nature of the operation: one phoned from prison to ask if he could reschedule his flight, while another begged cops to "take care of this next week", noting she had won a trip and wanted to enjoy her vacation first.[5]
Marshall Wolfman turned up at the airport himself, but stood approximately 100 yards away from Puño Airlines, eyeing it suspiciously. After FIST VIII arranged to page a fictitious name to the counter over the
References
- San Jose Mercury News, June 17, 1985
- ^ a b c "Creative stings", United States Marshals Service
- Gainesville Sun, June 25, 1985
- ^ Turner Publishing, p. 25
- ^ St. Petersburg Times, June 17, 1985