Task Force Nabs Michael Defosses

Concord – United States Marshal Stephen Monier, District of New Hampshire, Merrimack County Sheriff Chester Jordan, and Manchester Police Chief John Jaskolka today announced the capture of convicted sex offender Michael Defosses, age 41.

Defosses was wanted by the Merrimack County Sheriffs Office for Failure to Appear on an underlying conviction for Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault. Defosses was also wanted by the Manchester Police Department, for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.  After investigators determined that Defosses had fled New Hampshire in early 2005, the case was referred to the New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force. Defosses has been listed as one of New Hampshire’s Most Wanted.

After an extensive investigation, Defosses was located and arrested yesterday in Miami, Florida, where he was residing in homeless shelters, and using the alias, Michael Anthony. He was arrested without incident by Deputy U.S. Marshals and members of the Miami Police Department.

Monier noted that New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force, run by the Concord office of the United States Marshal’s Service, is now responsible for over 1000 captures in just four years of operation. In addition to federal warrants, the task force assists state and local law enforcement with fugitive cases meeting certain criteria.

“In the case of Mr. Defosses, we had an individual who had two separate convictions for sexual assault, and had absconded shortly after his release from incarceration” said U.S. Marshal Monier. He added, “The unregistered and repeat sex offender is exactly the type of individual that the Adam Walsh Act is meant to address”.