Oklahoma Fugitive Returned to United States

Bureau of Diplomatic Security
U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 9, 2004

A convicted child rapist wanted in Oklahoma for bail jumping and failure to register as a sex offender was returned to the United States on November 5, 2004, through the efforts of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, the Belize Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service.

Dennis Wayne Fleming fled the United States in 2003 to Central America. The U.S. Marshals Service adopted the warrant from the Payne County Sheriff’s Office and tracked Fleming to Belize. The U.S. Marshals contacted the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and asked for assistance with locating Fleming in Belize.

The Diplomatic Security special agent assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Belize coordinated with the Belize Police authorities. The Belize Police located and arrested Fleming on local immigration charges on October 30, 2004. A Belize court found Fleming guilty of residing in Belize without a valid visa and found him deportable to the United States. Fleming was incarcerated until November 5 when the Diplomatic Security special agent transferred custody of him to the U.S. Marshals who escorted him back to the United States.

“Through the cooperative efforts of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the U.S. Marshals Service, 92 fugitives wanted for various crimes have been returned to the United States thus far this year,” said Ambassador Frank Taylor, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Diplomatic Security.

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the worldwide law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. Department of State with special agents assigned to U.S. diplomatic missions overseas and field offices throughout the United States. Diplomatic Security special agents conduct passport and visa fraud investigations worldwide and are responsible for security at 285 U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world.

Contact: Tara Rigler
                 571-345-2503
                 Cell: 703-624-1073
                 RiglerTM@state.gov

                 Doug Quiram
                 571-345-2994

[Regional release by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Public Affairs.]