Law enforcement in all four federal judicial districts in Texas took part in Operation Trick or Treat 4, a nationwide effort that targets non-compliant and fugitive sex offenders during the Halloween season. The U.S. Marshals Service said 37 federal judicial districts participated.
The agency said the operation, run in October with more than 127 law enforcement agencies, led to 197 arrests. Of those, 114 were sex offenders arrested for failing to register and 57 were sex offenders arrested for other offenses. Another 26 people were arrested for various criminal activities.
Officers conducted 4,183 compliance checks in 77 counties across 27 states, visiting the registered addresses of convicted sex offenders to confirm they were correct. The checks found 316 offenders who were not compliant with registration rules, including some who were not living where they said they lived. Deputy U.S. Marshals also started federal criminal investigations for failure to register.
The Marshals Service said enforcement will continue in some communities through Halloween. U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces S. Serralta thanked the agents and partner agencies involved.