A National crackdown by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General wrapped up this week with nearly 500 arrests, including 16 in Twin Cities.
Federal and local law enforcement combed the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area during a four day sweep in February, arresting 16 people living in government-subsidized housing who faced more than 33 active felony warrants.
Those included drug offenses, aggravated assault, and robbery.
“We will not allow criminal predators and fraudsters to use HUD housing as a haven or live freely on the taxpayer’s dime,” said HUD Secretary Scott Turner, a member of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. “Operation Clean House removed dangerous drug traffickers, rapists, and sex offenders and delivered real accountability. President Trump promised to restore once-great American cities, and we are fulfilling that promise by making our communities safer.”
The local arrests were tied to what's being called "Operation Clean House" led by HUD and the U.S. Marshals District of Minnesota's North Star Fugitive Task Force.
"The North Star Fugitive Task Force and the Department of Housing and Urban Development conducted this joint operation with the objective of finding and apprehending dangerous fugitives residing in homes subsidized by taxpayers," said Eddie Frizell, U.S. Marshal for the District of Minnesota. "The results were extraordinary! The surrounding communities expressed their individual thanks and appreciation when the task force brought these wanted individuals to justice.”
Operation Clean House carried out arrests in Memphis, New York City, Newark, Chicago, Los Angeles, Kansas City, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Columbus, Ohio and others.
That nationwide operation officially wrapped up on October 5 and took in 490 suspects in 12 states.
Arrests included drug offenses, aggravated assault, and robbery across 12 states
Arrests included drug offenses, aggravated assault, and robbery across 12 states
