Puño Airlines
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Marshal_Wolfman_arrested_at_Puno_Airlines_-_USMS_Photo.jpg/400px-Marshal_Wolfman_arrested_at_Puno_Airlines_-_USMS_Photo.jpg)
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 Spanish for "fist") booth beside Air Haiti in Miami International Airport, and did not tell any of the airport employees about the sting operation.[4][5] They then offered to send a limo to pick up the "winners" and bring them to the airport, to which 13 fugitives agreed.[2] Police later said that offering a drive to the airport helped ensure that suspects would not carry weapons, knowing there was a metal detector before boarding their flights.[5]
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 loudspeakers, Wolfman presented himself at the replica ticket booth.[5][2] Wolfman was wanted for theft of a rental car.[5]
Konrāds Kalējs, a Latvian accused of collaboration with the Nazis, was also arrested in the operation.[4]
References[]
- ^ "Free Ride to Jail", San Jose Mercury News, June 17, 1985
- ^ a b c "Creative stings", United States Marshals Service
- ^ Robins, Charlie. "Just another sting in the mail", Gainesville Sun, June 25, 1985
- ^ a b "Retired US Marshals Association", Turner Publishing, p. 25
- ^ a b c d e Rowand, Andrea. "Undercover project FIST nets 3,000-plus fugitives", St. Petersburg Times, June 17, 1985
- Front organizations