Richmond, TX – The Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the US Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force, executed Operation Hawthorn from May 3^rd to June 9^th, 2023, to reduce violent crime in Fort Bend County. The DA’s office and Task Force were assisted by Constables, Deputies, and Houston Police Officers to safely locate and arrest wanted fugitives during the 5-week period. The goal was to target gang members and violent offenders with outstanding warrants and collect criminal intelligence.

80 felony warrants were executed against 50 individuals during the operation. Arrests were made throughout Fort Bend County and the greater Houston area, and one in North Carolina. Charges included aggravated assaults, sexual assaults, crimes against children, weapons and drug crimes, and murder. Over one-third of the fugitives were located in Fort Bend County.

Five firearms were recovered, $9,855 was seized, and over 10 ounces of marijuana were removed from our neighborhoods. Seven documented gang members were also arrested.

District Attorney Brian Middleton commented, “Operation Hawthorn was implemented to suppress crime in our community by targeting known violent offenders and gang members. We will continue to conduct these type of operations to maintain safety and set a tone that we will not stop our pursuit of fugitives and violent offenders.”

The Fort Bend County Constable Precinct 4, Fort Bend County Constable Precinct 3, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office Warrant/K9 Division, Houston Police Department South Gessner Crime Suppression Unit, Houston Police Department Southwest Crime Suppression Unit and Houston Police Department Central Crime Suppression Unit assisted in the operation.