FBI'S FACTS & FIGURES TEN MOST WANTED FUGITIVES MAY 14, 2010 The following contains current and historical information for internal and external distribution. This information is based on FBI records and is updated by the Investigative Publicity and Public Affairs Unit, Office of Public Affairs. The FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list has been in existence since March 14, 1950. A reporter for the International News Service (the predecessor to United Press International) asked the Bureau for the names and descriptions of the "toughest guys" the Bureau would like to capture. The resulting story generated so much publicity and had so much appeal that late FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover implemented the "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" program. The first person to be placed on the list was Thomas James Holden, wanted for the murder of his wife, her brother, and her stepbrother. Since its inception, 494 fugitives have been on the "TOP TEN" list, and 463 have been apprehended or located. Some interesting facts about the program are: * 152 fugitives have been captured/located as a result of citizen cooperation. * 2 fugitives were apprehended as a result of visitors on an FBI tour. * The shortest amount of time spent on the "Top Ten" list was two hours, by Billy Austin Bryant in 1969. * The longest amount of time spent on the "Top Ten" list is over 26 years by Victor Manuel Gerena. * Nine fugitives were arrested prior to publication and release, but are still considered as officially on the list. * The oldest person to be placed on the list was 69-year- old James J. Bulger, who was added in August of 1999. This program relies heavily on the assistance of citizens and the media. Publicity from coast to coast and around the world is important. Public-spirited television programming, such as FOX network's “America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back", provides nationwide publicity. Questions About "Top Tenners" 1. What is the purpose of the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" program? The "Top Ten" is a publicity program founded by the FBI in March of 1950 in conjunction with the nation's news media. It is designed to publicize particularly dangerous fugitives who might not otherwise merit nationwide attention. The FBI recognizes the need for public assistance in tracking fugitives. One hundred and fifty-two of the "Top Ten" apprehensions have been the result of citizen recognition of "Top Ten" fugitive publicity. 2. How did the program originate? A newspaper story in late 1949 led to the creation of the list. A reporter for International News Service (the predecessor to United Press International) asked the Bureau for the names and descriptions of the "toughest guys" the Bureau would like to capture. The story had so much appeal and generated so much positive publicity that on March 14, 1950, former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover implemented the "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" program. 3. Who was the first woman to be placed on the "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list? In 1968, Ruth Eisemann-Schier was added to the "Top Ten" list for kidnapping and extortion. To date, eight "Most Wanted" fugitives have been women. 4. Has the makeup of the fugitives on the "Top Ten" changed over the years? The list has publicized a wide variety of fugitives wanted for committing various criminal acts. Throughout the first decade, the list was highlighted by bank robbers, burglars, and car thieves. Upon entering the radical 1960's, destruction of government property, sabotage, and kidnapping dominated the list. In the 1970's, the list concentrated on organized crime and murder. Drug related crimes and serial murderers became a priority for the FBI in the 1980's. This trend continued until the late 1990's, when the "Top Ten" list began to reflect the growing international aspect of criminal activity. International terrorism, large drug trafficking cartels, crimes against children, and international money laundering schemes are crimes that know no borders and today, pose the greatest challenge for law enforcement officials around the world. 5. Has the publicity generated by the program changed over the years? Just as the composition of the list of "Top Ten" fugitives has changed over the years, the media outlets available for publicizing these fugitives have also changed. Traditionally, newspapers and magazines captured the attention of the domestic reader with profiles and photographs of America's fugitives. Nine of the first twenty "Top Tenners" were arrested due to citizen cooperation, including the very first "Top Tenner", Thomas Holden, who was arrested after a citizen recognized his photograph in an Oregon newspaper. Today, editors and news directors want the local angle, which is not always present in a "Top Ten" story. Therefore, the program relies heavily on publicity from coast to coast. "Top Ten" fugitives have been apprehended in every state except Alaska, Maine, and Delaware. Currently, the FBI is also using television and radio to attract public attention to the "Top Ten" list. Networks are airing television programs on FBI fugitives, and ABC Radio Network broadcasts the weekly series "FBI, This Week." As a result of the first episode of "America's Most Wanted", seen on the FOX Television Network, David James Roberts was captured. To date, seventeen "Top Ten" fugitives have been located as a direct result of tips provided by viewers of this program. In addition to television and radio, the FBI has begun to use cyberspace to inform the public. Postings on the FBI’s Internet Web site, www.fbi.gov, have led to the apprehension of two of the FBI’s "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives". 6. Who actually decides which fugitives go on the list? The Criminal Investigative Division {CID} at FBI Headquarters contacts all 56 Field Offices to submit candidates for the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list. The nominees received are reviewed by Special Agents in the CID and the Office of Public Affairs. The selection of the “proposed” candidate(s) is forwarded to the Assistant Director of the CID for his/her approval and then to the FBI’s Deputy Director for final approval. 7. On what criteria is that decision made? There are two primary criteria. First, the fugitive must be considered a particularly dangerous menace to society and/or have a lengthy record of committing serious crimes. Second, nationwide publicity must be able to assist in the apprehension of the fugitive. 8. When are the "Top Tenners" removed from the list? Unless a "Top Tenner" is captured, found dead, or surrenders, they are only removed from the list when they meet one of two conditions. First, any federal process pending against the individual is dismissed. This is not an FBI decision. Second, they no longer fit "Top Ten" criteria. There have been six "Top Ten" fugitives removed from the list. 9. How many "special additions" have been made to the "Top Ten"? Ramzi Ahmed Yousef made the thirteenth fugitive to become a “special addition.” The first "special addition" was Richard Laurence Marquette who was wanted for murder. The second was James Earl Ray, wanted for the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 10. Are there rewards offered for "Top Ten" fugitives? At a minimum, a reward of up to $100,000 is offered by the FBI for information which leads directly to the arrest of a "Top Ten" fugitive. In some instances, the reward amount offered is more than $100,000. "TOP TEN" STATISTICS Year Total Located Breakdown of the 1950 8 Apprehensions: 1951 11 FBI................... 236 1952 12 Local.................. 97 1953 26 Joint.................. 66 1954 15 Killed During Capture...11 1955 12 Surrendered............ 21 1956 7 Foreign Authorities.... 32* 1957 2 1958 7a Apprehension by Publicity: 1959 14 Internet............... 2 1960 21b Television............. 27 1961 15c Radio................... 2 1962 14 Newspapers............. 33 1963 6d Magazines.............. 13 1964 19e Wanted Notices......... 49 1965 20f,g,h Total 126 1966 16 1967 17i,j NCIC Hits............... 2 1968 33 1969 11 Process Dismissed: 1970 5 1971 3 a. Mitchell...... 07/18/58 1972 2k,l b. Pero.......... 12/02/60 1973 4m c. Diggs......... 12/14/61 1974 7 d. Keegan........ 12/13/63 1975 7 e. Tenuto........ 03/09/64 1976 9 f. O'Brien....... 01/14/65 1977 11 g. Newman........ 06/11/65 1978 6 h. Payne......... 11/26/65 1979 6 i. Collins....... 03/30/67 1980 2 j. Maps.......... 12/01/67 1981 6 k. Teaford....... 05/24/72 1982 2 l. Clouser....... 08/01/72 1983 2 m. Dohrn......... 12/07/73 1984 6 n. C. Hammond.... 08/04/86 1985 7 o. M. Hammond.... 08/04/86 1986 11n,o 1987 6 Other: 1988 9 1989 5 Found Deceased.......... 14 1990 2 1991 2 1992 1 *42 Fugitives were 1993 0 captured in foreign 1994 6 countries, but several 1995 3 were captured as the 1996 4 result of a joint effort. 1997 3 1998 3 1999 4 2005 0 2000 2 2006 5 2001 9 2007 3 2002 6 2008 2 2003 1 2009 3 2004 3 TOTAL 463 "TOP TEN" STATISTICS Removed from List: Persons Appearing On The D. A. Armstrong 4/1/76 List More Than Once: L. F. Burt 4/7/76 B. H. Paddock 5/5/77 1. Nick George Montos K. A. Power 6/15/84 Dates: 09/08/52 - 08/23/54 A. L. Washington 12/27/00 03/02/56 - 03/28/56 D. E. Webb 3/31/07 2. Edward Sanford Garrison Dates: 10/26/53 - 11/03/53 First Person Placed On List: 03/04/59 - 09/09/60 Thomas J. Holden 3.