The U.S. Marshals Service is trying to track down a cocaine dealer who has eluded authorities since a warrant was issued for his arrest in October. Saquon K. Bethea was indicted as part of a cocaine distribution ring in September. A defense attorney told prosecutors that Bethea, 31, would turn himself in on Oct. 12, but he never showed up.
A federal grand jury in the District returned the indictment against eight people, including Bethea, on Sept. 28. They are charged with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms of cocaine and 50 grams of crack cocaine.
The other seven defendants were arrested on Oct. 6, according to prosecutors’ motion for a judge to issue a bench warrant for Bethea.
The next week, the motion says, a defense attorney indicated Bethea would turn himself in, but “the defendant never presented himself to the U.S. Marshals Service, was never arrested, and remains at large.”
A judge issued the warrant for Bethea’s arrest on Oct. 15.
“Bethea has been actively evading law enforcement officials for several months,” said Special Agent Mike Sanborn of the Marshals Service. “We need the community’s assistance in locating him so we can get another drug dealer off our streets.”
The indictment alleges that the eight men distributed drugs around the D.C. region from October 2008 to August 2010.
Bethea’s criminal past includes arrests on narcotics, weapons, assault and robbery charges, the Marshals Service said.
Bethea has lived in Northeast and Southeast Washington and in Temple Hills in Prince George’s County.
He is a black man who is about 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds. He has short black hair.
Anyone with information about his location is asked to contact the U.S. Marshals at 301-489-1717 or 800-336-0102.
The Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force is composed of 30 federal, state and local agencies from Baltimore to Norfolk. The unit has captured more than 33,000 wanted fugitives since its creation in 2004.
Tips from readers of The Washington Examiner have led to the arrest of at least 24 fugitives over the past two years. The “Most Wanted” feature appears each Thursday on the Crime and Punishment page.
