Sweeping federal operation nabs 264 suspects, including migrants

They brought the hammer down on the worst of the worst.

Federal authorities have swept up 264 wanted criminals — including illegal migrants — in New Jersey in an ongoing mission dubbed “Operation Apex Hammer” that nabbed suspects wanted for murder, robbery and sexual offenses, including those against children.

Those arrested include 17 homicide suspects, 95 gang members, including several others wanted for serious violent and sexual offenses, federal officials said.

U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos Jr. and Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba called the collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement “a major success in combating violent crime and restoring public safety.”

“We are doing multiple cases at once to make sure that we clean up as quickly as possible,” Habba told Fox News of the operation in June. “Violent crime is number one. It is very clear from this administration. That is all we’re focused on.”

At least two of the suspects were illegal immigrants, police sources said. 

The suspects had 2,625 prior arrests among them, or about 10 each, officials said.

Illegal Guatemalan immigrant Lorenzo Benitez, 54, was arrested on June 4 in Plainfield, N.J., and faces multiple counts of sexual assault in Keansburg, N.J., law enforcement officials said.

Darlin Franco-Guzman, 25, an illegal immigrant from Honduras, was wanted in Baltimore County, MD, for burglary and attempted sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl, and was arrested on June 10th in Trenton, the officials said.

The other fugitives’ crimes ranged from kidnapping and sex assault to a drive-by shooting murder.

Stephen Bullock, 32, was arrested on June 13 on charges that he allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulting a 76-year-old woman in Camden County. Shawn Davis, 38, was arrested in Brooklyn for a 2024 homicide in Trenton, according to officials.

Luis Duval-Jimenez, 31, was being sought for allgedly running over a police officer in South Brunswick in May. Trasuf Bennett, 20, and an unidentified juvenile accomplice were arrested on June 19 for the drive-by shooting murder of a 20-year-old man in Milleville, N.J., officials said.

Francisco Ruiz, 67, was wanted for sexual assault by contact, terroristic threats, endangering the welfre of a child and criminal restraint, officials said. He was arrested on June 20 in Bayonne.

Officers also seized 14 illegal firearms during the operation.

Additional reporting by Tina Moore