LOS ANGELES, July 1, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Los Angeles Regional Fugitive Task Force announces the arrest of Clarence "Rusty" Tomlin, a fugitive wanted since 1989 for two murders, as well as Federal narcotics and tax violations. Tomlin was arrested in Compton at approximately 9:00 pm Monday evening by investigators assigned to the Task Force, with assistance from Deputy United States Marshals from the San Francisco Field Office and investigators from the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office and the REACT Task Force.
Tomlin's apprehension was the culmination of more than 14 years of diligent investigation by investigators from the United States Marshals Service, the Internal Revenue Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Kings County Sheriff's Department, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, the REACT Task Force and the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force.
In recent months, law enforcement agencies from the San Francisco Bay area developed information that Tomlin might be in the Los Angeles area and sought assistance from the Los Angeles Regional Fugitive Task Force in following up on the information. Investigative leads indicated that Tomlin was probably in the Compton area and, after three days of surveillance, he was determined to be staying at the Crystal Palace Casino under an alias. Investigators moved in and took Tomlin into custody without incident.
Tomlin is wanted in Santa Clara County in connection with the 1989 murder of Charles Magonia at Magonia's real estate office in San Jose, California. Tomlin allegedly ordered the murder because he believed that Magonia was cooperating with law enforcement. Two of Tomlin's criminal associates have been convicted in connection with that murder.
Tomlin is also wanted in Kings County, California for the 1992 murder of his common law wife Clare Caballero. Tomlin allegedly shot and killed Caballero at her home in Lemoore, California after she threatened to tell authorities about Tomlin's involvement in illegal activities.
In 1995, Tomlin was indicted in United States District Court in San Francisco, California for being the principal administrator of a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, Cocaine Distribution, Money Laundering and Income Tax Violations. Tomlin's criminal organization allegedly began in the early 1980s and was one of the first in the San Francisco Bay area to capitalize on the distribution of crack cocaine. Tomlin's organization was also allegedly involved in the manufacture and distribution of Fentanyl, a "designer drug" with effects similar to heroin. In addition to controlling his narcotics empire in the Bay Area, Tomlin also allegedly laundered several million dollars through casinos in Nevada.
Tomlin had been profiled on the FOX Television show, "America's Most Wanted" in 1995 and again in 1996 and, at the time of his arrest, was being processed for inclusion as one of the United States Marshals Service's 15 Most Wanted fugitives.
The Los Angeles Regional Fugitive Task Force targets violent fugitives wanted for state, local, or Federal offenses. It is coordinated by the United States Marshals Service and comprised of investigators and officers from the United States Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, California Department of Corrections/Law Enforcement & Investigations Unit, California Department of Justice / Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, San Bernardino Sheriff's Department and the Los Angeles Police Department.