Robert Gary, a 50-year-old Florida resident, was taken into custody on the island of St. John after a coordinated effort by U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement. Gary was wanted on a failure to appear warrant stemming from charges in Jacksonville, Florida, including aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and leaving the scene of a crash involving injury.
Coordinated Effort Leads to Arrest
The arrest occurred near the U.S. Post Office in Cruz Bay, St. John, at approximately 12:15 p.m. on June 2, 2026. This operation was a joint effort involving the U.S. Marshals Service in the District of the Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Police Department Special Response Team, and special agents from the Virgin Islands Department of Justice.
The search for Gary intensified when the Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force in Jacksonville sent a lead to investigators in St. Thomas. They discovered a connection between Gary and a tattoo shop in Cruz Bay, licensed under the alias Eric Gary. Surveillance was set up, leading to Gary’s identification and subsequent arrest.
U.S. Marshals Service’s Role
The U.S. Marshals Service plays a crucial role in apprehending fugitives by integrating federal, state, and local resources. In 2025, the agency’s task forces arrested over 73,000 fugitives and cleared nearly 88,000 warrants nationwide, averaging 293 arrests daily.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
