NJ Extradites 1st Overseas Fugitive

Governor James E. McGreevey Thursday praised State and federal law enforcement agencies for their outstanding efforts towards apprehending Manny Farina, a New Jersey fugitive since 1987. Farina, who was jailed in 1986 for a string of assaults, burglaries and thefts in Essex County, is the first New Jersey fugitive that has been extradited from another country. He was apprehended from Bogota, Columbia.

“I want to commend Commissioner Devon Brown, Attorney General Peter Harvey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. State Department, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for helping make the capture of Manny Farina a reality,” said Governor McGreevey. “It is our intent to send a very real and clear message to all fugitives: New Jersey will take all necessary steps to ensure that justice is served. We won’t forget about you, but we will continue to fight hard to protect our citizens, justice and the integrity of our judicial system.”

The McGreevey Administration, under the leadership of the Department of Corrections Commissioner Devon Brown and Attorney General Peter Harvey, has taken several steps to strengthen efforts to capture escapees hiding overseas. The efforts include fortifying communications between Department of Corrections, Law & Public Safety, the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. State Department and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark.

“It is important that all those who violated our laws – no matter were they are -- have a full understanding that New Jersey will go to the fullest extent possible to serve justice,” said Commissioner Brown. "If they're still here on this planet, we're going after them."

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Author: Press Release-Micah Rasmussen