WASHINGTON: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers arrested a Maryland man on Florida child molestation charges at Washington Dulles International Airport Monday as the man attempted to board a flight to Dubai, U.A.E. While conducting outbound enforcement, CBP officers encountered Clement Francis, 37, of Germantown, Md., who is wanted in Santa Rosa County, Fla., on charges of lewd and lascivious acts on a minor. CBP officers escorted Francis to the International Arrivals Building where officers verified Francis’ identity. Officers verified with Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Department that the warrant remained active and that they desired to extradite Francis. CBP officers arrested Francis and turned him over to Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police officers.
“Customs and Border Protection officers sometimes encounter travelers with outstanding arrest warrants and we work to return them to the jurisdiction of their criminal charges,” said Wayne Biondi, CBP Port Director for the Area Port of Washington Dulles. “This warrant arrest is another example of CBP’s collaboration with our law enforcement partners to protect victims’ rights, return fugitives to justice, and to help keep our communities safe.” Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
CBP officers sometimes encounter travelers with outstanding arrest warrants. CBP officers routinely examine passenger manifests on arriving and departing international flights, and identify travelers who may require additional inspectional scrutiny, including those with outstanding arrest warrants. On average, CBP arrests 23 wanted persons every day at air, land and sea ports of entry across the United States. View CBP Snapshot to learn some of what CBP achieves ‘On a Typical Day’ at our nation’s 328 ports of entry. “Inbound and outbound inspections of international travelers and cargo is one way in which Customs and Border Protection contributes to our nation’s security, and it’s a responsibility that CBP takes very serious,” said Casey Owen Durst, CBP’s Field Operations Director in Baltimore, the agency’s operational commander in the mid-Atlantic region. Learn how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders at international Ports of Entry. Travelers are encouraged to visit CBP’s Travel section to learn more about the CBP admissions process and rules governing travel to and from the U.S.
