Hartford, Conn. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Hartford and Charlotte ports of entry assisted local law enforcement to apprehend a man who was the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant issued in the state of Connecticut for a custody violation.
On Aug. 8, CBP officers in Hartford were contacted by the Stratford, Conn. Police Department to assist with the possible kidnapping of a 12-year-old female. A missing child report had been issued for the minor who had not been seen or heard from by her mother for eight days and was suspected of being taken to Jamaica by her father.
Effective collaboration between Stratford police, Hartford and Charlotte CBP resulted in the apprehension of the suspect, Joseph Virgo, 36, a United States citizen and resident of Meriden, Conn., at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport as he was returning to the United States from Jamaica.
While in the CBP secondary screening area, Virgo provided the location of the missing juvenile, who was found with relatives in Bridgeport, Conn.
Virgo was subsequently turned over to the custody of the Charlotte-Mecklinburg Police Department, and is due to appear in court in Bridgeport on Aug. 14.
The child was unharmed and safely reunited with her mother, the legal guardian, on Aug. 9.
“This case demonstrates the power of inter- and intra-agency collaboration,” said Director of Field Operations Kevin Weeks. “The timely sharing of information between federal, state and municipal agencies resulted in the successful recovery of a missing juvenile.”
The charges and allegations contained in criminal complaints are merely accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
