Executive Summary
- U.S. Marshals and D.C. Police arrested 101 fugitives on December 15, 1985, during ‘Operation Flagship.’
- Authorities created a fictitious television network to lure suspects with offers of free Washington Redskins tickets.
- The sting involved 166 undercover officers disguised as event staff and mascots at the Washington Convention Center.
- The operation is historically significant and memorialized at the United States Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
On December 15, 1985, U.S. Marshals and the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department successfully executed ‘Operation Flagship,’ a complex sting operation that resulted in the arrest of 101 fugitives. The operation, which took place at the Washington Convention Center, utilized a deceptive lure involving complimentary Washington Redskins tickets to apprehend individuals with outstanding warrants in a controlled environment.
According to historical records from the U.S. Marshals Service, the initiative was part of the broader Fugitive Investigation Strike Team (F.I.S.T.) program. Authorities sent invitations to approximately 3,000 fugitives at their last known addresses. The letters, purportedly from a fictitious entity named ‘Flagship International Sports Television, Inc.,’ offered recipients free tickets to a Week 15 matchup between the Washington Redskins and the Cincinnati Bengals, as well as a chance to win a trip to Super Bowl XX in New Orleans.
Reports indicate that the promise of attending a sold-out game during the Redskins’ successful season proved to be a powerful draw. Fugitives were instructed to attend a celebratory brunch at the convention center to claim their prizes. Upon arrival, they were met by 166 undercover officers posing as tuxedo-clad ushers, cheerleaders, catering staff, and even a mascot resembling the San Diego Chicken. To maintain the ruse, undercover agents reportedly engaged in singing team fight songs.
Once the suspects were gathered and the brunch commenced, law enforcement officials signaled the takedown, securing the arrests of 101 individuals. The operation is cited as one of the most successful mass arrests in U.S. law enforcement history. Ben Johnson, President and CEO of the United States Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, Arkansas, stated that the operation demonstrated the agency’s ability to ‘outthink, outmaneuver, and outsmart’ elusive fugitives. Artifacts and surveillance materials from the sting are now permanently displayed at the museum.
Historical Investigative Significance
Operation Flagship serves as a foundational example of the efficacy of psychological lures in large-scale fugitive apprehension strategies. By leveraging high-value cultural incentives, such as professional sports access, law enforcement agencies were able to consolidate high-risk targets into a single, controlled location, significantly reducing the danger associated with individual warrant services. The success of this operation highlighted the critical role of inter-agency coordination and creative deception in modern policing. It is important to note that, in accordance with the U.S. justice system, all individuals arrested during such operations are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
