Worcester – Working closely with officials from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue Child Support Enforcement Division, Deputies from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office successfully arrested 16 men last night and early this morning on charges of non-payment of child support.  In all, the 16 offenders owe a total of over $507,000 in outstanding child support.

“Today is a very proud day for the Sheriff’s Office and DOR; it marks the largest one day roundup of deadbeat dads in county history,” Sheriff Glodis stated.  “The Sheriff’s Office continues to transform from a county jail to a proactive public safety partner committed to apprehending individuals that have been financially negligent to their duties and obligations.”

Codenamed “Operation Red Falcon”, 5 two-person teams of Deputy Sheriffs coordinated with the Department of Revenue and Worcester Probate Court to arrest and arraign these individuals late last night and this morning.  Deputies assigned to the Sheriff’s Child support Offender Recovery Team (CORT) led the effort. 

In the countywide sweep, Deputies arrested individuals in Fitchburg, Leominster, Westminster, Millbury, Shrewsbury, Westborough, Dudley, Oxford and Worcester.

A number of those arrested in the sweep had outstanding warrants for parole violations, violation of restraining orders, and included a Level 2 Sex Offender. 

From 2006 – 2008, Deputies with the Sheriff’s Civil Process Division have successfully arrested over 410 individuals for non-payment of child support.