News

U.S. marshals seeking 4 sex offenders believed to be in Pittsburgh area

PITTSBURGH — Officials are asking the public for help finding four fugitive sex offenders who have failed to register and are believed to be in the area.

Police are looking for the following men:

  • Brain Lawson, age 42, is 6 feet tall, 195 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. Lawson has ties to the Homewood section of Pittsburgh.
  • Carlos Pagen-Reyes, age 30, is 5 feet 5 inches tall, 150 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. Pagen-Reyes frequents the North Side of Pittsburgh and has ties to Harrisburg, New York and Puerto Rico.
  • Jason Phelmetta, age 45, is 6 feet 6 inches tall, 230 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. Phelmetta has tied to the Homewood section of Pittsburgh and is known to frequent Homestead, Wilmerding and Turtle Creek.
  • Edward Charles Robinson, age 46, is 5 feet 11 inches tall, 170 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. Robinson has ties to the Homewood section of Pittsburgh and is known to frequent areas throughout Allegheny, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Anyone with information about the men’s whereabouts is asked to call the US Marshals Service Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force at 412-422-GRAB (4722), or 412-644-6628 with any tips. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.

On Friday, U.S. marshals and Pittsburgh police issued 30 arrest warrants as part of a three-month compliance investigation called Operation Three Rivers.

The investigation was initiated to determine if convicted sex offenders in the Pittsburgh region were meeting the conditions required by Pennsylvania Megan’s Law and the federal Adam Walsh Act. The efforts resulted in 668 compliance checks.

Among those arrested was Arthur Linsenbigler, a 45-year-old Turtle Creek native, who was charged by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police with a violation of PA Megan’s Law in July.

The investigation indicated that Linsenbigler was in violation of the Adam Walsh Act based upon his relocating back to Western Pennsylvania from Wisconsin and allegedly failing to register as a sex offender with the local authorities.  He was indicted by a federal grand jury in August as a result and is awaiting trial in federal court.

U.S. Marshal Steven Frank said in a news release, “This case demonstrates the ultimate goal of Operation Three Rivers, which was to combine federal, state and local resources to identify and target fugitive and non-compliant sex offenders.”

More information about the offenders can be located at

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