PITTSBURGH,None — Dangerous sex offenders are on the run, and they could be living in your neighborhood. Now police are asking for your help tracking them down. Police want to get them off the street before they offend again. Many of them are already repeat sex offenders and some have been on the run for years.
Under the cover of darkness, members of the Western Pennsylvania Fugitive task force are on the move. The task force is made up of members a various law enforcement agencies and it's operated by the United States Marshal Service.
Target 11 obtained information and photos of the most wanted sex offenders who may be living in the Pittsburgh area.
Brian McGaffic was convicted of a sex offense in New York and eventually moved to Pennsylvania.
He lived in West Mifflin where he registered on the Megan's Law website as a sex offender. But in 2005, he took off. He hasn't been seen or heard from since. As registered sex offender, McGaffic is required by law to inform authorities of his residence and his work location.
Investigators said McGaffic has ties to both Pennsylvania and New York and they say he could be in either of those states right now.
Another one of the top targets for the task force is Eric Podlesnik of Greensburg. He pleaded guilty to child pornography last year and was then placed on electronic house arrest. The night before Podlesnik was to be sentenced, he cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet and vanished. Investigators said he is a computer expert who has a lot of experience with social networking. They say he could be anywhere.
Two men the Marshals believe are still in the Pittsburgh-area are Sylvester Randolph and Edward Johnson, both of Wilkinsburg. During a recent compliance check, police discovered that they weren't living at the addresses they gave state police.
Police are hoping some unusual tattoos will help them track down John Paul Anderson, originally of Lawrence County. He's a convicted sex offender who disappeared five months ago. He has a picture of his daughter on one arm and skulls and rats on another. Anderson also has the name Alex on his neck. He was last seen in Philadelphia but investigators believe he may be back in Lawrence County.
Finally, Marshals are searching for Tommy Hatcher. He came to the Mon Valley from Oklahoma in the mid- 90s. He's been convicted of sex offenses with a minor in both Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. He was released from the Allegheny County jail in March, and then failed to register as a sex offender.
If you have any information on the location of any of these men, you are asked to contact the U.S. Marshals at 412-422-4722.
In addition to tracking down sex offenders who skip town, the Marshals are taking a proactive approach. They are working hand-in-hand with local and state police on checking up on registered sex offenders. Police are making sure they are living and working where they say they are.
For more information on the U.S. Marshall's most wanted,:click here.
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