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Roundup of Child Support Evaders For Immediate Release Aug. 8, 2002 Richmond - Ray C. Goodwin, Acting Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services, reports that 14 Virginians were among those recently arrested by federal and state authorities in a nationwide roundup of child support evaders. Among those arrested were: Chung Nguyen of Richmond, who owes $50,000 for his three children (Nguyen, who was featured on Virginia’s Most Wanted Child Support Evaders list in 1999, was arrested in Virginia.) David Boothe, who owes $68,000 for his three children, arrested in West Virginia Curtis Bedsaul, who owes over $63,000 for his two children, arrested in Florida Those individuals who were arrested and had an undisclosed number of children were: Eric Gallmon, who owes more than $37,000, arrested in Florida Mitchell Hart, who owes $40,000, arrested in Washington, D.C. Luis Ortega, who owes $80,000, arrested in Florida Brian Trager, who owes $40,000, arrested in Louisiana Darryl Harris, who owes more than $14,000, arrested in New York Alvin Humphrey, who owes more than $27,000, arrested in Illinois Jeff Fitzgerald, who owes $34,000, arrested in Michigan Tyrone Cuffie, who owes more than $48,000, arrested in New Jersey David Anderson, who owes $30,000, arrested in Maryland Tony Dority, who owes $25,000, arrested in North Carolina William Jackson, who owes $15,800, arrested in Maryland "A cornerstone of family self reliance is the personal and financial participation of both parents in support of their children," Goodwin said. "Child support is a legal obligation, as well as a very basic moral and human responsibility. It is a big component of helping break the cycle of welfare dependency. We take seriously our efforts to collect support for the children of Virginia and work with law enforcement officials and the courts to enforce child support orders." The individuals arrested were among more than 60 delinquent parents rounded up by federal and state law enforcement authorities in 25 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. A total of 102 parents, who collectively owe more than $5 million in court-ordered child support, were sought in what was described as the largest single nationwide crackdown of child support evaders, with individuals owing their families from $7,500 to $297,000. Under a program initiated in 1998 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, called "Project Save Our Children," state child support agencies submit the names of their most egregious cases for arrest and prosecution. It is a federal felony offense to cross state lines to evade a child support obligation punishable by up to two years in prison and a stiff fine. Nationally, the program has resulted in 580 arrests and court orders to pay more than $18 million in past due child support. Virginia’s Child Support Enforcement Director Nick Young said, "Virginia’s toughened approach to child support evaders in recent years has produced impressive numbers in the amount of child support money collected from parents who have the ability to pay and deliberately avoid paying. We have a strong partnership with local, state and federal law enforcement and with the judicial community. Virginia will not provide a safe haven for parents who won’t take responsibility for their children." For more information on Virginia’s Division of Child Support Enforcement as well as its list of "Most Wanted" child support evaders, log on to the Division’s web site at www.dss.virginia.gov/family/dcse.html Charles Ingram Media Relations 804.692.1619 cij900@dss.state.va.us

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