A federal fugitive wanted by the U.S. Marshal's has been captured in Mansfield.

Members of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force Richland County Division arrested Joseph Wilson, 42, Wednesday, at a house on the 400 block of Spayer Ave. in Mansfield. 
  

Wilson was wanted by the U.S. Marshals on a federal supervised release violation out of the Northern District of Mississippi and by the Washington County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Office for failure to register as a sex offender.

Back in September 2010, Wilson was previously arrested by the NOVFTF at a house on the 200 block of West 6th Street in Mansfield on a warrant out of Mississippi for failure to register as a sex offender. 

Subsequently, the U.S. Marshals conducted a federal investigation and Wilson was indicted in federal court in the Northern District of Mississippi under the Adam Walsh Act - 18 U.S.C. 2250, for crossing state lines to avoid registration.  Wilson pled guilty to these charges and served 20 months in federal prison and was released in August 2012. 

Wilson returned to Washington County, Mississippi and shortly after, the house he was living in caught fire resulting in the death of a five year old child.  Wilson was arrested and questioned as a possible suspect in the arson of that residence, but was released three days later. 

Shortly after his release, Wilson fled Mississippi and returned to Mansfield, violating his federal supervised release.  U.S. Marshals tracked Wilson to the Spayer Ave. address and determined that Wilson arrived in Mansfield approximately 11 days prior to his capture.  Wilson also failed to notify the Richland County Sheriff’s Office of his arrival in Richland County and register his address in Mansfield, as required by state and federal law.   Wilson was arrested without incident and transported to the Akron Federal Courthouse to await extradition back to the Northern District of Mississippi. 
 

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “The Adam Walsh Act was created to protect the public from sex offenders crossing state lines and refusing to comply with the registration requirements.  We will continue to pursue charges on those that violate this law and leave our citizens unaware of potential dangers within their community.” 

Anyone with information concerning any wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833).  You may also anonymously text in a tip by texting the keyword "WANTED" and your tip to TIP411 (847411), or you can send a web tip at the following webpage http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/oh-n/index.html. Reward money is available and tipsters may remain anonymous.