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After more than three decades of evading authorities, a 79-year-old man from California has been arrested, bringing a 31-year manhunt to an end. This case highlights the complexity of long-term fugitive cases and the persistence of law enforcement.
Ronald Keith Harvey escaped from FCI Dublin in 1994, where he was serving time for operating a large illegal marijuana business. Recently, he was apprehended with over 600 marijuana plants and firearms, showcasing the scale of his ongoing criminal activity.
“He wasn’t cultivating a small amount,” remarked Deputy U.S. Marshal Cruz Moya, the leader of the extensive manhunt. “It was a pretty big operation that he was running.”
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Details about Harvey’s original escape remain scarce; however, FCI Dublin has undergone various changes and now serves as a low-security facility specifically for women. Notably, it has housed high-profile figures like Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman.
Authorities lost track of Harvey until a recent lead in the case led them to Nevada City, a small town roughly 150 miles from the prison. There, he had seemingly blended into the community and was living a quiet life.
Living alongside a woman named DeeVee Brown, Harvey presented himself as an ordinary neighbor. Brown, who dated him 35 years ago, expressed shock at learning of his fugitive status, insisting she frequently checked for any active warrants against him.
On a day in October, law enforcement finally apprehended Harvey in Nevada City. He faces about four more years of his original sentence and potential additional time for escaping and evading capture. Records indicate that the average sentence for such an escape charge adds approximately one year in prison.
Despite the lengthy time lapse since his escape, U.S. Marshals remained committed to locating Harvey. Marshal Moya emphasized the agency’s determination, stating, “One thing about the Marshal Service is that we will find you, no matter how long it takes.”
