Attorney General’s Office Reports Dual-State Arrest

Attorney General Buddy Caldwell's Fugitive Apprehension Unit has captured a New Orleans woman wanted in two states, by seven agencies for multiple counts of nearly a dozen different crimes.

Thirty-Five- Year-old Tarra Denea Montgomery Watkins was arrested at a New Orleans residence by the Mandeville Police Department, the New Orleans Police Department and a U.S. Secret Service Task Force.

Watkins was wanted by the following agencies:

• Mandeville Police Department for two counts of bank fraud, two counts of forgery, identity theft, computer fraud and other charges.
• Jefferson Paris Sheriff’s Office for possession of stolen property, two counts of bank fraud, five counts of monetary instrument abuse, two counts of theft, two counts of forgery and attempted theft.
• Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office for two counts of bank fraud and unauthorized use of a movable.
• Louisiana State Police for seven counts of bank fraud and seven counts of forgery.
• Denton County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office for fraudulent use/possession of identifying information and forgery.
• Dallas County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office for theft.
• Euless (Texas) Police Department for fraudulent use/possession of identifying information.

“I created the Fugitive Apprehension Unit when I took office because I recognized the importance of collaborating with other law enforcement agencies to apprehend wanted criminals and bring them to justice,” Caldwell said. “Through our efforts, we have been able to take hundreds of fugitives off the streets.”

An investigation by several law enforcement agencies is ongoing.