Press Release

The Federal Bureau of Investigation today placed James Spencer Springette on its "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list. Springette was charged in the Southern District of Georgia in October of 1998 for conspiracy to import cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine base, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. He should be considered armed and dangerous and an escape risk.

James Spencer Springette has allegedly been the leader of a large Caribbean-based drug-smuggling organization since 1991. He is thought to be responsible for the importation of large amounts of cocaine from Colombia which are reportedly airdropped into the Caribbean, divided into smaller quantities, and transported by couriers to Atlanta, Georgia, and other cities in the United States. He is also wanted for acts of violence including the attempted murder of
a police officer in the British Virgin Islands.

On January 30, 1999, Springette was located and arrested in Medellin, Colombia. While waiting extradition, he escaped from La Picota maximum security prison in Bogota, Colombia, on March 1, 2000 and remains a fugitive.

James Spencer Springette is described as a Black male, 5'11", 240 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was born in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, on
August 18, 1960. Springette has ties to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, other islands in the Caribbean, Venezuela, Panama, Colombia, France, and The United Kingdom. He also has ties to the Southeast region of the United States, specifically the Augusta/Atlanta, Georgia; Norfolk, Virginia; and Miami, Florida areas. Springette speaks both English and Spanish and is known to have facial hair.

Springette uses the following aliases: Elmo Brady, Elmo Brandy, Kyle Pierce,
Elmo Spencer, Kent Worwell, Kent Worrel, Shawn Pickering, Brian Miller, Jimmy Springette, Jimi Springette, James Spencer, Spencer Springer, Efram Zoran Johnson, Everson Weberson, Spencer Springette, "Jimmy," "Juice," "Seagal," "Jimmy the Juice," and "Uncle."

James Spencer Springette is the 471st person to be placed on the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list, which began in 1950. Since then, 442 fugitives have been apprehended or located, 143 of them as a result of citizen cooperation.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for any information leading directly to the arrest of James Spencer Springette. Additional reward money may be offered by other federal agencies. Individuals with information concerning James Spencer Springette should take no action themselves, but should immediately contact the nearest office of the FBI or local law enforcement agency. For any possible sightings outside the United States, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Further information about James Spencer Springette is available on the FBI's Internet Home Page. The FBI's Internet Home Page address is http://www.fbi.gov.