California Fugitive Caught After 30 Years on the Run from FCI Dublin

In a dramatic turn of events nearly three decades in the making, a fugitive who escaped from a California federal prison in 1994 has finally been brought back into custody. Ronald Keith Harvey, now 79, was arrested on June 12 in Nevada City, California—just 150 miles from where he originally escaped.

The arrest was carried out by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Apprehension Team, according to an announcement made by the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and confirmed through county booking records. Harvey had managed to evade capture for over 30 years after escaping from the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Dublin on January 21, 1994.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Cruz Moya, who has overseen the case since 2024, told local news outlets that a data investigation led them to an address in Nevada City, where Harvey was ultimately found. “Some individuals are more skilled than others at disappearing from the justice system, and Harvey was one of them,” Moya said in an interview with KGO-TV.

Convicted for Operating Large-Scale Marijuana Grow

At the time of his escape, Harvey had been serving a 60-month sentence for cultivating marijuana. But this wasn’t a small backyard garden—according to authorities, his illegal grow operation included over 600 marijuana plants and multiple firearms. “It was a major bust,” Moya explained. “This wasn’t your average small-time case.”

Despite the length of time Harvey spent on the run, he still faces the remaining years of his original sentence. Marshals estimate he has about four years left to serve.

A Prison with a Troubled Past

FCI Dublin, the facility from which Harvey escaped, has been in the national spotlight in recent years. Known for housing high-profile inmates such as Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin—both involved in the “Varsity Blues” college admissions scandal—the prison was permanently closed in 2024. The closure followed a major investigation by the Associated Press that uncovered allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse within the facility.

The U.S. Marshals Service has not yet issued an official public statement regarding Harvey’s arrest. USA TODAY reached out to the agency on June 17 but did not receive an immediate response.

As Harvey awaits further legal proceedings, his arrest marks a rare but significant victory for law enforcement in tracking down long-term fugitives—no matter how much time has passed.

Stay tuned to Buzzmotto for more updates…