On Oct. 22, 26-year-old Tra-Shawn Robinson allegedly drove his car into his mother’s house after arguing with her about getting his vehicle repaired. 

“You not going to help me? Well, you’re going to learn today!” Robinson allegedly told his mother before hitting her house, according to an arrest report. His mother was just feet away from the point of impact at the time, the report said. 

Robinson then fled the scene on foot. Warrants were issued for his arrest two days later, and he was captured Nov. 19 in Grenada, Mississippi, about 100 miles south of Memphis. He was arrested by members of the Memphis Safe Task Force, according to a recent press release from the U.S. Marshals Service, the federal agency leading the task force.

After a several-hour standoff, Task Force officers found and arrested Robinson inside a house, in a bathtub, armed with a “machete-style knife” with multiple cuts to his arms.

As of Nov. 20, Task Force officers had made 2,943 arrests, at least a handful of which were outside the city. Like in Robinson’s case, most of those arrests stemmed from outstanding warrants. Task Force officers had made 1,288 warrant-related arrests as of Nov. 20, according to data from the Marshals Service. The Task Force officially began Sept. 29.

Task Force officers also made 333 “narcotics” arrests and 11 for “homicide,” according to information provided by USMS. They also seized 482 guns.

Another MSTF arrest outside Memphis was Ronald Pilkington, 43, on Nov. 18. 

Pilkington ran away from Southaven police officers during a traffic stop, according to the Marshals Service. He was later tracked to a home in Drummonds, Tennessee, about 30 miles northeast of the city.

“Less-than-lethal devices were deployed in the attic space where he was hiding in order to coax him into ending the stand-off. After a period of negotiation and tactical pressure, the Memphis Safe Task Force facilitated Pilkington’s surrender. He was taken into custody without further incident,” the Marshals Service said in a press release.

Pilkington faces charges for fleeing the initial traffic stop, which also resulted in injuries to a K9 officer who was struck by a vehicle while searching him. The dog survived and is now recovering, according to USMS.

Task Force agents have made hundreds of immigration arrests in Memphis. Here’s what happened at one.

Pilkington was also wanted out of Tipton County at the time on “multiple charges tied to drug offenses, theft, domestic violence, and evading arrest,” the Marshals Service said in the release.

Tipton County court records show Pilkington was found guilty in June of evading arrest and driving on a revoked license. He was also found guilty in 2024 of simple drug possession and driving on a suspended license.

Number of immigration-related arrests by Task Force still unknown

Task Force officers also recently arrested two men for various crimes, both whom were illegally in the U.S.

The Marshals Service announced the arrest of Nelson Gomez-Lopez, 26, on Nov. 17 on charges of aggravated stalking, vandalism and filing a false police report. He was also charged with illegally being in the U.S. and VISA/immigration document fraud, although the circumstances surrounding his arrest are unclear. Gomez-Lopez is from Guatemala, according to the Marshals Service.

Marshals Service releases new immigration arrest totals

The Marshals Service did not respond to questions about his arrest, including where and when it occurred. It appears Gomez-Lopez is currently being detained at the Richwood Correction Center in Richwood, Louisiana, according to online Immigration and Customs Enforcement records.

When the Marshals Service gave The Daily Memphian the most recent Task Force stats Nov. 20, immigration-related, or administrative, arrests were not included. The Marshals Service has sometimes — and sometimes not — included this figure. As of Nov. 3, Task Force officers had made 319 administrative arrests, the most recent number provided to The Daily Memphian.

The Marshals Service also announced the arrest of Alex Rodriguez, 52, on Nov. 18. Rodriguez allegedly had an outstanding warrant for rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery. The warrant alleges the victim was between eight and 13 years old, according to USMS.

Rodriguez was arrested during a “targeted warrant operation” during which time it was also discovered he is illegally in the U.S., the Marshals Service said in an email. Rodriguez is from Honduras. The warrant operation was not targeted specifically at Rodriguez but was part of the Task Force’s broader effort to serve outstanding warrants. 

The Marshals Service did not say where Rodriguez was arrested or how it was determined he is illegally in the country. It’s unclear where he is being detained. The Daily Memphian was unable to locate Rodriguez's detention records.

Immigration arrest numbers no longer part of Memphis Safe Task Force data releases

“From the start, the goal has been to provide lasting protection and safety for the communities and citizens of Memphis,” the Marshals Service said in the release. “That commitment extends beyond individual arrests; it reflects a sustained effort to dismantle networks of violence, remove illegal firearms, narcotics, and, in this case, apprehend violent sex offenders from Memphis streets, ensuring accountability for those who pose a threat to public safety.”

Most current immigrant detainees nationwide have no criminal convictions, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse from Syracuse University. As of Nov. 16, 73.6% of all current detainees have no criminal record. 

Most of those who have records were convicted of minor offenses, including traffic violations, according to TRAC.