Strategic Enforcement Unit Apprehends Fulton County Fugitive Wanted for Child Rape
ATLANTA, GA — A fugitive who was featured on the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office’s Top 10 Most Wanted list has been captured following an operation by specialized tactical units, authorities announced.
James Anthony Zachery was taken into custody without incident on Friday afternoon, July 17, 2026, in Decatur, Georgia. He was wanted on multiple capital-level felony warrants stemming from the forced rape and sex trafficking of a 10-year-old child.
Zachery is currently being held without bond at the Fulton County Jail.
Fugitive Unit Closes In on Top 10 Target
The apprehension was executed by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office Strategic Enforcement Unit (SEU). Detectives assigned to the fugitive task force tracked Zachery across county lines into neighboring DeKalb County, locating him at a location in Decatur.
Because of the extreme violence associated with his warrants, tactical units moved in rapidly to prevent an escape attempt. Zachery surrendered immediately when surrounded by deputies.
He faces a sweeping criminal indictment involving human trafficking and violent sexual assault:
- Rape
- Aggravated Sodomy (Committed by force and against the victim’s will, or involving a child under 10)
- Trafficking a Person for Sexual Servitude
- Solicitation of Sodomy (Victim under 18)
The charges are for incidents in March of 2024.
Sheriff Reinforces Fugitive Apprehension Focus
Fulton County Sheriff Patrick “Pat” Labat commended the tactical precision of the SEU team, noting that arresting high-priority violent offenders remains the department’s top operational objective.
“The SEU fugitive team did an outstanding job executing this operation and safely apprehending James Anthony Zachery,” Sheriff Labat said. “This is a prime example of the ongoing efforts to strengthen our fugitive apprehension teams. The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office is committed to keeping our community safe from those individuals wanted for violent crimes.”
