NEWPORT NEWS – Two Newport News men are among the 150 people arrested in the Hampton Roads part of a five-day nationwide fugitive sweep in June.

Operation FALCON was a partnership of the U.S. Marshals Service and federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

From Newport News Police Dept.

Kevin Keith Gray and Bradford Mercer Jr

Bradford Mercer was wanted by Newport News Police for five sexual offenses, one of which was the alleged strong arm rape of a child under age 13. He was the “most wanted” on the Eastern District of Virginia’s Operation FALCON list.

Mercer was arrested on June 8.

During the sweep, authorities say the uncovered a home-based marijuana grow operation with plants worth $300,000. They arrested Kevin Gray, who lives on Alexander Drive in Newport News.

Federal authorities announced Thursday that officers also seized nine firearms, a bullet proof vest and eight ounces of “Crack” Cocaine in the region-wide operation.

Video: Drugs, suspects caught in round-up

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Agencies involved in Operation FALCON were the Chesapeake Police and Sheriff's departments, Coast Guard Investigative Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, Hampton Police Department, James City County Police Department, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Newport News Police Department, Norfolk Police Department, Portsmouth Police Department, Virginia Beach Police Department and Virginia State Police.

“The goal of Operation FALCON is simple – to make communities safer,” said John F. Clark, Director of the U.S. Marshals Service. “Each time we wrap up a FALCON operation in any location, there are less dangerous individuals – and fewer threats to the community – than before we arrived there. That is very gratifying.”

Across the county, 35,000 people were arrested.