Episode 040: Bob Cromwell – Hunting Fugitives, Wrongful Convictions

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Retired agent Bob Cromwell served 22 years with the FBI. In the early part of his career, Bob was assigned cases under the Violent Crimes Program and investigated dangerous fugitive matters.  In this episode of FBI Retired Case File Review, Bob is interviewed specifically about his investigation and capture of two fugitives wanted for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution (UFAP). One was a rapist and the other the murderer of a well-known New Orleans Catholic Priest.  Following his success as a field agent, Bob moved up the management ranks and retired as the Special Agent in Charge of the Jacksonville Division. He currently serves on and is board chairman of the Innocence Project of Florida, working to exonerate innocent people sent to prison for crimes they did not commit. In this episode, Bob is also interviewed about his fight to correct and prevent wrongful convictions. His new book—Fugitive Man: Hunting Violent Criminals for the FBI and Searching for Justice for the Innocent Convict—covers his FBI career and Innocence Project work.

Special Agent in Charge (Retired)

Robert K. Cromwell

1/22/1984 – 1/8/2006

bobcromwell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following are links to newspaper articles and reports covering Bob’s capture the murderer of a priest; James Bain, who was wrongly convicted for a crime he didn’t commit; wrongful convictions and the Innocence Project of Florida and a New York Times article on the decline in criminal jury trials:

Second man arrested in priest’s slaying

Innocent Man Freed After 35 Years Has An Incredible Outlook On Life 

Rate of false conviction of criminal defendants who are sentenced to death  

Post-Conviction DNA Testing and Wrongful Conviction 

 Trial by Jury, a Hallowed American Right, Is Vanishing

 

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Bob (far left) from his early days on the Houston SWAT team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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CIA Director Porter Goss presenting Bob with a Commendation with the cryptic wording, “In Recognition and Appreciation for Your Dedication and Support to Our Shared Mission.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Bob’s book can be purchased here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jerri Williams

View posts by Jerri Williams
Jerri Williams, a retired FBI agent, author and podcaster, jokes that she writes about the FBI to relive her glory days. After 26 years with the Bureau specializing in major economic fraud and corruption investigations, she calls on her professional encounters with scams and schemers to write police procedurals inspired by true crime FBI cases in her Philadelphia FBI Corruption Squad crime fiction series featuring flawed female FBI agent Kari Wheeler. Jerri’s FBI for Armchair Detectives nonfiction series enables readers to discover who the FBI is and what the FBI does by debunking misconceptions about the FBI in books, TV, and movies. Her books are available as ebooks, paperbacks, and audiobooks wherever books are sold. She’s also the host of FBI Retired Case File Review, a true crime podcast with more than 300 episodes available on all popular podcast apps and YouTube.

5 Comments

  1. Richard A PicoMarch 6, 2023

    Amazing that hardened, violent criminals with prison time under their belts speak freely to peace officers without the presence of an attorney. In this case Marcus got the death penalty, but was reprieved or set aside due to a stroke at 31 years of age.

    Great podcast. I’m a huge fan. Thanks, Jerri

    Reply
    1. Jerri WilliamsMarch 6, 2023

      Thanks for listening!

      Reply
    2. Jerri WilliamsMarch 6, 2023

      Thanks for listening!

      Reply
  2. Bob CromwellOctober 26, 2016

    Frankie,
    I certainly appreciate your comments, but honestly don’t know if I have another book in me. I believe you can count on Jerri Williams, the host of this website, to deliver another good story sometime in the future.
    Bob

    Reply
  3. Frankie ThomasOctober 22, 2016

    I’ve read this book & it’s an EASY & EXCITING read. I recommend purchasing this book to learn & dwell into the inner workings of our finest Law Enforcement Agency in the country. Mr Cromwell is a DECORATED & EXCELLENT AGENT. I’m sure his retirement left a LARGE hole in the department. I’m looking forward to his writing another book in the near future.

    Reply

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