New Jersey fugitive had Homeland Security job in Georgia despite nationwide alert for arrest

NJ fugitive worked for Homeland Security in Ga.

NEWARK, N.J. — Prosecutors don’t understand how a fugitive wanted in New Jersey worked for the Homeland Security Department in Georgia despite a nationwide alert for her arrest.

Tahaya Buchanan was sought on a 2007 indictment on charges of staging the theft of her Range Rover.

Paul Loriquet (LOR’-ih-kay) of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office says the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Atlanta was unaware of the 39-year-old’s status even after Buchanan was arrested in July during a traffic stop in which police noticed the warrant.

Immigration spokeswoman Ana Santiago tells The Star-Ledger of Newark she did not have information whether the office regularly checks its employee list against national criminal warrants.

A Citizenship and Immigration Services spokeswoman in Washington said Wednesday she couldn’t immediately comment.

Buchanan pleaded guilty to one charge of insurance fraud on Monday and faces three months probation.

Information from: The Star-Ledger, www.nj.com/starledger