UPDATE (AUGUST 5, 2019):

On August 1, 2019, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirms In Pursuit with John Walsh fugitive Darrick “Tone” Bell is finally in custody. Bell appeared in the first season of the popular fugitive show on Investigation Discovery and was on the run for nearly three years.

Although Bell was wanted out of Detroit, he didn't venture far. Agents confirm he was arrested less than an hour away from Detroit in the town of Monroe at a local motel.

Steve Francis, Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in charge says, "By adding Tone to the HSI Most Wanted List, we make the world a much smaller place for him to hide. We’re confident that Tone’s capture will empower the survivors of his alleged acts, and embolden others who are facing similar circumstances to come forward, knowing that they will be fully supported and that their captors will face justice.”

Read more: ICE.gov

ORIGINAL STORY (MARCH 19, 2019):

DETROIT, MI — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is on the hunt for Darrick Dernard Bell. The suspect, who also goes by "Tone" and "Ghost," was on law enforcement’s radar up until 2016, but hasn't been seen since.

Authorities report that an intense operation involving sex trafficking and drugs was discovered at the Victory Inn motel in Detroit when one of its victims escaped a horrific situation allegedly involving Bell using her as a drug mule.

Further investigation by officials revealed in 2016 alone, more than 115 calls went out to the motel location for all kinds of alleged incidents including aggravated assaults, shootings, and two homicides.

On January 12, 2017, 200 investigators joined together to take down that alleged operation that cops say was teeming with illegal drugs and violent activity. In an ICE.gov press release they say, “The sophisticated operation at the motel allegedly was manned by lookouts and armed enforcers." Investigators also stated that, “The women were allegedly exploited and abused by forcing them — through threats, coercion, and isolation — to work as commercial sex workers for the financial benefit of Bell and other defendants.”

Local TV station WXYZ said that Bell, a six-time felon, is among the worst fugitives they've featured. The station spoke to Special Agent Jeremy Forys of Homeland Security. Forys revealed: “It was the worst scene you could imagine, just girls as high as you can imagine, passed out in the ground, shivering, freezing cold, incoherent, couldn’t make a statement even when we first encountered them.” Forys added, “Reports of severe beatings, overdoses involved, the sheer amount of human trafficking that we discovered was on it lit a fire under me personally that we were going to take this on.”

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Steve Francis said that by adding Bell to the HSI Most Wanted, “We make the word a much smaller place for him to hide. We’re confident that Tone’s capture will empower the survivors of his alleged acts, and embolden others who are facing similar circumstances to come forward, knowing that they will be fully supported and that their captors will face justice.”

Deputy U.S. Marshal Aaron Garcia added this about Bell specifically: “He’s a pathetic pimp, the stuff he’s doing to these young girls, you know they’re somebody’s daughter.”

“We have information that this guy is going to be really transient, he’s flip flopping from house to house, from hotel to hotel, still probably doing the same stuff,” Garcia added.

This fugitive is considered armed and dangerous.

TRAITS & CHARACTERISTICS:

• Weight: 190 to 200 pounds
• Height: 5 feet 9 inches
• Sex: Male
• Hair: Clean shaven/bald
• Eyes: Brown
• Race: Black
• Tattoo: Chest Tattoo
• Date of birth: December 17, 1968
• Aliases: Tone, Ghost, and many others
• Last known location: Detroit, Michigan

If you know anything about this case, please contact our hotline (833-3-PURSUE) or submit a tip online.

For more on this case, watch the “Deadly Daughter” episode of In Pursuit With John Walsh on Wednesday, March 20 at 10/9c on Investigation Discovery! Or catch up on ID GO.

Read more: The Detroit News, U.S. Marshals, ICE, WXYZ