South Carolina Jail Escapee Seized in Northridge

A man who escaped from jail in South Carolina two years ago while awaiting a court appearance on federal drug-related charges was arrested in Northridge Wednesday night.

Charles Dwight Ransom Jr., one of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's most wanted fugitives in Los Angeles, was arrested by federal marshals at his apartment at Superior Street and Zelzah Avenue across from Cal State Northridge, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Ransom was arrested in November 2011 in South Carolina after a federal indictment accused him of cocaine distribution, gun charges and money laundering, according to Deputy U.S. Marshal Laura Vega.

"He was booked into the J. Ruben Long Detention Center in Horry County, S.C. awaiting his appearance in federal court," Vega said. "While housed at the county jail, Ransom threatened another inmate into swapping identification wristbands, and walked out of the facility."

Ransom returned to California, unaware that his charges originated out of the Central District of California, and eluded authorities for 16 months before Wednesday night's arrest, according to Vega, who said Ransom was skilled at hiding from law enforcement and has gone by multiple aliases and was known to change his appearance.

Ransom was booked at the Bureau of Prisons in downtown Los Angeles and was due to appear in federal court Thursday for arraignment on the DEA indictment and a probation violation, Vega said.

Ransom also faces charges of escape in South Carolina, Vega said.