On September 4, 2020, Robert J. Bell, DEA Special Agent in Charge, Chicago Division, announced that on July 8, 2020, U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Krueger joined Attorney General William P. Barr in announcing the launch of Operation Legend, a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime. The initiative is named in honor of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept early in the morning of June 29 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Launched first in Kansas City, the operation was expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque, New Mexico on July 22, 2020; to Cleveland, Ohio, Detroit, Michigan. and Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 29, 2020; to St. Louis, Missouri and Memphis, Tennessee on August 6, 2020, and to Indianapolis, Indiana on Aug. 14, 2020.
From the operation’s launch through Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, more than 2000 arrests - including 147 for homicide - have been made. More than 544 firearms have been seized; and more than seven kilograms of fentanyl, 14 kilograms of heroin, 12 kilograms of cocaine, and 50 kilograms of methamphetamine have been seized.
“Through Operation Legend, federal resources are joined with state and local resources to reduce violent crime in Milwaukee and other cities," said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “Operation Legend is already making a difference, leading to the apprehension of violent fugitives and the prosecution of crimes involving firearms, drug trafficking, and gangs."
Of those individuals arrested, 476 have been charged with federal offenses. Two hundred and forty-nine (249) of those defendants have been charged with firearms offenses, while 185 have been charged with drug-related crimes. The remaining defendants have been charged with various offenses. The breakdown of federal charges is below.
Chicago, Illinois
103 defendants have been charged with federal crimes as listed below:
- 27 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses,
- 72 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses,
- Four defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
15 defendants have been charged with federal crimes as listed below:
- Two defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses,
- 12 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses,
- One defendant has been charged with other violent crimes.
Indianapolis, Indiana
26 defendants have been charged with federal crimes as listed below:
- 10 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses,
- 12 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses,
- Four defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Kansas City, Missouri
99 defendants have been charged with federal crimes as listed below:
- 28 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses,
- 60 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses,
- 11 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
35 defendants have been charged with federal crimes as listed below:
- 15 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses,
- 14 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses,
- Six defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Cleveland, Ohio
54 defendants have been charged with federal crimes as listed below:
- 39 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses,
- 13 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses,
- Two defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Detroit, Michigan
41 defendants have been charged with federal crimes as listed below:
- 17 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses,
- 21 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses,
- Three defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
St. Louis, Missouri
89 defendants have been charged with federal crimes as listed below:
- 44 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses,
- 37 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses,
- Eight defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Memphis, Tennessee
14 defendants have been charged with federal crimes as listed below:
- Three defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses,
- Eight defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses,
- Three defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
