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.
Launched first in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 8, 2020, the operation was expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque on July 22, 2020, to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee on July 29, 2020, to St. Louis and Memphis on August 6, 2020, and to Indianapolis on Aug. 14, 2020.
Since the operation’s launch through Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, more than 2000 arrests - included 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.
Milwaukee, WI
15 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
* 2 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
* 12 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
* 1 defendant has been charged with other violent crimes.
Kansas City, MO
99 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
* 28 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
* 60 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
* 11 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Chicago, IL
103 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
* 27 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
* 72 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
* 4 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Albuquerque, NM
35 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
* 15 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
* 14 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
* 6 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Cleveland, OH
54 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
* 39 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
* 13 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
* 2 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Detroit, MI
41 defendants have been charged with federal offenses outlined below.
* 17 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
* 21 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
* 3 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
St. Louis, MO
89 defendants have been charged with federal crimes.
* 44 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
* 37 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
* 8 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Memphis, TN
14 defendants have been charged with federal offenses.
* 3 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
* 8 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
* 3 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Indianapolis, IN
26 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.
* 10 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
* 12 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
* 4 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years. #
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
