Operation Legend: Update on Federal Charges

Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Attorney General William P. Barr announced updates on 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, MO., 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 August 14, 2020.

Since Operation Legend’s launch in July 2020, more than 5,000 arrests – including approximately 247 for homicide – have been made; more than 2,000 firearms have been seized; and nearly 22 kilos of heroin, more than 15 kilos of fentanyl (enough to deliver more than 7.5 million fatal doses), more than 130 kilos of methamphetamine, more than 28 kilos of cocaine, and more than $7.3 million seized in drug proceeds.

Of the more than 5,000 individuals arrested, approximately 1,057 have been charged with federal offenses. Approximately 568 of those defendants have been charged with firearms offenses, while approximately 411 have been charged with drug-related crimes. The remaining defendants have been charged with various offenses.

The Attorney General launched the operation as 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.

Breakdown of Operation Legend charges:

Milwaukee, WI.

54 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.

• 25 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
• 25 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
•   4 defendant has been charged with other violent crimes 

Kansas City, MO.

136 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.

• 49 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
• 76 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
• 11 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.

Chicago, Ill.  

176 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.

• 40 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
• 130 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
• 6 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
   

Albuquerque, NM.

113 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.

• 47 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
• 56 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
• 10 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.

Cleveland, OH.

94 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.

• 54 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
• 36 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
• 4 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes. 

Detroit, MI.

96 defendants have been charged with federal offenses outlined below. 

• 31 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
• 62 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
• 3 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
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St. Louis, MO.

274 defendants have been charged with federal crimes.

• 125 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
• 125 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
• 24 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
   

Memphis, Tenn.

51 defendants have been charged with federal offenses.

• 30 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
• 14 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
• 7 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
   

Indianapolis, Indiana

63 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.

• 10 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
• 44 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
• 9 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
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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.

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