Violent Crime Strike Force

The Violent Crime Strike Force Unit prosecutes violent crime, firearms crimes, organized crime and human trafficking. View the unit's recent significant cases.

The Violent Crime Strike Force Unit's responsibilities include the investigation and prosecution of traditional organized crime. Additionally, the Attorney General has charged the unit with the responsibility for prosecuting international organized crime, such as Asian organized crime and the criminal activities arising from the independent states of the former Soviet Union.

The Strike Force's focus is on "criminal enterprises," that is, criminal groups that reflect the type of structure, range and continuity consistent with "organized crime." In this connection, emphasis is given to groups with significant interstate and international connections. The Strike Force plays an significant role in the investigation process. The unit utilizes electronic surveillance and sophisticated investigative techniques.

The Strike Force is responsible for coordinating investigations and prosecutions in all categories of violations related to and involving the following criminal organizations:

• La Cosa Nostra (LCN);
• Eastern European/Russian Organized Crime (ROC);
• Asian Organized Crime (AOC);
• criminal organizations originating in Italy, including the Sicilian Mafia, the Camorra and the N'drangheta.

The Strike Force handles all types of violations committed by members and associates of these crime groups. Accordingly, the Strike Force prosecutors work with investigators from many federal and state law enforcement agencies. If you believe that you are a victim of organized criminal activities or that you have information about organized criminal activities, please call the United States Attorney's Office, Organized Crime Strike Force or the appropriate investigative agency, such as the Missouri office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Project Ceasefire, the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative in the Kansas City, Missouri area, is recognized nationally as being not only one of the first anti-gun violence programs, but one of the most successful.

Learn more about Project Ceasefire

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri launched the Human Trafficking Rescue Project (HTRP) in 2006 to combat human trafficking.  The federal task force is comprised of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  The task force has also partnered with non-government organizations to provide necessary services for victims of human trafficking.   HTRP has become one of the most successful human trafficking task forces in the country.  The investigation and prosecution of human trafficking, known as modern day slavery, has been and continues to be a top priority at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Missouri.

Learn more about the Human Trafficking Rescue Project

Recent Significant Cases

U.S. Attorney Beth Phillips announces the indictment against Hereford House owner Rodney J. Anderson. Photographs of individuals taken from video surveillance cameras have been released, and the public’s assistance is being sought to identify the individuals in the photographs.

Hereford House owner indicted for arson, mail fraud conspiracy;
Charged with hiring others to set fire at landmark restaurant; resulted in $2.5 million insurance claim
KANSAS CITY - An owner of the Hereford House restaurant was indicted by a federal grand jury today for his role in an arson and mail fraud conspiracy that destroyed the landmark downtown Kansas City restaurant on Oct. 20, 2008. Rodney J. Anderson, 57, of Kansas City, was charged in a four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Anderson is a co-owner of B & C Restaurant Corporation, a holding company that owned the Hereford House restaurant business.
Read the News Release
Federal Indictment

To contact the Violent Crime Strike Force, call 1-800-733-6558, or locally in Kansas City call 816-426-3122.