U.S. Attorney General William Barr this week announced that federal agents have arrested several people in Memphis on federal charges as part of Operation Legend.
This, according to a press release that U.S. Department of Justice officials published on their website Wednesday.
As part of Operation Legend, federal law enforcement agencies work with local and state law enforcement officials to fight violent crime, according to the press release.
“Seven defendants [in Memphis] have been charged with federal offenses, with some defendants charged with multiple offenses,” the press release said.
• One defendant was charged with being an alien in possession of a firearm while illegally or unlawfully in the United States.
• One defendant, who lives in Memphis, was charged in an out-of-district federal case with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
• Two defendants have been charged with being unlawful users of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm and making a material false statement when acquiring a firearm from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL).
• Two cases remain under seal, but the charges are as follows: One defendant has been charged with bank robbery, and two defendants were charged with theft from an FFL.
The feds did not name the people they arrested.
Federal officials launched Operation Legend in Kansas City, MO in July. They soon expanded the operation to Chicago, Albuquerque, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Memphis, and Indianapolis.
“Since the operation’s launch, there have been more than 1,000 arrests, including defendants who have been charged in state and local courts. Of those arrests, approximately 217 defendants have been charged with federal crimes,” the press release said.
“These numbers exclude Indianapolis, whose operation was just announced last Friday. In addition, nearly 400 firearms have been seized by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.”
As The Tennessee Star reported last week, Department of Justice officials sent 16 federal investigators to Memphis on temporary assignment for 90 days. This, followed by 24 permanent agent assignments from the FBI, DEA, ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
