Federal crime operation nets more than 1,000 arrests

U.S. Attorney General William Barr announced on Wednesday in Kansas City, Missouri, that more than 1,000 arrests were made nationally in Operation Legend.

The operation was named for a 4-year-old boy from Kansas City, Missouri, who was slain by gunfire June 29.

The federal operation against violent crime started in Kansas City, Missouri, where 43 defendants were charged with federal crimes, according to the announcement, and also expanded into several other cities, including Chicago, Albuquerque, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Memphis and Indianapolis.

Out of the 1,000 arrests, there were some defendants charged in state and local courts, and 217 charged with federal crimes, officials stated. Nearly 400 firearms were seized by the Bureau of Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

In Kansas City, Missouri, 17 defendants were charged in state courts. The Kansas City, Missouri, cases included:

• 20 defendants have been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm;
• 17 defendants have been charged with drug trafficking;
• Four defendants have been charged with being a drug user in possession of a firearm;
• Six defendants have been charged with being in possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking;
• Four defendants have been charged with being in possession of a firearm in furtherance of violent crime;
• One defendant has been charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition;
• Three defendants have been charged with armed robbery;
• One defendant has been charged with carjacking; and
• One defendant has been charged with arson.

For more detailed information, see https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-william-p-barr-announces-updates-operation-legend-press-conference-kansas.