ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — At a roundtable with law enforcement in Albuquerque, U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr announced updates on Operation Legend, which was expanded to Albuquerque on July 22.
Since Operation Legend’s launch 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 in drug proceeds have been seized.
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.
Several federal, state, and local law enforcement leaders attended the roundtable held on Wednesday, October 14, at the Albuquerque FBI Division.
Also speaking were FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich, U.S. Attorney John Anderson, and Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales III.
“The origins of Legend were essentially because we believe firmly that the public deserves the right to live and not be in constant fear of being victimized by violent career criminal offenders,” Deputy Director Bowdich said.
The initiative, which was first launched in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 8, is named in honor of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept early on the morning of June 29 in Kansas City. The operation was subsequently expanded to Chicago, Illinois, and Albuquerque on July 22; to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee, Michigan, on July 29; to St. Louis and Memphis, Tennessee, on August 6; and to Indianapolis, Indiana, on August 14.
A breakdown of the federal charges in each district is listed below.
Kansas City, Missouri
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, Illinois
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
Six defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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, Ohio
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
Four defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Detroit, Michigan
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
Three defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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
Four defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
St. Louis, Missouri
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, Tennessee
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
Seven defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.
Indianapolis, Indiana
65 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below:
10 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
46 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
Nine defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.