Attorney General William P. Barr Announces Updates on Operation Legend

ST. LOUIS, MO -Attorney General William P. Barr announced, at a news conference in Milwaukee today, updates on Operation Legend.

Since Operation Legend’s launch in July 2020, more than 3,500 arrests – including approximately 200 for homicide – have been made; more than 1,000 firearms have been seized; and nearly 19 kilos of heroin, more than 11 kilos of fentanyl (enough to deliver more than five million fatal doses), more than 94 kilos of methamphetamine, nearly 14 kilos of cocaine, and more than $6.5 million in drug proceeds have been seized.

Of the more than 3,500 individuals arrested, approximately 815 have been charged with federal offenses. More than 440 of those defendants have been charged with firearms offenses, while more than 300 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:

The initiative, which was first launched first in Kansas City, MO., on July 8, 2020, 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. The operation was subsequently 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. A breakdown of the federal charges in each district is below. 

Kansas City, MO.

147 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.

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

Chicago, IL.

150 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.

• 37 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
• 108 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
• 5 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.

Albuquerque, NM.

60 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.

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

Cleveland, OH.

72 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.

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

Detroit, MI.

65 defendants have been charged with federal offenses outlined below. 

• 16 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
• 46 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
• 3 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.

Milwaukee, WI.

47 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.

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

St. Louis, MO.

205 defendants have been charged with federal crimes.

• 93 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
• 90 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
• 22 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.

Memphis, TN.

27 defendants have been charged with federal offenses.

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

Indianapolis, IN.

45 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.

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