Seven charged in Memphis in relation to federal operation.
AG Barr: More than 1,000 arrests made nationwide
Seven people have been arrested in Memphis and charged with federal crimes as the result of Operation Legend, U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr said Wednesday.
Across the country, more than 1,000 people have been arrested during the federal initiative combatting violent crime in nine major U.S. cities, which was announced last month, though not all of them have been charged with federal crimes. Indianapolis was not included in the update Barr gave, as the operation was only announced there last week.
In Memphis, one person was charged with possessing a firearm while being in the United States unlawfully. Two individuals were charged with using a controlled substance and possessing a firearm as well as making “a material false statement when acquiring a firearm from a Federal Firearms Licensee.”
One person, who resides in Memphis, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in an out-of-district federal case. Two cases remain under seal, but the Department of Justice said that one individual has been charged with bank robbery and two individuals were charged with theft from a Federal Firearms Licensee.
In addition to the more than 1,000 arrests made since Operation Legend was announced July 8, more than 400 firearms have been seized by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to Barr.
Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, gave a presentation about the federal operation to the Memphis City Council Tuesday in which he said opposing law enforcement was not “legitimate public policy” and that police officers were the only ones standing “between law-abiding citizens and anarchy.”
Corinne Kennedy is a reporter for the Commercial Appeal. She can be reached via email at Corinne.kennedy@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @Corinneskennedy.