Operation Legend is a Great Success

In December 2020, Attorney General William Barr announced the positive results of Operation Legend, an initiative assigning numerous federal law enforcement agencies (the FBI, U.S. Marshal Service, DEA, and ATF) to work alongside state and local law enforcement to combat the uprising of violent crimes.

Operation Legend was named after the four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was tragically shot in the face whilst sleeping, in his home located in Kansas City. The initiative began in Kansas City, then expanded to, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Memphis, and Indianapolis by August 2020.

Attorney General Barr commented, “Operation Legend removed violent criminals, domestic abusers, carjackers, and drug traffickers from nine cities which were experiencing stubbornly high crime and took illegal firearms, illegal narcotics and illicit monies off the streets. By most standards, many would consider these results as a resounding success—amid a global pandemic, the results are extraordinary. I commend our federal law enforcement and prosecutors for seamlessly executing this operation in partnership with state and local law enforcement.”

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), which awards grants to develop and test innovative policing strategies, provided a total of $60 million to fund 290 officers. In addition, the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), which aims to make American communities safer, awarded about $9 million in total grant funding in support of the operation.

Operation Legend resulted in more than 6,000 arrests, with about 467 for homicide. The following were seized: more than 2600 firearms, more than 32 kilos of heroin, more than 17 kilos of fentanyl, more than 300 kilos of methamphetamine, more than 135 kilos of cocaine, and more than $11 million in drug and other proceeds. The success of Operation Legend is a result of the bravery of law enforcement and a commitment fulfilled by President Trump to assist America’s crime-stricken cities.

The Breakdown of Operation Legend Federal Charges are as follows:

Kansas City, Missouri: 196 defendants have been charged

75 defendants charged with narcotics-related offenses;

107 defendants charged with firearms-related offenses; and

14 defendants charged with other violent crimes.

St. Louis, Missouri: 450 defendants have been charged

193 defendants charged with narcotics-related offenses;

231 defendants charged with firearms-related offenses; and

26 defendants charged with other violent crimes.

Chicago, Illinois: 176 defendants have been charged

40 defendants charged with narcotics-related offenses;

130 defendants charged with firearms-related offenses; and

6 defendants charged with other violent crimes.

Albuquerque, New Mexico: 167 defendants have been charged

60 defendants charged with narcotics-related offenses;

85 defendants charged with firearms-related offenses; and

22 defendants charged with other violent crimes.

Cleveland, Ohio: 119 defendants have been charged

60 defendants charged with narcotics-related offenses;

55 defendants charged with firearms-related offenses; and

4 defendants charged with other violent crimes.

Detroit, Michigan: 100 defendants have been charged

33 defendants charged with narcotics-related offenses;

64 defendants charged with firearms-related offenses; and

3 defendants charged with other violent crimes.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin: 74 defendants have been charged

34 defendants charged with firearm-related offenses;

32 defendants charged with narcotic related offenses; and

8 defendants charged with other violent crimes.

Memphis, Tennessee: 124 defendants have been charged

53 defendants charged with narcotics-related offenses;

47 defendants charged with firearms-related offenses; and

24 defendants charged with other violent crimes.

Indianapolis, Indiana: 94 defendants have been charged

18 defendants charged with narcotics-related offenses;

64 defendants charged with firearms-related offenses; and

12 defendants charged with other violent crimes.