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Press Release

Attorney General William P. Barr and U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announce update on Operation Legend

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Ohio
72 defendants charged with federal crimes under Operation Legend in Cleveland

During a press conference in Milwaukee today, Attorney General William P. Barr and U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced 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.

In Cleveland, 72 defendants have been charged with federal crimes, including 42 defendants charged with narcotics-related offenses, 26 charged with firearms-related offenses and four with other violent crimes.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman released the following statement:

“Operation Legend continues to remove persons prohibited from possession of firearms or ammunition, such as convicted felons, persons with histories of domestic violence, and traffickers of illegal narcotics off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “As long as drugs, violence, and illegal firearms continue to harm our community, we will use our collaborative law enforcement partnerships and any resources available under Operation Legend to fight back.”

The Attorney General launched Operation Legend on July 8, 2020, 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. The initiative 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. 

Launched in Kansas City, MO. on July 8, 2020, the operation 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 can be found here.

 

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Updated September 22, 2020

Topic
Operation Legend