AG Barr: 74 charged with federal crimes in Milwaukee during Operation Legend

By: CBS 58 Newsroom

Posted: Dec 23, 2020 6:03 PM CST

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Attorney General William Barr and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the results of Operation Legend on Wednesday, Dec. 23.

Operation Legend was first launched in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 8 and then expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque, New Mexico, on July 22; to Cleveland, Ohio, Detroit, Michigan, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 29; to St. Louis, Missouri, and Memphis, Tennessee, on August 6; and to Indianapolis, Indiana, on August 14.

According to the Department of Justice, 74 defendants have been charged with federal crimes in Milwaukee, including 34 firearm-related offenses, 32 narcotic-related offenses, and eight other violent crimes.

The department says since Operation Legend’s launch, over 6,000 arrests – including approximately 467 for homicide – were made; more than 2600 firearms were seized; and 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 illicit proceeds were seized.
Of the more than 6,000 individuals arrested, approximately 1,500 have been charged with federal offenses. Approximately 815 of those defendants have been charged with firearms offenses, while approximately 566 have been charged with drug-related crimes. The remaining defendants have been charged with various offenses.

“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,” said Attorney General Barr. “When we launched Operation Legend, our goal was to disrupt and reduce violent crime, hold violent offenders accountable and give these communities the safety they deserve in memory of LeGend Taliferro, whose young life was claimed by violent crime, undoubtedly, we achieved it.”

Breakdown of Operation Legend charges:

Kansas City, MO

196 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.