Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Federal, State and Local Effort Yields 19 Indictments for Illegal Possession of Firearms and Federal Drug Charges with Three Additional Cases Pending
Memphis, TN – Lawrence J. Laurenzi, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced today 19 indictments charging 22 defendants with illegal possession of firearms and use of firearms during violent crimes.
“At the ‘Fed Up’ press conference, held earlier this week, local, state and federal agencies pledged to exhaust every available resource to bring criminals to justice. These indictments represent our stated commitment to aggressively pursue people who illegally possess firearms. Our community is ‘Fed Up’ with mindless violence and we will work tirelessly to ensure safer communities for all of our citizens,” said Lawrence Laurenzi, Acting U.S. Attorney, Western District of Tennessee.
These cases were collective investigative efforts of the Safe Streets Task Force, which includes the Memphis Police Department; Shelby County Sheriff’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) Task Force includes the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office; Memphis Police Department; the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. These organizations all work jointly to address gun-related crimes through aggressive investigation and prosecution. The PSN Task Force meets weekly to examine every gun crime committed in Shelby County as well as gun crimes from other counties submitted by the ATF.
The charges and allegations in the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
###