Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
FEDS/LMPD Complete Raids Targeting Violent Crime in Louisville
Operation Iron Grip, a new level of multi-agency collaboration, leads to more than 50 arrests and 13 seized firearms
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – During a two-week period starting July 22, 2019, and ending August 2, 2019, the United States Marshals Service; Louisville Metro Police Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted Operation Iron Grip in an effort to reduce violent crime in Louisville.
During the course of the operation, federal agents and Deputy United States Marshals assisted the Louisville Metro Police Department in arresting 57 individuals (49 for warrants, 7 new felony arrests, and one misdemeanor arrest) and seizing13 firearms (9 firearms on convicted felons, 4 firearms reported stolen and 1 firearm in the possession of a juvenile). Three subjects currently have federal detainers. There were 136 total charges. As a testament to how serious the charges were, 79 percent of the people arrested are still in custody, including three transported to prison.
“We promised more federal raid jackets alongside our LMPD partners in removing trigger-pullers from Louisville neighborhoods and we delivered,” said U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman. “The goal however is not a one-off, even as effective as Iron Grip, but a sustained cooperative effort between all levels of law enforcement to reduce these shootings and make families safer in our city. Stay tuned; much more to come.”
“Every day, the United States Marshals Service tracks down violent fugitives in the Louisville Metro area,” said United States Marshal Gary Burman. “Operation Iron Grip provided an excellent opportunity for the Marshals to work side by side with officers from LMPD and our federal partners which resulted in a significant number of arrests in a relatively short time. Special recognition should go to US Supervisory Deputy Marshal David Hale for his leadership and coordination of this effort.”
Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine said, “Operation Iron Grip is another example of resourceful teamwork between federal and state law enforcement agencies and prosecutors working to protect our community,” he continued. “Individuals, especially convicted felons with firearms, who have avoided criminal prosecution, will now be held accountable for their criminal charges. We encourage residents of Metro Louisville to continue to help us bring to justice those who have endangered the lives and well-being of law abiding people.”
“Efforts such as Iron Grip are key tools in addressing violence in our community,” said Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad. “Without partnerships, police cannot do our jobs effectively. We are very grateful to our federal partners for joining together with us to address the people who are most violent in our city.”
“Combining the resources of ATF with LMPD and our federal law enforcement partners is a force multiplier in the reduction of violent crime in metro Louisville,” stated Stuart Lowrey, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Louisville Division. “ATF remains ‘No Better Partner’ in these coordinated efforts to restore community safety through the arrest of violent offenders.”
“FBI Louisville has doubled our resources working violent crime and gangs in the City of Louisville, and we are proud to be a part of the LMINTEL Task Force and to assist in taking violent criminals off the streets of Louisville,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Brown, Jr. “This is just one piece of the violent crime puzzle. We continue to ask for the public to come forward and identify those who perpetrate violent crime in our communities.”
“The dedicated men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration don’t just work in Louisville, we live here too… we’re part of this community,” said D. Christopher Evans, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Louisville Field Division. “We will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to ensure that Louisville is safe for everyone,” Evans added.
The arrests were a result of close collaboration between the Louisville Metro Police Department and federal agencies including: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); and the United States Marshals Service (USMS). Prosecutions will be handled by both Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office.
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