MEMPHIS, TN – Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons and Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin announced Thursday that Memphis police officers served or attempted to serve warrants to 53 defendants indicted or charged this week for felony drug violations. The state Grand Jury for Shelby County on Tuesday returned the indictments following “Operation Street Sweep IX,” an intensive undercover operation by the Memphis Police Department’s Organized Crime Unit (OCU).
The round-up of defendants started around 4:00 a.m. Thursday. The names of defendants in custody at this time will be released separately. It is illegal in Tennessee to announce the names of individuals indicted by the Grand Jury unless those individuals are in custody on the charges.
Earlier this week, the state Grand Jury returned 151 indictments against 52 defendants. One juvenile was also charged. The investigation was part of the MPD’s ongoing Operation Blue CRUSH™ and extended to various neighborhoods throughout Memphis.
The defendants include seven known gang members associated with the Vice Lords, Gangster Disciples, and Crips. The defendants’ ages range from 15 to 56 years. OCU investigators seized five vehicles throughout the course of the investigation.
The indictments returned by the Grand Jury include charges of sale of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, deliver or sell. The drug charges primarily involve the sale or possession of cocaine, but some charges involve the drug alprazolam (Xanax). The amount or types of drugs involved resulted in numerous felony charges ranging from Class D to Class B felonies.
As part of “Operation Street Sweep IX,” the District Attorney’s Office has filed public nuisance actions against the owners of six residential properties due to the continued pattern of drug sales and use at the locations. Hearings are set on July 23 at which the District Attorney will seek closure of the properties.
District Attorney Bill Gibbons noted that, as a direct result of Operation Blue Crush™ undercover efforts, the number of state indictments for drug offenses has increased dramatically. “Back in 2003, we had about 3,200 drug indictments. In the last two years, we have averaged about 5,000 drug indictments as a result of Blue Crush™,” he said.
“This effort is not going to let up. This is the ninth time we’ve sent hundreds of cases to the Grand Jury for indictment, and we’re prepared to do it again and again. We’re going to do whatever it takes to make our community safer and get violent gang members and drug traffickers of our streets,” said Gibbons.
“Street Sweep IX shows that our effort in combating gangs, guns and drugs has reduced crime in our community. Crime rates are down and continue to stay down because of the commitment of our officers and the partnership we have with the community,” said Director Godwin.
The standard sentence for a Class B felony is 8-12 years, with a maximum sentence of 30 years; the standard sentence for a Class C felony is 3-6 years, with a maximum sentence of 15 years; the standard sentence for a Class D felony is 2-4 years, with a maximum sentence of 12 years. |