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 41 alleged drug dealers who were indicted for various felony drug violations by the state Grand Jury for Shelby County earlier this week.
The Grand Jury on Tuesday returned 116 indictments from the Operation Street Sweep X 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 crack cocaine and powder cocaine, but some charges involve heroin, hydrocodone, and other prescription drugs. The indictments resulted in numerous Class B, C, D and E felony charges.
The three-month Operation Street Sweep X investigation targeted street level narcotics dealers throughout the city of Memphis. The investigation began in mid-June and concluded on September 15, 2007. Undercover officers of the Organized Crime Unit sought out drug dealers in various areas of the city in conjunction with the Memphis Police Department’s Blue C.R.U.S.H.™ initiative. During the investigation, the undercover officers observed drug dealers engaged in various criminal activities.
Police officers conducted the round-up of defendants on Thursday. The names of defendants in custody at this time will be released separately. The defendants range in age from 18 to 52 years old. Four vehicles used to transport illegal narcotics were seized during the round-up.
“We will continue to work with the Memphis Police Department to do what we can to hold accountable the drug traffickers who are threatening our community,” said District Attorney Gibbons, who noted that the D.A.’s Office had a conviction rate of 93 percent in drug cases prosecuted as a result of Memphis police Blue C.R.U.S.H.™ undercover investigations. “Our overall conviction rate is 82 percent so far this year, which is very good. The even higher conviction rate in these cases is a great result fro this team effort,” Gibbons added.
The standard sentence for a Class B felony is 8-12 years in prison; the standard sentence for a Class C felony is 3-6 years; the standard sentence for a Class D felony is 2-4 years; the standard sentence for a Class E felony is 1-2 years.
“Safer streets in Memphis are a key priority for us, which is why the Memphis Police Department is unrelenting in its efforts to rid Memphis streets of gangs, guns and drugs. Street Sweep X is just another way we are bringing our resources to bear in order to target and apprehend criminals and create an atmosphere of zero tolerance for criminal activity in our communities,” said Memphis Mayor Willie W. Herenton.
“Through the Mayor's Immediate Action Plan, the Memphis Police Department is continuing our aggressive approach in ridding Memphis of illegal drugs and gangs,” said Director Godwin. “Criminals should know that the MPD will be out there looking for them,” he warned. |