Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons and Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin announced Thursday that Memphis police officers served or attempted to serve warrants on 51 individuals, many of whom are known gang members and their associates, who were indicted earlier this week for felony drug violations stemming from Operation: Safe Crossing II. In addition to the criminal charges, the Memphis Police and D.A.’s Office served numerous search warrants and public nuisance orders on the properties targeted in the undercover investigation. These “drug houses” or “gang dens” are within one mile of schools, day care centers and churches.
Officers started the round-up of defendants early Thursday morning. The names of defendants in custody at this time will be released separately. Seven vehicles used to transport illegal narcotics were also to be seized on Thursday.
The state Grand Jury for Shelby County on Tuesday returned 128 criminal indictments on numerous counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell a controlled substance. Most charges were for the sale of crack cocaine, but some included heroin, hydrocodone and oxycodone. The amount of narcotics allegedly sold resulted in mostly class B and C felonies, for which the standard sentences are 8-12 years and 3-6 years, respectively.
Of the 51 defendants and one (1) arrest warrant, ten are known gang members representing the Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords, Traveling Vice Lords and Crips. The youngest defendant is an 18-year-old male and the oldest is a 56-year-old male.
Operation: Safe Crossing II was conducted by undercover officers of the Organized Crime Unit. The investigation started on June 1, 2008 and ended August 1, 2008. It focused on areas of Memphis plagued with aggravated assaults and simple assaults, thefts and burglaries from businesses, houses, and vehicles as well as individuals. The investigation was conducted in conjunction with the Memphis Police Department’s Blue C.R.U.S.H. ™ initiative.
“During this operation, there were numerous undercover drug buys near schools where children have to walk and play each day. The Memphis Police Department will not tolerate drug dealers and criminals to prey on our children in this city,” said Police Director Larry Godwin.
“Children have to walk past these drug houses every day to get to and from school. The houses we are seeking to close are public nuisances. We intend to hold the owners accountable, to evict the drug dealers and clean up the properties in order to keep the children and neighbors safe,” said District Attorney Bill Gibbons.
The D.A.’s Office has a conviction rate of more than 95 percent in drug cases prosecuted as a result of Memphis police Blue C.R.U.S.H. ™ undercover investigations. Working with the Memphis Police Department and other law enforcement agencies, the D.A.’s Office has filed public nuisance actions against more than 100 properties since 2002. |