MEMPHIS, TN – Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons announced Tuesday, following the initial court appearances of defendants indicted in “Operation Blue Star,” the D.A.’s Office and the Memphis Police Department successfully used for the first time in Shelby County court-ordered wiretaps requested by the district attorney. The wiretaps were approved by Criminal Court Judge Mark Ward.
“Operation Blue Star,” a joint effort of the Memphis Police Department's Organized Crime Unit and the Shelby County District Attorney's Office that targeted rampant drug activity at the Cleaborn and Foote Homes housing developments near downtown Memphis, resulted in the indictments of 31 defendants, numerous other probable cause arrests, and the seizure of dozens of weapons, narcotics and cash. Many of the indicted defendants have extensive criminal histories including convictions for murder, attempted murder and armed robbery. Additionally, many are associated with the Gangster Disciples street gang. The cases are being prosecuted in Criminal Court Division 8, which is designated a special prosecution court and is presided over by Judge Chris Craft.
Under state law, the wiretaps required authorization by the district attorney, approval by a criminal court judge, regular and extensive filings with the approving judge, and a substantial investment of manpower and other resources. Under state law, wiretaps are limited to investigations into homicides and drug-related offenses.
Earlier this month, District Attorney Gibbons and Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin announced details of the investigation, which utilized an array of unconventional law enforcement means including undercover assets, informant assets and extensive surveillance. The law enforcement officials waited to announce the use of court-ordered wiretaps until the matter had been announced in open court.
“This is the first time a state wiretap approved at our request has been successfully used in Shelby County and represents the intense commitment of the D.A.’s Office and the Memphis Police Department to the ongoing fight against crime in our community,” said District Attorney Gibbons. The use of wiretaps helped infiltrate a long-standing problem of close-knit and violent street gang members effectively controlling the drug trade in and around the public housing complexes. The drug sales and crimes of violence endangered all members of these communities.
Assistant District Attorney Paul Hagerman is prosecuting these cases, along with prosecutors in the DA’s Gang and Narcotics Unit. Hagerman is a special assistant to the D.A. assigned to handle organized crime operations. |