MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota – In a coordinated effort to combat rising violent crime, U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger and federal, state, and local law enforcement partners announced recent enforcement actions in the Twin Cities and Rochester.
On May 3, 2022, U.S. Attorney Luger unveiled a new federal strategy to tackle violent crime, expanding capacity within the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute these cases. Every prosecutor in the office has taken on violent crime cases, including carjackings, illegal possession of firearms, drug trafficking, straw purchasing, armed Hobbs Act robberies, and cases involving the illegal possession of machineguns and ghost guns.
“Violent crime is at an all-time high and the statistics are alarming, but that is only part of the story,” said U.S. Attorney Luger. “The nature of the violence has changed. By their actions, their weapons, and their words, violent offenders are displaying an absolute disdain for the law, and a disregard for human life.”
Throughout the summer, law enforcement has been working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to identify, investigate, and bring charges against the most violent offenders. Just yesterday, a joint law enforcement operation resulted in the arrest of 15 violent offenders and the seizure of 32 illegal firearms and machineguns. All 15 defendants have been charged in federal court.
The operation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, along with the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Marshals Service, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Violent Offender Task Force, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Paul Police Department. This operation involved more than 100 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, including out-of-state special response teams.
In addition, a separate coordinated enforcement action was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team to dismantle a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy based in Rochester. The operation resulted in the arrest of 10 drug traffickers and the seizure of drugs and firearms. All 10 defendants have been charged in federal court with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
The cases are a result of joint investigations conducted by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Marshals Service, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, the Minneapolis Police Department, the St. Paul Police Department, the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, the Rochester Police Department, and other law enforcement partners.
As part of the strategy to reduce violent crime, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota produced and released two public service announcements (PSAs) to further the violent crime deterrence message.
Defendant(s): Multiple Violent Offenders
Criminal Charges: Violent crime, including carjackings, illegal possession of firearms, drug trafficking, straw purchasing, armed Hobbs Act robberies, and cases involving the illegal possession of machineguns and ghost guns.
City and State: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Exact Date: May 3, 2022
Sentence or Outcome: Currently pending in federal court
Dollar Amounts: N/A
Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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