Joint Law Enforcement Operation Takes 140 Guns Off Streets

BIRMINGHAM, AL - A joint law enforcement operation involving the U.S. Attorney's Office, the ATF and the Birmingham Police Department has netted 71 defendants and taken 140 guns off the streets. The operation lasted two months.

"At the Department of Justice, we’ve increased violent crime prosecutions to 25-year highs and gun prosecutions to 10-year highs,” U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a release. “Under our Project Safe Neighborhoods program, I’ve directed our U.S. Attorneys to target the most violent criminals in the most high-crime areas, and to work with people in the community to develop a customized crime-reduction plan.”

“That’s exactly what U.S. Attorney Jay Town has done in Northern Alabama. I want to thank him, Sheriff Mike Hale, ATF, Birmingham Police, and all of our other fabulous law enforcement partners who have made these arrests and firearm seizures possible.”

“These indictments represent the hard work of many of our law enforcement partners, especially the ATF, and exemplify our global efforts to return our neighborhoods to their rightful, peaceful owners,” said U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town.

“The Department of Justice has reserved space in federal prison for gang members, trigger-pullers, violent offenders, and felons with guns … and we plan on filling it. We must shift our prosecutorial philosophy more towards Capone rather than Soprano, not conflating the level of crime with the level of criminal,” Town said.

“This is only the beginning of what I believe will put an end to the gun violence we are seeing day in and day out,” Hale said. “Our partnership and commitment with all participating agencies has never been stronger. Our resolve has never been stronger. That’s good news for the law-abiding citizens who deserve a quality of life that doesn’t include fear of harm at the hand of these violent thugs,” he said. “We will be here as long as it takes. That’s a promise.”

Cases involving about 24 of the 71 defendants are based in Jefferson County, but the remaining cases range across north Alabama and include five Talladega defendants indicted in March on drug distribution and firearms charges. Law enforcement seized at least 15 firearms in the Talladega case according to the release.

The majority of the 71 defendants facing current gun charges have at least one prior felony conviction. The total number of prior convictions tops 160.

There are at least 40 additional arrests among the defendants for violent offenses, including charges such as domestic violence, assault and attempted murder, and at least 13 of the 71 defendants are suspected of having a gang affiliation.

Photo from Birmingham PD