Operation Legend Yields 122 Arrests in Cleveland Since Late July

CLEVELAND – In a year that U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman characterized as challenging for law enforcement due to the coronavirus pandemic and a rise in violent crime across the United States, more than 120 arrests relating to weapons, drug and domestic violence were made in Cleveland since the end of July as part of Operation Legend.

Herdman, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced Monday that Operation Legend led to the arrest of 122 drug traffickers, firearms offenders and domestic violence convicts as well as other violent criminals. Of those arrested, 61 were charged with drug-related criminal charges, 57 were charged with weapons charges and four were charged with other violent crimes, Herdman said in a news release. The efforts in Cleveland came as part of a collaborative effort between federal and local prosecutors, the Cleveland Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies, Herdman said.

“I'm proud of what we have accomplished in just a few months and believe that we are in a great position to continue this work well into 2021 and beyond,” Herdman said. “The resources provided to Cleveland by Operation Legend are long-term and will not be going away anytime soon. This city and our community are now a safer place to live thanks to Operation Legend."

Operation Legend was launched nationally in Kansas City on July 8 and was introduced in Cleveland on July 29. Since that time, more than 6,000 arrests – including 467 for homicide – were made across the United States. As part of the operation, more than 2,600 guns have been seized and more than $11 million in drug and other illicit proceeds have been seized, Herdman said.

Of the 6,000 people arrested across the country, about 1,500 were charged with federal crimes and more than 800 have been charged with weapons-related charges with 566 were arrested and charged in drug-related cases. Operation Legend is named in honor of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept on June 29 in Kansas City.