LITTLE ROCK—Christopher R. Thyer, United States Attorney for
the Eastern District of Arkansas, Jeffrey Reed, Resident Agent in Charge of the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), Larry Jegley,
Prosecuting Attorney for the Sixth Judicial District, Diane Upchurch, Special
Agent in Charge of the Little Rock Field Office of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI), Kenton Buckner, Chief of Little Rock Police Department
(LRPD), and Mike Davis, Chief of North Little Rock Police Department (NLRPD),
announced today 41 separate federal cases brought under the Violence Reduction
Network (VRN) initiative in recent months.
These VRN cases target some of the most violent offenders in
Pulaski County, and highlight law enforcement’s commitment to widespread
collaboration between federal and local law enforcement partners in Pulaski
County to help reduce violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for
the Eastern District of Arkansas has worked with the ATF, LRPD, NLRPD, and
Sixth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to return 41 indictments
charging individuals with various gun and drug crimes, with most of the
indictments being returned in the past six months. All 41 defendants are
convicted felons, and many have examples of violence in their past.
"The individuals targeted in our VRN initiative are
among the most dangerous members of their community," Thyer said.
"Removing them and their guns from the streets of Pulaski County is a top
priority, and makes our community a safer place to live. But know this—while we
are pleased to announce these 41 indictments, by no means are the law
enforcement officers of this community finished with the work of seeking out
and stopping those individuals who unfortunately bring gun violence into
everyday life."
The indictments are all part of the VRN initiative, a
network Little Rock joined in 2015. The VRN uses a comprehensive approach to
reducing violent crime in select communities around the country. Through the
VRN, the Justice Department enlists tactical and operational expertise available
from its various federal components to assist local police forces in targeted
efforts to eliminate the worst criminals from communities. Little Rock, along
with West Memphis, will be a part of the VRN through September.
"The pursuit of justice concerning the judicial
presentation of 41 defendants through the VRN initiative demonstrates the focus
and commitment of the ATF to serve the citizens of the Little Rock and North
Little Rock municipalities," Reed said. "The ATF is committed to
working with the Little Rock Police Department, the North Little Rock Police
Department, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United
States Marshals Service (USMS), and the United States Attorney Office
concerning investigations involving violent offenders who illegally possess
firearms within Arkansas. The ATF will continue these investigative efforts
with our law enforcement partners in a determined fashion to provide the
service expected by the citizens of Arkansas. Note that these collaborative
efforts are in the pursuit of a safer living environment for the citizens of
both Little Rock and North Little Rock, and that the ATF will be unwavering in
that mission."
The prior convictions of the 41 defendants include
manslaughter, rape, aggravated assault, car-jacking, robbery and aggravated
robbery, residential burglary, domestic battery, delivery of controlled
substances and possession with intent to deliver controlled substances,
simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, and being a felon in possession
of a firearm.
Forty of the 41 indictments announced today contain various
federal gun charges, including being a felon in possession of a firearm or
ammunition, possessing a firearm while under a felony information, and
possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime (see attached
list). In addition, several defendants are charged with stand-alone drug
crimes. Four of the defendants are still pending arrest, while the remaining 37
are in various stages of prosecution.
"The Little Rock Police Department is proud of our
relationships with The US Attorney's Office and all of our federal
partners," Chief Buckner said. "We have at least one officer assigned
to ATF, FBI, DEA, USMS, and IRS. These relationships are essential to providing
public safety in the capitol city."
The indictments primarily stemmed from cases initially
investigated by the Little Rock Police Department or the North Little Rock
Police Department. Following state arrests in many instances, these cases were
then recommended for federal prosecution by the Sixth Judicial District
Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Cases targeted for federal prosecution include
those with defendants who have extensive or violent criminal history, or whose
present crime is particularly egregious or violent.
Today’s announcement, and the federal and local components’
continued efforts as part the VRN in Little Rock and West Memphis, illustrate
the Department of Justice and new administration’s commitment to reducing crime
in the nation, as detailed in a series of Executive Orders recently enacted.
This commitment to public safety will remain the steadfast mission of the U.S.
Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and all law enforcement
officers in our community who are sworn to protect and serve.
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