Federal prosecutors filed 23 new cases in Fort Worth in less than two weeks under a 90-day crackdown targeting narcotics traffickers, violent offenders and dangerous illegal aliens, the Justice Department announced Saturday, September 5.
Operation New Day formally began August 24. Since then, the Fort Worth Division has seized more than 20 kilograms of methamphetamine, along with distribution quantities of crack cocaine and powder cocaine, DOJ said.
New charges include possession of a machine gun, escape from detention, narcotics distribution and illegal reentry into the United States, according to the release. No defendants, case numbers or category-by-category totals appeared in the announcement.
“North Texas will not serve as a refuge for individuals who persist in violating federal law,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said in the release.
A separate immigration tally
Federal prosecutors have charged 184 defendants with illegal reentry after removal across the Northern District of Texas since June 1, according to a separate August 27 release. That districtwide figure is not the Operation New Day total.
Prior convictions among that broader group included aggravated sexual assault of a child, indecency with a child, a fatal hit-and-run, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and assault on a public servant, DOJ said. DOJ has not said whether any of those 184 cases also fall under Operation New Day.
A previous Fort Worth crackdown
Another Fort Worth initiative, Operation Showdown, resulted in 76 arrests, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Law enforcement recovered 287 firearms, including 147 machine gun conversion devices, and close to 23 kilograms of narcotics, according to a Justice Department release.
Prosecutors launched Operation New Day to remove dangerous offenders before the holiday season and make Fort Worth safer.
The charges are allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Provided by Dallas Express
