Operation New Day in Fort Worth resulted in 141 people being charged, while federal authorities seized firearms and large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, officials said.
The public safety operation ran from August 25 to November 5 and involved federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. It was formally launched as a 90-day initiative targeting narcotics traffickers, dangerous offenders and people suspected of violating immigration and other federal laws. ([justice.gov](https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndtx/pr/its-new-day-fort-worth-federal-operation-aims-remove-violent-offenders-community?utm_source=openai))
Operation New Day charges
Authorities recovered 35 firearms, more than 100 grams of fentanyl, over 45kg of methamphetamine and more than 22kg of cocaine during the operation.
Of those charged, 51 faced allegations of illegally re-entering the United States after deportation. A further 45 were charged with drug-trafficking offences, including possessing controlled substances with the intention of distributing them and conspiring to distribute drugs.
Fifteen defendants were charged with firearms offences, including being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition, unlawfully possessing machine guns and possessing a firearm as an undocumented immigrant.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also seized 41 machine-gun conversion devices, which can convert semi-automatic weapons to fully automatic firearms. The devices are classified as machine guns under US federal law.
Ten defendants were charged with violating national defence airspace, while nine faced child exploitation and related sex offences. Those allegations included sex trafficking of minors, producing or distributing child sexual abuse material, possessing such material, sexually abusing a ward and failing to register as a sex offender.
Seven defendants were charged with election or citizenship-related offences, including allegedly voting in a federal election as a non-citizen, making false citizenship claims when registering to vote and providing false information during naturalisation proceedings.
Two people were charged with document fraud offences. One defendant was accused of assaulting a federal officer and another of falsely claiming to be a US citizen.
Announcing the conclusion of the operation, US Attorney Ryan Raybould said: “In two and a half months, Operation New Day took 141 criminal offenders off the streets of Fort Worth.”
“These are drug traffickers, armed felons, people who exploit children, and others who put our neighbours at risk,” he said. “I am grateful to our prosecutors and to our law enforcement partners whose incredible work made this possible, but our work doesn’t end with this operation.”
Homeland Security Investigations Dallas acting special agent in charge Antwoine Jones said the operation demonstrated the strength of partnerships between federal, state and local agencies.
DEA special agent in charge Joseph B Tucker said those involved would continue targeting the criminal networks behind drug trafficking, while the US Marshals Service said it would pursue fugitives wanted in the Northern District of Texas.
The charges are allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are convicted in court.
