Operation New Day concludes with 141 defendants federally charged in Fort Worth public safety push

FORT WORTH, Texas - United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould in a press conference today announced the conclusion of Operation New Day, a public safety public safety initiative launched by federal prosecutors, in coordination with federal and local law enforcement partners, to address dangerous criminal offenders in Fort Worth communities.

Between Aug. 24 and Nov. 5, law enforcement conducted over 20 undercover operations, seized 35 firearms, over 100 grams of fentanyl, over 45 kilograms of methamphetamine and over 22 kilograms cocaine. As a result, federal prosecutors charged 141 defendants with offenses including drug trafficking, firearms violations, illegal reentry after deportation, child exploitation and other federal offenses.

"In two and a half months, Operation New Day took 141 criminal offenders off the streets of Fort Worth," said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. "These are drug traffickers, armed felons, people who exploit children, and others who put our neighbors at risk. 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. We will continue to aggressively pursue anyone who threatens our communities in North Texas."

Fort Worth is the tenth largest city in the nation, and its rapid growth reflects the continued expansion of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, one of the nation's largest and most dynamic metropolitan regions. With millions of residents and one of the strongest regional economies in the country, North Texas remains an attractive place to live and do business.

As population and economic activity increase, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies are focused on protecting communities from criminal organizations and offenders whose conduct threatens public safety. Operation New Day was launched to support those efforts and ensure Fort Worth residents can live, work and raise their families in secure neighborhoods.

"Operation New Day reflects the strength of our partnerships and our shared commitment to protecting communities from criminal activity," said HSI Dallas acting Special Agent in Charge Antwoine Jones. "HSI will continue to work alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to identify and investigate those whose actions threaten public safety. Together, we will continue working to make Fort Worth safer for the families who live, work and raise their children here."

"Operation New Day demonstrates the impact of strong law enforcement partnerships and a unified commitment to public safety. ATF charged 15 defendants with federal firearms offenses and seized 41 machinegun conversion devices that pose an extreme threat to our communities and the officers who protect them. This operation may be ending, but ATF's mission is not. We will continue aggressively pursuing those who illegally possess firearms, threaten innocent lives, and fuel violent crime. Those who put our communities at risk will be held accountable."

By the Numbers

• 51 defendants were charged with illegal reentry after deportation.
• 45 defendants were charged with drug trafficking offenses, including possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
• 15 defendants were charged with firearms offenses, including felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition, unlawful possession of machineguns, and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
• 10 defendants were charged with violating national defense airspace.
• 9 defendants were charged with child exploitation and related sex offenses, including sex trafficking of minors, sexual exploitation of children, production or distribution of child sexual abuse material, possession of child sexual abuse material, sexual abuse of a ward, and failure to register as a sex offender.
• 7 defendants were charged with election and citizenship-related offenses, including voting by an alien in a federal election, false statements of citizenship to register to vote, and false statements in relation to naturalization.
• 2 defendants were charged with document fraud offenses involving unlawful possession of documents used as evidence of authorized stay or employment in the United States.
• 1 defendant was charged with assaulting a federal officer.
• 1 defendant was charged with falsely representing himself as a U.S. citizen.

"The U.S. Marshals Service North Texas Fugitive Task Force is a proud contributor to the remarkable results of Operation New Day," said Sean Malecha, Acting U.S. Marshal - Northern District of Texas. "We are on the streets shoulder-to-shoulder with our federal state, and local partners, every single day serving the citizens of Ft. Worth and Tarrant County, and that will never stop. Our message is simple: If you are on our list, we will find you and ensure you face justice in the Northern District of Texas."

"Operation New Day demonstrates what we can accomplish when federal, state, and local partners work together to take deadly drugs and illegal firearms off our streets," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Joseph B. Tucker. "We will continue targeting the criminal networks behind drug trafficking to protect our communities and save American lives."

Operation New Day was conducted with the U.S. Marshals Service; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Tarrant County Sheriff's Office; Fort Worth Police Department and the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Capoccia, Connor Day, Joshua Garland, Frank Gatto, Allyson Monte, Claire Mosely, Will Payne and Aisha Saleem from the Fort Worth Division and Eric Chen from the Dallas Division are prosecuting the cases.

Indictments, informations and criminal complaints are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.