U.S Attorney Andrew Luger joined officials with the A.T.F, the F.B.I and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at the courthouse in Minneapolis to announce new plans to curb violent crime in the Twin Cities.
“You have a choice and now is the time to walk away,” Luger said about those who have gone unprosecuted for violent crime in Minnesota.
Luger said the new plan includes adding staff to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and requiring every prosecutor in the office to take on violent crime cases in addition to all of their other work.
Luger classified violent crimes as cases that include those related to illegal gun sales, gun violence, gangs and carjacking.
Luger said in 2021 more than 650 carjackings happened in Minneapolis alone. St. Paul experienced more than 100 carjackings last year.
“This plague of violence cannot continue,” Luger said. “We cannot normalize shootings, carjackings and other instances as part of our daily lives. It is causing far too much fear, too much pain and too much heartbreak for families and our community.”
Related
Luger says they'll also focus on the sale of illegal guns and for selling what are called “switches”, which turn a regular handgun into a semi-automatic weapon.
Starting Tuesday, anyone 18 years and older who is involved in violent carjackings in Minnesota will face federal charges that carry stiffer sentences, which would mean they would serve time in federal prison if convicted.
"I can say without a doubt that our agents are ready and enthused about working alongside U.S. Attorney Luger and his team on this violent crime initiative," said ATF Special Agent in Charge William J. McCrary. "We have already identified numerous violent offenders throughout the Twin Cities and other key areas in Minnesota. We are hot on the trails of many individuals who have done violence and those who arm them- who deal in the illegal firearms trade.”
“I commend U.S. Attorney Luger for his renewed focus and priority on violent crime," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Paul. "The FBI is specifically leveraging its Violent Crimes Task Force and its Safe Streets Task Force in the fight against violent crimes and criminal gang activity. To those who are committing these senseless act of violence, we will find you, we will take you off the street and you will be held accountable.”
Luger also announced they will be unsealing several unsolved cases in Minneapolis.