Operation Fed Up

By Schuyler Kropf

The Post and Courier

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Prosecutors announced their first indictments Wednesday under a new initiative to combat gun violence in Berkeley and Charleston counties dubbed "Operation Fed Up."

A federal grand jury issued 23 indictments against the individuals for firearms violations, U.S. Attorney W. Walter Wilkins and 9th Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson said in a joint press release.

The 23 targeted individuals face charges ranging from being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, to using a gun during the commission of a drug crime. The maximum possible penalties range from 10 years to life in prison.

Wilson's statement said she was looking forward to convictions with stiff sentences "for those who have proven time and again that they simply will not follow the law."

Names were not released "as authorities are executing warrants for their arrests," the statement said.

Operation Fed Up was announced last month as a joint state and federal initiative. The goal is to refocus efforts that began in 2002 under Project CeaseFire to reduce gun violence. By 2006, more than 2,000 offenders had been locked up through CeaseFire, statistics show.

Operation Fed Up offers advantages the state system doesn't have, such as harsher penalties and a federal grand jury that has the authority to investigate cases.

The cases were investigated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Charleston County Sheriff's Office; and the police departments of Charleston, North Charleston, Hanahan and Goose Creek, the release said.

Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551 or skropf@postandcourier.com.