Introduction
Memphis, TN – October 4, 2025 — Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials announced the results of a major 60-day initiative known as the CRIME Team (Crime Reduction in Memphis), aimed at delivering a coordinated response to violent crime across the city. The initiative, led by the FBI Nashville Field Office – Memphis Resident Agency, brought together multiple agencies to reduce shootings, seize firearms, and dismantle criminal networks.
Results of the 60-Day Operation
Between May 1 and September 12, the CRIME Team initiative produced significant results for the Memphis community:
- 489 arrests of violent criminals
- 118 firearms seized from offenders
- 25 search warrants executed
- 131 federal indictments returned
Officials said the arrests and seizures directly targeted individuals responsible for a disproportionate share of violent activity in Memphis neighborhoods.
Multi-Agency Collaboration
The CRIME Team effort brought together a broad coalition of federal, state, and local partners, including:
- FBI Nashville Field Office – Memphis Resident Agency
- U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee
- Memphis Police Department (MPD)
- Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO)
- Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI)
- Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP)
- District Attorney’s Office (DA)
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
- U.S. Marshals Service (USMS)
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) & Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO)
- Multiple suburban police and sheriff’s departments across Shelby County.
This collaboration allowed agencies to share intelligence, coordinate resources, and execute joint operations to maximize impact.
FBI Statement on Community Impact
The FBI emphasized that the CRIME Team initiative demonstrates the effectiveness of a unified approach to violent crime.
“Memphis faces persistent challenges from gangs, drugs, and armed offenders. By aligning federal resources with the outstanding work of state and local law enforcement, we’ve delivered meaningful results that make neighborhoods safer,” officials from the FBI Memphis office said.
Community leaders also acknowledged that the removal of nearly 500 violent offenders and more than 100 firearms represents a measurable step toward improving public safety.
Context: Violent Crime in Memphis
Memphis has faced rising violent crime rates in recent years, with shootings, carjackings, and gang-related activity drawing national attention. Local authorities say the CRIME Team initiative is part of a broader strategy to curb violence by focusing on repeat offenders, gang leaders, and firearm trafficking networks.
Federal officials highlighted that 131 federal indictments not only take dangerous individuals off the streets but also ensure longer sentences through the federal system, reducing the likelihood of repeat offenses in local jurisdictions.
Looking Ahead
The success of the CRIME Team initiative has prompted discussions about continuing similar multi-agency operations in the future. Officials stressed that the fight against violent crime requires sustained partnerships, community trust, and ongoing intelligence-driven enforcement.
The FBI and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to “protecting the people of Memphis” and ensuring that those who endanger communities face accountability under federal and state law.
Conclusion
With hundreds of arrests, dozens of firearms seized, and more than 100 federal indictments filed, the CRIME Team initiative demonstrates the power of collaboration in tackling violent crime. Federal and local leaders say the results provide hope that, with continued partnership, Memphis can turn the tide against violence and restore safety to its neighborhoods.
