AN EFFORT TO CUT DOWN ON VIOLENT CRIME IN BERNALILLO COUNTY RESULTS IN DOZENS OF FEDERAL CHARGES BEING FILED AGAINST 104 PEOPLE. FOUR OTHERS FACE STATE CHARGES RELATED TO TWO MURDERS IN THE COUNTY IN MAY AND JUNE.
U-S ATTORNEY DAMON MARTINEZ SAYS THE A-T-F SPEAR-HEADED THE OPERATION. HE SAYS BERNALILLO COUNTY WAS CHOSEN, BASED ON FBI CRIME STATS. THEY BROKE STATISTICS DOWN BY COUNTIES, AND BERNALILLO COUNTY WAS AMONG THOSE AT THE TOP FOR VIOLENT OFFENSES.
MARTINEZ SAYS MOST OF THE CHARGES ARE FOR FEDERAL GUN OFFENSES AND DRUG TRAFFICKING. 94 PEOPLE ARE IN CUSTODY WHILE TEN MORE REMAIN FUGITIVES.
