Daytona Beach, FL-Multiple agencies partnered in "Operation Ceasefire" and on Tuesday, 18 people were arrested on combined drug and firearm charges out of the 20 they were looking for. Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood said in all, there are 29 people targeted in the investigation. He said most of those arrested are career criminals and convicted felons.
Chitwood said that ATF brings the power of the federal government to Daytona Beach. With their help, some of the people arrested will face a minimum of five years and some are facing life in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg, Criminal Division Chief for the Middle District of Florida said "Operation Ceasefire" lasted 14 months. He said the prosecution of violent crime is a top priority. During the operation, Handberg said ATF and DBPD were part of more than 50 controlled purchases of firearms. According to Handberg, many of those selling the guns are convicted felons and so are many of the buyers.
There are 11 federal defendants and they face severe penalties. The people to be prosecuted under state statutes will be handled by State Attorney R.J.Larizza's office. He said that his office will look through each case to determine if there are habitual offenders and violent crimes in the defendants previous records.
ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Trevor Velinor said many of the guns that were confiscated had been stolen somewhere along the line. Velinor said that a number were stolen out of unlocked vehicles.
Chief Chitwood said they are looking for two more people from Tuesday's sweep, Robert Smith and Tiffany Malcom.. Chitwood said 29 people were targeted in all. At this time, there's no information available on the other nine.
(From left to right: DBPD Chief Mike Chitwood, Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg, ATF Special Agent Trevor Velinor and State Attorney R.J.Larizza)
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