NCJ Number
73687
Journal
Police Magazine Volume: 3 Issue: 6 Dated: (November 1980) Pages: 22-27
Date Published
1980
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article describes the evolution and operation of the undercover, antifencing 'sting' operation that is conducted by the Memphis Police Department's Organized Crime Strike Force in Tennessee.
Abstract
The strike force was set up in 1973 with joint funding from LEAA and the city of Memphis. Since that time, an estimated 4,000 indictments have been obtained, or an average of 3 per arrested individual. The estimated budget for sting-related operations amounts to $400,000 for an 18-month period, of which the city of Memphis contributes $50,000 and LEAA $350,000. The unit is headed by John Talley who first came to the attention of the Federal Government while representing Memphis in a Federal Organized Crime Strike Force in 1973. Examples of projects headed by Talley include a return of 432 indictments and more than $1.2 million in stolen property and drugs as a result of a 9-month undercover operation conducted by the strike force; a storefront operation codenamed Operation Hot Stuff which resulted in 43 indictments; and Operation Paper Caper which resulted in 38 indictments on charges of stealing and forging social security and welfare checks. The article describes special courses attended by officers assigned to the strike force and examined some possible areas of legal vulnerability including entrapment and Fourth Amendment violation.