11 Federal Agencies Unite in “Badgeless” Chicago Crime Crackdown
Federal law enforcement leaders are touting a first-of-its-kind "badgeless" operation in the Chicago area that resulted in charges against 179 defendants.
Operation New Dawn was described as “badgeless” as 11 federal agencies operated under the banner of the U.S. flag rather than under the shield of any single agency, allowing investigators to combine intelligence, resources, and expertise in a coordinated effort against violent crime.
“The significance of Operation New Dawn, in which eleven federal agencies agreed to come together with one common mission, is truly historic and a powerful and manifestly visible testament to how united the federal law enforcement community is in Chicago,” stated U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros.
179 Defendants Charged
Officials say that since May 1, 2026, Operation New Dawn resulted in the following:
· 179 criminal defendants being charged in 140 newly-filed criminal cases;
· 305 fugitives arrested;
· 24 children– many of whom were kidnapped– located and returned home.
“Law enforcement has always been, and always will be, a team sport,” said Christopher Amon, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) Chicago Field Division.
Agencies also listed their notable arrests during the operation. Suspects were arrested for a variety of crimes including murder, drug trafficking, child exploitation, and gun trafficking.
“HSI is proud to have played a critical role in this unprecedented anti-violence initiative, leveraging our investigative expertise to disrupt violent criminal networks, dismantle drug trafficking organizations, and protect vulnerable children in the greater Chicago area,” said Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Participating agencies include HSI, ATF, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) among others.
