Memphis prosecutors feel weight of Task Force cases
Thousands of people have been arrested within the past three months in Memphis, and prosecutors in both state and federal courts are feeling the increased load.
Topic: Michael Dunavant
RSSThere are 36 article(s) tagged Michael Dunavant:
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January 2026
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December 2025
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Nearly 200 charged federally since beginning of Memphis Task Force, US Attorney says
As he’s sworn in as West Tennessee’s top federal prosecutor, Michael Dunavant touts the achievements his office has made since his return in October.
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Prosecutors charge 15 in alleged marijuana trafficking conspiracy
Federal prosecutors in Memphis have charged members of a national drug-trafficking operation, Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, said.
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November 2025
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Dunavant fills four top positions in US Attorney’s Office
Among the four leaders announced Friday is Beth Boswell, who has been promoted to First Assistant U.S. Attorney.
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October 2025
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Former US attorney returns to Western District of Tennessee
The party-line vote included yes votes by U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee.
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Michael Dunavant’s nomination for US attorney goes to Senate vote
Dunavant is part of a list of 108 nominations by President Donald Trump to be voted on Monday, Oct. 6, by the full Senate on the list as opposed to votes on individual nominees.
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September 2025
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Millington native’s return to US attorney seat clears Senate Judiciary Committee
Ahead of the roll call vote, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn spoke in favor of Dunavant, calling him an “experienced prosecutor.”
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July 2025
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Trump taps familiar face for U.S. attorney of Western District
Dunavant was the chief federal prosecutor for West Tennessee during the first Trump administration.
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July 2022
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Six apply for upcoming TN attorney general vacancy
Tennessee is the only state in which the attorney general is appointed by the Supreme Court. The position runs in eight-year terms. The new term begins Sept. 1.
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May 2021
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Former U.S. Attorney has a new job with state Comptroller’s Office
Michael Dunavant, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, has a new job with the state Comptroller’s Office.
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February 2021
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US Attorney Michael Dunavant discusses tenure as he prepares to leave
Outgoing U.S. Attorney Michael Dunavant reflects on his four years on the job as chief federal prosecutor in the Western District of Tennessee.
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Dunavant to resign as U.S. Attorney
The top federal prosecutor for the Western District of Tennessee, which includes Memphis, was appointed in 2017 by then-President Donald Trump.
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January 2021
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Memphis man charged in Capitol riots
Memphian Matthew Bledsoe has been charged as one of the rioters at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, Jan. 6.
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Dunavant: Local prosecutions could come for Capitol rioting
U.S. Attorney Michael Dunavant issued a statement Friday saying the Department of Justice and the FBI would pursue charges against Mid-Southerners who participated in rioting at the U.S. Capitol.
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Operation LeGend results in more than 200 arrests in Memphis
As Operation LeGend ends, the federal violent crime initiative resulted in 266 arrests locally and seizure of 210 guns even as homicides in the city set a new record.
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December 2020
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Police look for ways to fight back as carjacking cases rise
Carjackings are “basically a crime of opportunity,” said Lt. Jimmy Lewis of MPD’s Violent Crimes Unit. And this year, he said, police are seeing guns used more often during the crimes.
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Sanford: A Biden presidency means Dunavant’s days as federal prosecutor are numbered
Democrat Joe Biden’s election as the 46th president brings the virtual certainty that there will be a new U.S. attorney and U.S. marshal for West Tennessee.
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October 2020
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Inside the election process: how and where absentee, early voting ballots are counted
Election officials put trust in people’s respect for meticulous process.
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Feds charge 3 with defrauding COVID-19 relief loan program
Three employees with Better Days Tax Service have been charged with wire fraud, accused of scamming $1.1 million from a COVID-19 loan relief program aimed at helping small businesses impacted by the pandemic.
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August 2020
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Operation LeGend to bring added resources to fight violent crime
Forty federal agents will be deployed to Memphis as part of Operation LeGend, a federal initiative designed to fight violent crime, officials announced Thursday, Aug. 6.
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July 2020
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DeCarcerate Memphis calls for transparency in federal law enforcement initiative
DeCarcerate Memphis, a task force made up of criminal justice advocates and others, formed to demand transparency and accountability of the federal Operation Relentless Pursuit initiative launched in January in the city. The initiative includes a federal task force to fight violent crime.
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May 2020
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Drug dealers warned, help offered for those fighting addiction as overdoses spike
Alisa Haushalter, Amy Weirich, Michael Dunavant and other local officials continue to raise concerns over Shelby County's latest surge in drug overdoses.
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April 2020
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Attack on critics of the justice system is ‘irresponsible’
U.S. Attorney Michael Dunavant falsely claims activists seek the “indiscriminate, wholesale release of prisoners.” Activists, nationally and locally, have called for a plan to release anyone who can be safely released. A very different thing indeed.
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January 2020
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City’s violent crime rate continues decline but homicide count rises
The overall violent crime rate in Memphis dropped more than 8% in 2019 from the previous year. However, the number of homicides increased.
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December 2019
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Former banker sentenced in fraudulent loan scheme
A former loan officer at Trustmark Bank has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for a fraudulent loan scheme, the U.S. Attorney's office announced Monday, Dec. 23.
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