‘Operation Iron Sights’: ‘Violent crime initiative’ nets 34 arrests, recovery of 58 guns in Wichita area

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - An operation described as “a violent crime initiative” in the Wichita area, conducted over a couple of months this summer, netted 34 arrests and the recovery of 58 firearms, the U.S. District Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas reported.

The initiative, “Operation Iron Sights,” took place from July 13 to Sept. 16, a collaborative enforcement effort led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser and ATF Director Robert Cekada held a joint press conference in Wichita Friday morning that included partnering agencies: the DEA, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, KBI, Kansas Highway Patrol, Wichita Police Department and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office.

“An advantage of securing federal indictments against defendants facing firearms and drug trafficking charges is that certain federal charges come with mandatory minimum sentences,” Kriegshauser said. “A mandatory minimum sentence assures that if individuals are convicted of these dangerous crimes, they will not be back out on the streets in no time.”

Just like regular police work, Operation Iron Sights started with crime scene evidence collected by local law enforcement in Sedgwick County.

“Gun violence and drug-related crime are a real challenge in Wichita. Our officers respond, see the impact every day and night. And we know families, neighborhoods and local businesses feel it long after officers leave the scene,” said Joe Sullivan, Chief of the Wichita Police Department.

What made this operation different was the use of federal resources. The ATF used its technology to trace gun and DNA evidence to suspects, which Cekada said has driven a change in how they work.

“The only way we knew how to reduce crime was to flood that community with law enforcement. And sometimes, that created negative encounters with the community, because we didn’t necessarily know who we should be focusing on,” Cekada said. “Those days are different today. We have an abundance of technology and data that point us in the right direction. And our goal here is to improve the community, not to add to their victimization by having a negative encounter with law enforcement.”

Cekada emphasized the advantage of investigative tools with “crime gun intelligence capabilities at Wichita State University,” a resource that supports investigations across the U.S.

“Operation Iron Sight shows the impact right here in Wichita,” Cekada said. ”This operation targeted 34 suspects and seized nearly 60 firearms. Multiple suspects had prior felony convictions. The charges include firearms trafficking, illegal machine gun possession, and trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine."

Cekada summarized the operation’s mission.

“These cases are about protecting people from armed, violent criminals and the devastation they leave behind, including a suspect accused of assaulting one of our ATF agents with a firearm. Attacking our people will not intimidate us or weaken our resolve,” the ATF director said. “I’m proud of our ATF personnel and our state, local, and federal partners for building these cases and standing shoulder to shoulder to hold offenders accountable. If you arm criminals, commit violent crimes, or poison our communities, we will find you and work relentlessly to put you behind bars.”

Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter emphasized the value of collaborative law enforcement efforts to protect communities.

“When federal, state and local agencies unite, we are better positioned to hold violent offenders accountable and make Sedgwick County safer,” Easter said.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office reported securing 13 federal grand jury indictments that included 34 defendants. Among those charged is the alleged leader of a drug trafficking ring in Wichita and a man accused of using a firearm to attack an ATF agent in July.

58 guns were seized, plus seven kilos of narcotics and thousands of dollars in cash.