Some Chattanooga gang members face up to life in prison if convicted.
Federal, state and local officers announced a week-long sweep.
It identified 29 prominent gang members..most of whom are already in custody.
BILL KILLIAN, U.S. ATTORNEY, EASTERN DIST. TENNESSEE "We are here today to announce, upon Federal and State indictments, of several prominent gang members."
U.S. Attorney Bill Killian says it's a joint effort of his office, the Chattanooga police department, Marion county sheriff's department, the district attorney's office, bureau of Alcohol tobacco firearms explosives in conjunction with the gang task force initiative which was started in Chattanooga 6 months ago.
BILL KILLIAN "25 Chattanooga residents and 4 Marion county residents have been indicted. Of those, at least 16 are validated gang members. They come from gangs like the Bloods, Crips, Gangster Disciples and the Aryan nation."
BOYD PATTERSON, COORDINATOR DRUG INTERVENTION TASK FORCE "Every kid out there should look at this today, and understand the real consequences of what being involved in a gang will bring."
MAYOR RON LITTLEFIELD, CHATTANOOGA "We're trying to provide a way out of the gangs ..an outreach to young people to say, you know, that's not the best course of action for your life."
BILL COX, DISTRICT ATTORNEY GENERAL "I applaud the Federal Attorney's office for working so closely with our office..and with local law enforcement."
Involvement by federal agencies raises the stakes for those who are convicted at that level.
BILL KILLIAN "Some face life imprisonment in a federal prison, and as you know, in the federal system there is no parole."
Of the 29 people listed, five have eluding officers so far.
Four are from Hamilton county, one from Marion.
