Federal, state and local partners launch 'Operation Deep Cover' to end violence in Deep Ellum; Convicted felon charged with federal firearm offense (DOJ)

DALLAS - U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould today announced Operation Deep Cover, a coordinated effort with law enforcement partners to curb violent crime in Dallas's Deep Ellum neighborhood following multiple shootings on Halloween night. As an example of the type of conduct Operation Deep Cover is designed to target, the U.S. Attorney also announced that a criminal complaint was filed charging repeated felon Treyveion Dionte Demby with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

"Deep Ellum is a vibrant part of Dallas, and the people who live, work, and visit here deserve to feel safe," said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. "Operation Deep Cover reflects our commitment to working hand-in-hand with our law enforcement partners to drive down violent crime and hold violent offenders accountable. We will use every federal tool available to protect this community."

"Deep Ellum is a place for people to enjoy themselves, not a place for criminals to terrorize the community with gunfire. This arrest sends a clear message: those who bring illegal firearms into our neighborhoods and put lives at risk will be held accountable. ATF will continue working shoulder to shoulder with the Dallas Police Department, using every investigative tool available to identify violent offenders, get illegal guns off our streets, and help bring them to justice."

"Operation Deep Cover is an initiative aimed at combating the violent crime that the Deep Ellum community has faced," said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. "The purpose of this initiative is to leverage partnerships among state, federal, and local law enforcement, and community members, in order to reduce violent crime and increase community safety."

"The violence we witnessed this past weekend in Deep Ellum was unacceptable. Dallas PD and our federal partners are coming together to make Deep Ellum and Dallas safer than ever before," said Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux. "I thank U.S. Attorney Raybould for his immediate action in bringing federal charges against this suspect, and for continuing to champion public safety in Dallas."

According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, at approximately 1 a.m. on Nov. 1, a DPD officer responding to reports of gunfire in the 2600 block of Main Street observed Demby dressed in black clothing and wearing a black ski mask while pointing a handgun toward Main Street. The officer ordered Demby to drop the weapon, but he initially refused before eventually surrendering it. Demby then allegedly attempted to flee on foot and was subdued with a Taser. Additional officers arrived at the scene and placed him under arrest.

The firearm was identified as a Taurus PT111 G2 9mm pistol loaded with one round in the chamber and a magazine containing 16 rounds. A records check revealed that the weapon had been reported stolen in 2017. An ATF interstate nexus expert later determined that the firearm was manufactured outside Texas and therefore had traveled in or otherwise affected interstate commerce.

According to the affidavit, Demby was previously convicted in Dallas County of four counts of aggravated robbery and was sentenced on Feb. 27, 2020, to 10 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He was released on parole on Sept. 29, 2025, and remains under supervision through Sept. 5, 2029. Following his arrest, Demby was booked into the Dallas County Jail on a state charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

Why "Deep Cover"?

Law enforcement officers will cover Deep Ellum in both uniform and plain clothes. Uniformed officers will provide a visible presence to deter violence. Plain-clothes officers will operate alongside them, so that those intending to commit crimes cannot tell when they are being watched.

What Operation Deep Cover Will Do

• Increase resources: Devote more federal, state, and local law enforcement resources to Deep Ellum.
• Strengthen coordination: Establish a direct line of communication with DPD for crimes in Deep Ellum, with monthly meetings led by the Chief of Violent Crime.
• Prosecute aggressively: Pursue drug and firearm offenses aggressively.
• Prioritize federal prosecution: Bring cases federally wherever the facts and law support federal charges.
• Review past cases: Review cases from 2024 to the present and charge federal offenses where the evidence supports charges.
• Dedicated intake team: Work with Dallas County through an intake team led by Asistant United States Attorneys Jeremy Fugate and Caroline Poore from the Violent Crimes Section to help ensure that no eligible case is overlooked.

Operation Deep Cover comprises agents and officers from the FBI, ATF, DEA, the U.S. Marshals Service, Texas Department of Public Safety and the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy Fugate & Caroline Poore from the Violent Crimes Section are prosecuting the case against Treyveion Dionte Demby.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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