III. PROGRAM SUMMARY

• The Criminal Division programs support Goal 5, "Break foreign and domestic drug sources of supply", of the National Drug Control Strategy.



• The following are some of the Criminal Division's key drug-related Sections\Offices:



• Organized Crime and Racketeering Section (OCRS) efforts go towards destroying the major trafficking organizations by convicting and incarcerating their leaders. OCRS resources are used to ensure that indictments are properly secured, that organized crime cases are prosecuted, and that overall organized crime prosecution policies are developed and implemented.



• The Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) develops innovative investigative and prosecutorial methods, enhancing the effectiveness of Federal, state, and local law enforcement task forces. NDDS is intimately involved with efforts towards prosecuting the organizations and individuals behind drug production and trafficking, both domestically and abroad.



• The Office of International Affairs (OIA) promotes interdiction efforts through bilateral and multi-lateral agreements. These agreements lay the groundwork for enhanced intelligence sharing, and cooperation towards interdiction strategies. OIA helps identify and cement relations with those countries who have the political will to stop traffickers from using their national territories to produce or transport narcotics.



• The Terrorism and Violent Crime Section (TVCS) is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of federal offenses relating to international terrorism incidents which impact on United States interests. The Section oversees the prosecution of firearms and explosives violations, assisting in the implementation of an initiative designed to deter criminals from possessing firearms by using federal firearms laws which generally provide longer and often mandatory sentences for gun offenses.



• The Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section (AFMLS) provides legal advice and assistance in the conduct of civil and criminal forfeiture litigation and the development of policies which incorporate asset forfeiture into an overall law enforcement program.

IV. BUDGET SUMMARY

1997 Base Program

• The 1997 base program includes $24.9 million, 209 positions, and 212 FTEs. These resources are used for prosecution activities, which support Goal 5 of the National Drug Control Strategy.



• In addition, the Criminal Division anticipates receiving $0.7 million in reimbursable funding to support 6 FTEs for its OCDETF activities

• The total FY 1998 drug control budget request is $27.7 million, a net increase of $2.7 million over the FY 1997 enacted level. The net increase is comprised of program increases totaling $1.7 million and base adjustments of $1 million. Program increases include the following activities which support Goal 5 of the National Drug Control Strategy.



• 5 positions and $0.5 million to coordinate and support the Southwest border initiative from headquarters and to review all potential capital cases.



• 1 position and $0.1 million to handle increased mutual assistance and extradition workload.



• 2 positions and $0.5 million to place additional positions overseas.



• 4 positions and $0.2 million to create a unit in the Division that will collect, organize, and critically analyze all sensitive international law enforcement information.



• 3 positions and $0.4 million to address increasing attention to multi-lateral international issues.



• In addition, the Criminal Division is requesting $0.7 million in reimbursable funding to support 6 FTEs for its OCDETF activities.

V. PROGRAM STATISTICS

	1996 Actual	1997 Estimate	1998 Projected
Narcotic & Dangerous Drug Section Investigations:
Pending, beginning of year	35	46	57
Opened	145	150	155
Closed	134	139	144
Pending, end of year	46	57	68
Narcotic & Dangerous Drug Section Cases:
Pending, beginning of year	61	127	193
Opened	112	117	122
Closed	46	51	56
Pending, end of year	127	193	259
Narcotic & Dangerous Drug Section Misc. Items:
Appellate Matters	13	23	33
Legal Advisory Matters	1,655	2,155	2,655
Review/Approval (Statutory, Regulatory, U.S. Attorneys' Manual)	134	234	334
Matters Monitored	17	22	27

VI. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• One of the Criminal Division's most significant drug prosecutions involved the case of United States v. Israel Santiago-Lugo, et al., in the District of Puerto Rico. On December 13, 1995, after a twelve week jury trial, guilty verdicts were returned against all 10 defendants for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, heroin, and marijuana and conspiracy to launder drug trafficking proceeds. Santiago-Lugo and five defendants also were found guilty of conducting a continuing criminal enterprise with Santiago-Lugo as the principal administrator. Subsequently, another 16 defendants pleaded guilty and one defendant was found guilty in a second trial. This case resulted in the seizure of $4 million in property subject to forfeiture. Because of the violent nature of this organization, the government was successful in empaneling the first anonymous jury in Puerto Rico.



• CRM has been involved in a prominent case in the Western District of Texas. As part of Operation Swinger, in United States v. John Bennett, et al., an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force case under the auspices of the Southwest border Initiative, John Bennett pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute approximately 1,397 pounds of marijuana. Bennett was the head of a large scale narcotics shipping and distribution organization that operated out of a trucking company in Detroit and served as transporter for large scale suppliers in El Paso.



• CRM has prosecuted two significant cases in the District of New Mexico also under the auspices of the Southwest border Initiative. Under Operation METH 3, in United States v. Hector Sanchez-Sanchez, et al., two defendants pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 700 pounds of methamphetamine and 200 pounds of marijuana. Also, under Operation METH 3, in United States v. Jesus Hernandez-Valenzuela, et al., five defendants pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a total of 304 kilograms of cocaine.



• CRM has assigned attorneys to prosecute cases at the recusal request of a United States Attorney. In United States v. Sidney C. Terrell, et al., Sidney Terrell pleaded guilty in the District of New Mexico to a conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute in excess of 5,000 kilograms of cocaine in New Mexico, California, Colorado and New York. Terrell also agreed to forfeit one vehicle, $5,100 in U.S. currency, 15 acres of undeveloped property, $20,000 interest in a residential dwelling, and $52,007, plus accrued interest, deposited in an Albuquerque, New Mexico bank. In United States v. Guadalupe Abrego, et al., two defendants pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of approximately 70 pounds of marijuana in the District of Minnesota. The defendant also agreed to forfeit $16,000 in drug proceeds.