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IV. Agency Budget Summaries

BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND FIREARMS


  1. RESOURCE SUMMARY

  2. METHODOLOGY

    • The estimate of drug-related costs is based upon the time expended (FTE) on investigations that result in drug charges being filed against defendants. The Bureau takes the total of all defendants in a year and the defendants charged with U.S.C. 18 section 924 and/or narcotics to derive a ratio.

  3. PROGRAM SUMMARY

    • The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) was established in 1972 with the statutory responsibility for revenue collection, regulatory and criminal enforcement of the alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and explosives commodities. ATF accomplishes its duties through 21 Criminal Enforcement district offices.

    • The established link of firearms violence and drug trafficking has resulted in a significant portion of ATF's resources for counternarcotics activities.

    • The drug control funding priorities identify several items that ATF has been involved with for many years. The Bureau's GREAT program is highly successful in its method of bringing an anti-violence and anti-drug message to children nationally. In addition, the Achilles Program, International Trafficking in Firearms, and Operation Alliance support the drug control program.

    • ATF is also a participant in federal, state, and local task forces, including the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

  4. BUDGET SUMMARY

    1998 Program

    • In FY 1998, ATF received a total of $227.5 million and 1,529 FTE in drug-related funding.

    Goal 1: Educate and enable America's youth to reject illegal drugs as well as the use of alcohol and tobacco.

    • The GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) Program is a national program of recognized success in bringing an anti-violence, anti-drug message to the Nation's youth. In FY 1998, the ATF-run program will receive $7.3 million in funding support from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund.

    Goal 2: Increase the safety of America's citizens by substantially reducing drug-related crime and violence.

    • A preponderance of ATF's responsibility within the drug control program lies in its law enforcement functions in support of Goal 2 of the National Drug Control Strategy. For FY 1998, $220.2 million has been appropriated to support these activities.

    • The Bureau's drug-related functions supporting Goal 2 of the National Drug Control Strategy are as follows:

      • Detect and prevent distribution of firearms into illegal channels and into the possession of prohibited persons.

      • Investigate arson and explosives-related incidents have a significant community-related impact.

      • Assist state and local law enforcement agencies in reducing crime and violence.

      • Reduce illegal trafficking, possession and use of firearms, destructive devices, and explosives.

    1999 Request

    • The President's budget includes a total of $228.7 million and 1,582 FTE for the ATF, an increase of $1.2 million and an increase of 53 FTE from the FY 1998 level.

    Goal 1: Educate and enable America's youth to reject illegal drugs as well as the use of alcohol and tobacco.

    • The FY 1999 funding request for Goal 1 activities is $5.6 million for the GREAT program. This represents a decrease in funding from the FY 1998 level of $1.7 million.

    Goal 2: Increase the safety of America's citizens by substantially reducing drug-related crime and violence.

    • The total drug control request for Goal 2 activities for FY 1999 is $223.1 million, a net increase of $2.9 million over FY 1998.

  5. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

    • Operation Store House: This Achilles Task Force case culminated in June, 1995, arrests of 54 defendants, 19 of whom were armed career criminals (individuals having 3 or more violent felony convictions), and the seizure of 70 firearms, 45 pounds of methamphetamine, 315 pounds of marijuana, 72,000 ml of has oil, eighty-three 55-gallon barrels of methamphetamine laboratory buildings, night vision equipment, 5 vehicles, 2 jet skis, and $80,000 in U.S. currency. This case resulted in the dismantling of a large scale, armed methamphetamine and marijuana distribution network.

    • The 640 Crew Investigation: The 640 Crew is a violent cocaine and heroin trafficking organization operating in the Park/Morton area of Washington, DC. For years, this crew seized an entire neighborhood through firearms-related violence and intimidation in the furtherance of narcotics trafficking activities. Crew members committed dozens of murders, rapes, robberies, and acts of violence against witnesses and other who would threaten their network. A 14-month investigation was initiated on the illegal activities of the 640 Crew that culminated in the arrest of numerous defendants on charges including Federal firearms and narcotics crimes, murders, rapes, assaults, and witness intimidation.

    • The Griertown Crack Down Investigation: In November, 1993, ATF initiated an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation that was known as the Griertown Crack Down because of continued incidents of violence in Charlotte. The investigation targeted an individual and his Jamaican organization. These individuals were responsible for trafficking crack cocaine into the Griertown area of Charlotte. Currently, 35 defendants have been identified, indicted, arrested, and convicted for violations of the federal firearms, narcotics, and conspiracy laws.