Narcotics/Drugs Convictions for July 2012
The latest available data from the Justice Department show that during July 2012 the government reported 2092 new narcotics/drugs convictions. According to the case-by-case information analyzed by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), this number is up 5.7% over the previous month.
The comparisons of the number of defendants convicted for narcotics/drugs-related offenses are based on case-by-case information obtained by TRAC under the Freedom of Information Act from the Executive Office for United States Attorneys. (See Table 1)
When monthly 2012 convictions of this type are compared with those of the same period in the previous year, the number of convictions was up (5.8 percent). Convictions over the past year are still much higher than they were five years ago. Overall, the data show that convictions of this type are up 4.9 percent from levels reported in 2007.
The leveling out in these cases is partly related to increases in the matters filed in U.S. Magistrate Courts. If magistrate cases are excluded and only Federal District Court cases are counted, the overall increase in narcotics/drugs convictions is 1.5 percent instead of 4.9 percent. The evidence suggests that part of the difference may be the result of improvements in the recording of the magistrate cases by the Justice Department.
The leveling out from the levels five years ago in narcotics/drugs convictions for these matters is shown more clearly in Figure 1. The vertical bars in Figure 1 represent the number of narcotics/drugs convictions of this type recorded on a month-to-month basis. Where a prosecution was initially filed in U.S. Magistrate Court and then transferred to the U.S. District Court, the magistrate filing date was used since this provides an earlier indicator of actual trends. The superimposed line on the bars plots the six-month moving average so that natural fluctuations are smoothed out. The one and five-year rates of change in Table 1 and in the sections that follow are all based upon this six-month moving average. To view trends year-by-year rather than month-by-month, see TRAC's annual report series for a broader picture.
Within the broad category of narcotics/drugs, cases were classified by prosecutors into more specific types.
Case types within narcotics/drugs are
Drug Trafficking
Simple Drug Possession
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)
Major Project Triggerlock Prosecutions (OCDETF)
Other Triggerlock Prosecutions (OCDETF)
The largest number of convictions of these matters in July 2012 was for "Drugs-Drug Trafficking", accounting for 72.4 percent of convictions. Convictions were also filed for "Drugs-Organized Crime Task Force" (26.4%). See Figure 2.
The lead investigative agency for narcotics/drugs convictions in July 2012 was DEA accounting for 41 percent of convictions. Other agencies with substantial numbers of narcotics/drugs convictions were: DHS (30% ), FBI (12%), ATF (7%), Local (4%). See Figure 3.
Narcotics/Drugs Convictions in U.S. Magistrate Courts
Top Ranked Lead Charges
In July 2012, 149 defendants in narcotics/drugs cases for these matters were filed in U.S. Magistrate Courts. These courts handle less serious misdemeanor cases, including what are called "petty offenses." In addition, complaints are sometimes filed in the magistrate courts before an indictment or information is entered. In these cases, the matter starts in the magistrate courts and later moves to the district court where subsequent proceedings take place.
In the magistrate courts in July the most frequently cited lead charge was Title 21 U.S.C Section 846 involving the "Attempt and conspiracy". This was the lead charge for 74.5 percent of all magistrate convictions in July.
Other frequently prosecuted lead charges include: "21 USC 841 - Drug Abuse Prevention & Control-Prohibited acts A" (13.4%), "21 USC 844 - Penalty for simple possession" (10.7%).
Narcotics/Drugs Convictions in U.S. District Courts
In July 2012, 1943 defendants in new cases for these matters were charged in the U.S. District Courts. In addition during July there were an additional 0 defendants whose cases moved from the magistrate courts to the U.S. district courts after an indictment or information was filed. The sections which follow cover both sets of cases and therefore cover all matters filed in district court during July.
Top Ranked Lead Charges
Table 2 shows the top lead charges recorded in the convictions of narcotics/drugs matters filed in U.S. District Court during July 2012.
Lead Charge Count Rank 1yr ago 5yrs ago 21 USC 841 - Drug Abuse Prevention & Control-Prohibited acts A 869 1 1 1 More 21 USC 846 - Attempt and conspiracy 800 2 2 2 More 21 USC 952 - Importation of controlled substances 121 3 3 3 More 18 USC 922 - Firearms; Unlawful acts 50 4 4 8 More 46 USC 70503 - Possession control substance on vessel subject to jurisdiction of US 18 5 10 19 More 21 USC 963 - Attempt and conspiracy 13 6 5 4 More 18 USC 1956 - Laundering of monetary instruments 7 7 7 6 More 18 USC 1962 - RICO - prohibited activities 6 8 11 20 More 21 USC 843 - Drug Abuse Prevention & Control-Prohibited acts C 5 9 6 7 More 21 USC 844 - Penalty for simple possession 4 10 8 9 More Table 2: Top charges for convictions
"Drug Abuse Prevention & Control-Prohibited acts A" (Title 21 U.S.C Section 841) was the most frequent recorded lead charge. "Drug Abuse Prevention & Control-Prohibited acts A" (Title 21 U.S.C Section 841) was ranked 1 a year ago, while it was ranked 1 five years ago.
Ranked 2nd in frequency was the lead charge "Attempt and conspiracy" under Title 21 U.S.C Section 846. "Attempt and conspiracy" under Title 21 U.S.C Section 846 was ranked 2 a year ago, while it was ranked 2 five years ago.
Ranked 3rd was "Importation of controlled substances" under Title 21 U.S.C Section 952. "Importation of controlled substances" under Title 21 U.S.C Section 952 was ranked 3 a year ago, while it was ranked 3 five years ago.
Among these top ten lead charges, the one showing the greatest increase in convictions—up 97.3 percent—compared to one year ago was Title 46 U.S.C Section 70503 that involves " Possession control substance on vessel subject to jurisdiction of US ". This was the same statute that had the largest increase—711.1 %—when compared with five years ago.
Again among the top ten lead charges, the one showing the sharpest decline in convictions compared to one year ago—down 33.3 percent—was Drug Abuse Prevention & Control-Prohibited acts C (Title 21 U.S.C Section 843 ). Compared to five years ago, the most significant decline in convictions— 50 percent—was for convictions where the lead charge was " Laundering of monetary instruments " (Title 18 U.S.C Section 1956 ).
Top Ranked Judicial Districts
In July 2012 the Justice Department said the government obtained 759.5 narcotics/drugs convictions for every ten million people in the United States.
Understandably, there is great variation in the per capita number of narcotics/drugs convictions in each of the nation's ninety-four federal judicial districts.
The districts registering the largest number of convictions per capita for these matters last month are shown in Table 3. Districts must have at least 5 narcotics/drugs convictions to receive a ranking.
Judicial District Percapita Count Rank 1yr ago 5yrs ago Cal, S 5,589 150 1 4 3 More Arizona 3,511 193 2 1 8 More Ala, S 3,344 23 3 42 54 More N Dakota 3,339 18 4 69 72 More N Mexico 3,284 55 5 7 7 More Texas, W 3,269 167 6 2 1 More Alaska 2,979 17 7 83 86 More Wyoming 2,866 13 8 24 66 More W Virg, S 2,209 17 9 55 47 More N. Y., S 2,150 92 10 8 6 More Table 3: Top 10 districts (per ten million people)
The Southern District of California (San Diego)—with 5589 convictions as compared with 759.5 convictions per ten million population in the United States—was the most active during July 2012. The Southern District of California (San Diego) was ranked 4 a year ago, while it was ranked 3 for most frequent use five years ago.
The District of Arizona ranked 2nd. The District of Arizona was ranked 1 a year ago, while it was ranked 8 for most frequent use five years ago.
Southern District of Alabama (Mobile) is now ranking 3rd.
Recent entrants to the top 10 list were Wyoming , now ranked 8th , and Southern District of Alabama (Mobile) at 3rd In the same order, these districts ranked 24th and 42nd one year ago and 66th and 54th five years ago.
The federal judicial district which showed the greatest growth in the rate of narcotics/drugs convictions compared to one year ago— 84.4 percent—was Alaska . Compared to five years ago, the district with the largest growth— 403.2 percent—was Arizona .
In the last year, the judicial District Court recording the largest drop in the rate of narcotics/drugs convictions— 44.7 percent—was Wyoming . But over the past five years, Southern District of New York (Manhattan) showed the largest drop— 32.6 percent.
Top Ranked District Judges
At any one time, there are about 680 federal District Court judges working in the United States. The judges recorded with the largest number of new narcotics/drugs crime cases resulting in convictions of this type during July 2012 are shown in Table 4.
Judge Count Rank 1yr ago 5yrs ago Junell, Robert A. Texas, W 81 1 1 5 More Jorgenson, Cindy K. Arizona 50 2 5 113 More Collins, Raner Christercunean Arizona 38 3 2 76 More Zipps, Jennifer Guerin Arizona 38 3 - - More Bury, David C. Arizona 33 5 3 84 More Marra, Kenneth A. Fla, S 27 6 84 113 More Moses, Alia Texas, W 20 7 4 - More Hinojosa, Ricardo H. Texas, S 19 8 15 9 More Hayes, William Q. Cal, S 18 9 23 25 More Crone, Marcia A. Texas, E 18 9 38 227 More Alvarez, Micaela Texas, S 18 9 12 7 More Crane, Randy Texas, S 18 9 11 14 More Table 4: Top 10 judges
A total of 7 out of the "top ten" judges were in districts which were in the top ten with the largest number of narcotics/drugs convictions per capita, while the remaining 5 judges were from other districts. (Because of ties, there were a total of 12 judges in the "top ten" rankings.)
Judge Robert A. Junell in the Western District of Texas (San Antonio) ranked 1st with 81 convicted in narcotics/drugs convictions. Judge Junell appeared in the top ten rankings one year (ranked 1) and five years ago (rank 5).
Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson in the District of Arizona ranked 2nd with 50 convicted in narcotics/drugs convictions. Judge Jorgensonalso appeared in the top ten rankings one year ago(ranked 5).
Judges Raner Christercunean Collins in the District of Arizona and Jennifer Guerin Zipps in the District of Arizona ranked 3rd with 38 convicted in narcotics/drugs convictions. Judge Collinsalso appeared in the top ten rankings one year ago(ranked 2).
Report Generated: October 1, 2012
