Convictions for July 2018
Referring Agency: Internal Revenue Service
The latest available data from the Justice Department show that during July 2018 the government reported 85 new convictions for these matters. Those cases were referred by the Internal Revenue Service. According to the case-by-case information analyzed by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), this number is up 34.9 percent over the previous month.
The comparisons of the number of defendants convicted 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 2018 convictions of this type are compared with those of the same period in the previous year, the number of convictions was down (-19.1%). Convictions over the past year are still much lower than they were five years ago. Overall, the data show that convictions of this type are down 30.7 percent from levels reported in 2013.
The decrease from the levels five years ago in convictions for these matters is shown more clearly in Figure 1. The vertical bars in Figure 1 represent the number of 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.
Cases were classified by prosecutors into more specific types.
The largest number of convictions of these matters in July 2018 was for "Fraud-Tax", accounting for 45.9 percent of convictions. Convictions were also filed for "Fraud-Identity Theft-Aggravated" (9.4%), "Fraud-Other" (9.4%), "Withheld by Govt from TRAC (FOIA challen" (7.1%), "Fraud-Financial Institution" (4.7%), "Drugs-Drug Trafficking" (2.4%), "Fraud-Bankruptcy" (2.4%), "Fraud-Computer" (2.4%), "Fraud-Mortgage" (2.4%), "Fraud-Other Business" (2.4%), "Money Laundering-Other" (2.4%), "Other Criminal Prosecutions" (2.4%), "Violence-Other" (2.4%). See Figure 2.
Convictions in U.S. Magistrate Courts
Top Ranked Lead Charges
In July 2018, no defendants in 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.
Convictions in U.S. District Courts
In July 2018, 85 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 matters filed in U.S. District Court during July 2018 referred by the Internal Revenue Service.
Lead Charge Count Rank 26 USC 7206 - Fraud and False statements 17 1 More 18 USC 287 - False, fictitious or fraudulent claims 9 2 More 18 USC 371 - Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud US 9 2 More 26 USC 7201 - Attempt to evade or defeat tax 8 4 More 18 USC 1343 - Fraud by wire, radio, or television 7 5 More 18 USC 1344 - Bank Fraud 5 6 More 18 USC 286 - Conspiracy to defraud the Government claims 3 7 More 18 USC 1028 - Fraud and related activity - id documents 3 7 More 18 USC 157 - Bankruptcy Fraud 2 9 More 18 USC 641 - Public money, property or records 2 9 More 18 USC 1030 - Fraud and related activity - computers 2 9 More 18 USC 1341 - Mail Fraud - Frauds and swindles 2 9 More 21 USC 841 - Drug Abuse Prevention & Control-Prohibited acts A 2 9 More Table 2. Top Charges for Convictions
"Fraud and False statements" (Title 26 U.S.C Section 7206) was the most frequent recorded lead charge.
Ranked 2nd in frequency were the lead charges "False, fictitious or fraudulent claims" under Title 18 U.S.C Section 287 and "Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud US" under Title 18 U.S.C Section 371.
Top Ranked Judicial Districts
In July 2018 the Justice Department said the government obtained 31.6 convictions for every ten million people in the United States.
Understandably, there is great variation in the number of convictions in each of the nation's ninety-four federal judicial districts.
The districts registering the largest number of convictions of this type last month are shown in Table 3.
The Middle District of Florida (Tampa) and District of Oregon — with 5 convictions — were the most active during July 2018.
Northern District of Alabama (Birmingham), Eastern District of California (Sacramento) and Southern District of Georgia (Savannah) are now ranking 3rd.
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 crime cases resulting in convictions of this type during July 2018 are shown in Table 4.
Judge Count Rank Aiken, Ann L. Oregon 5 1 More Hall, James Randal Ga, S 4 2 More Coogler, L. Scott Ala, N 3 3 More Burrell, Garland Ellis, Jr. Cal, E 3 3 More Freeman, Beth Labson Cal, N 3 3 More Lawson, Hugh Ga, M 3 3 More Collins, Raner Christercunean Arizona 2 7 More Moody, James Tyne Ind, N 2 7 More Skavdahl, Scott Wesley Wyoming 2 7 More Proctor, R. David Ala, N 1 10 More Brooks, Timothy Lloyd Ark, W 1 10 More Kronstadt, John Arnold Cal, C 1 10 More Mueller, Kimberly Jo Cal, E 1 10 More Martinez, William Joseph Colorado 1 10 More Underhill, Stefan R. Conn 1 10 More Stark, Leonard Philip Delaware 1 10 More Bucklew, Susan C. Fla, M 1 10 More Merryday, Steven Douglas Fla, M 1 10 More Presnell, Gregory A. Fla, M 1 10 More Scriven, Mary Stenson Fla, M 1 10 More Byron, Paul Gregory Fla, M 1 10 More Walker, Mark Eaton Fla, N 1 10 More Middlebrooks, Donald M. Fla, S 1 10 More Totenberg, Amy Mil Ga, N 1 10 More Cohen, Mark Howard Ga, N 1 10 More Dow, Robert Michael, Jr. Ill, N 1 10 More Chang, Edmond E-Min Ill, N 1 10 More Herndon, David R. Ill, S 1 10 More Van Bokkelen, Joseph S. Ind, N 1 10 More Pratt, Tanya Walton Ind, S 1 10 More Stivers, Gregory N. Ken, W 1 10 More Hicks, S. Maurice, Jr. La, W 1 10 More Levy, Jon David Maine 1 10 More Hazel, George Jarrod Maryland 1 10 More Casper, Denise Jefferson Mass 1 10 More Starrett, Keith Miss, S 1 10 More Fleissig, Audrey Goldstein Mo, E 1 10 More Britt, William Earl N Car, E 1 10 More Dever, James C., III N Car, E 1 10 More Hovland, Daniel L. N Dakota 1 10 More Linares, Jose L. N. J. 1 10 More Salas, Esther N. J. 1 10 More Lioi, Sara Elizabeth Ohio, N 1 10 More Zouhary, Jack Ohio, N 1 10 More Marbley, Algenon L. Ohio, S 1 10 More Eagan, Claire V. Okla, N 1 10 More Bartle, Harvey, III Penn, E 1 10 More Quinones Alejandr, Nitza Ileana Penn, E 1 10 More Beetlestone, Wendy Penn, E 1 10 More Wooten, Terry L. S Car 1 10 More Viken, Jeffrey Lynn S Dakota 1 10 More Heartfield, Thad Texas, E 1 10 More Clark, Ron Texas, E 1 10 More Hittner, David Texas, S 1 10 More Rainey, John David Texas, S 1 10 More Rosenthal, Lee Hyman Texas, S 1 10 More Biery, Samuel Frederick, Jr. Texas, W 1 10 More Garcia, Orlando Luis Texas, W 1 10 More Allen, Arenda Lauretta Wright Virg, E 1 10 More Moon, Norman K. Virg, W 1 10 More Urbanski, Michael Francis Virg, W 1 10 More Bryan, Robert Jensen Wash, W 1 10 More Adelman, Lynn S. Wisc, E 1 10 More Table 4. Top Ten Judges
A total of 22 out of the "top ten" judges were in districts which were in the top ten with the largest number of convictions , while the remaining 41 judges were from other districts. (Because of ties, there were a total of 63 judges in the "top ten" rankings.)
Judge Ann L. Aiken in the District of Oregon ranked 1st with 5 convicted in convictions.
Judge James Randal Hall in the Southern District of Georgia (Savannah) ranked 2nd with 4 convicted in convictions.
Judges L. Scott Coogler in the Northern District of Alabama (Birmingham), Garland Ellis Burrell, Jr. in the Eastern District of California (Sacramento), Beth Labson Freeman in the Northern District of California (San Francisco) and Hugh Lawson in the Middle District of Georgia (Macon) ranked 3rd with 3 convicted in convictions.
Report Generated: August 23, 2018
