NCJ Number
64306
Date Published
1979
Length
36 pages
Annotation
CASES OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION IN ORGANIZED CRIME CONTROL ARE DESCRIBED TO SHOW COORDINATED ACTIVITIES BY DIFFERENT GOVERNING UNITS AT VARIOUS STAGES OF THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS.
Abstract
COOPERATION AMONG FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IS VITAL TO EFFECTIVE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF ORGANIZED CRIME MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATIONS. THIS CAN TAKE MANY FORMS, INCLUDING INFORMATION EXCHANGES, SHARING OF EQUIPMENT, EXPERTS, OR INFORMANTS, AND JOINT TASK FORCES. BRIEF SUMMARIES ARE TAKEN FROM THE ORGANIZED CRIME CONTROL NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ATTORNEYS GENERAL, FOLLOWED BY DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF SEVEN EXAMPLES DEMONSTRATING DIFFERENT TYPES OF COORDINATED ACTIVITIES AND THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED. THE OMEGA CASE IN NEW JERSEY INVOLVED STATE INVESTIGATIVE UNITS, FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND GAMING CONTROL AGENCIES OF BOTH NEW JERSEY AND NEVADA AND CHARGED EIGHT NAMED DEFENDANTS WHO WERE FROM THE GENOVESE CRIME FAMILY WITH PARTICIPATING IN A SECRET NATIONWIDE CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION. FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL COOPERATION IS ILLUSTRATED BY A CASE IN OHIO INVOLVING A LARGE-SCALE BOOKMAKING OPERATION. THE ATTORNEYS GENERAL OF NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA POOLED INVESTIGATIVE AND JUDICIAL RESOURCES TO APPREHEND PERSONS PROMOTING A FRAUDULENT SCHEME TO DEVELOP AN AREA INTO A COUNTRY MUSIC CENTER. IN ARIZONA, FEDERAL AND STATE ATTORNEYS COOPERATED IN OPPOSING APPEALS BY A MAN CONVICTED OF LAND FRAUD WHO HAD BROKEN HIS PLEA BARGAINING AGREEMENTS. JOINT EFFORTS WITHIN A STATE AND DESCRIBED IN AN OREGON INVESTIGATION PROSECUTION OF A POLICE OFFICER SUSPECTED OF TAMPERING WITH MARIJUANA EVIDENCE. AN ADDITIONAL EXAMPLE OF FEDERAL AND STATE COOPERATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE TOXIC WASTE INVESTIGATIONS/PROSECUTIONS UNIT (TWIP) OF NEW JERSEY'S DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE WHICH ARE TARGETED AT PERSONS ILLEGALLY DISPOSING OF CHEMICAL WASTES. THE INVESTIGATION OF AN AUTO THEFT RING INITIATED IN WASHINGTON STATE ULTIMATELY INVOLVED FEDERAL AND CANADIAN AUTHORITIES AND ESTABLISHED A PATTERN FOR OTHER JOINT ENDEAVORS. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (MJM)