NCJ Number
57234
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 48 Issue: 5 Dated: (MAY 1979) Pages: 1-5
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE PROBLEM OF TIMBER THEFTS FROM FEDERALLY OWNED LAND IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST IS DISCUSSED, WITH ATTENTION TO FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION EFFORTS TO REDUCE BOTH THEFT AND UNFAIR BIDDING PRACTICES BY LUMBER CONTRACTORS.
Abstract
IN THE EARLY 1970'S THE THEFT OF GOVERNMENT-OWNED TIMBER IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON REACHED EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS, AND IT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF TREES ARE STOLEN ANNUALLY IN OREGON ALONE. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGAION (FBI) EFFORTS HAVE RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF CONVICTIONS; ONE CONTRACTOR, FOUND GUILTY OF POACHING TREES FROM GOVERNMENT LAND, WAS SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS IN PRISON AND FINED $10,000. BY STATUTORY AUTHORITY, FBI INVESTIGATIONS ARE UNDERTAKEN WHENEVER THERE IS EVIDENCE CONSTITUTING THEFT OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, DESTRUCTION OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, FRAUD AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT, FRAUD BY MAIL OR WIRE, CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE U.S., OR SUBMITTING FRAUDULENT STATEMENTS TO THE GOVERNMENT. INVESTIGATIONS INTO ILLEGAL CUTTING OF TREES TO BE USED FOR SHAKES, SHINGLES, AND FIREWOOD AND INTO THE REMOVAL OF NURSERY STOCK MATERIAL INVOLVE THE FULL RANGE OF INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES. SLIDE TRAILS THROUGH THE FOREST LANDS, AS WELL AS EMPTY BEVERAGE AND OIL CANS HAVE ALERTED AGENTS TO THEFT SITES, AND ALTHOUGH CRIME SCENE SEARCHES HAVE TURNED UP VALUABLE EVIDENCE, THE LONG AND TEDIOUS PROCESS OF INTERVIEWING WITNESSES, CONDUCTING NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTIGATIONS, AND CHECKING POSSIBLE OUTLETS WHERE FOREST PRODUCTS MIGHT BE SOLD REMAIN THE KEY TO BREAKING MOST CASES. THE FBI HAS ALSO BEEN INVOLVED IN INVESTIGATIONS OF ALLEGATIONS OF IMPROPER SCALING OF TIMBER FROM NATIONAL FORESTS, OF CUTTING PRACTICES AFFECTING PRICES BID FOR GOVERNMENT TIMBER, OF UNLAWFUL EXPORT PRACTICES, AND OF ANTITRUST VIOLATIONS. PICTURES ILLUSTRATE THE TEST. (KBL)