ORGANIZED CRIME in TEXAS This Frame May Be Used to Evaluate the Document Quality
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov. Ii " , I National Criminal Justice Reference Service I ------------~~----------------------------~------~--------I ij nCJrs 1978 REPORT OF 1:l This microfiche was produced from documents received for inclusion in the NCJRS data base. Since NCJRS cannot exercise control over the physical condition of the docum'ents submitted, the individual frame quality will vary. The resolution chart on ORGANIZED CRIME IN TEXAS this frame may be used to evaluate the document quality. I .. / 1.0 : IIIII 2.8 illll?5 ~ ~[[[ 3.2 2.2 8" Ill. ~I~~ Il£ c: IlUO ... I~ .0 : i ... u i 1.1 &l.n:u.l. " ! 111111.25 111111.4-111111.6' .. MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART NATIONAL BUREAU nf STANDARDS-J963-A I J. : t. JI ",," ~,-"'~""""'- I r Microfilming procedures used to create this fiche comply with I the standards set forth in 41CFR 101-11.504. I I Points of view or opinions stated in this document are I those of the author(s} and do not represent the official I DATE FILMED position or policies of the U. S. Department of Justice. i ' I TEXAS ORGANIZED CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL 5/12/81 National Institute of Justice United States Department of Ju.stice ,I Washington, D. C. 20531 I '0 , ' I r I f \ I -- -- - \, :':l:' -- ~ - ---,, ----- - a i; 1 ('~ -! , ~;~ ..... ..c' NCJRS :,~ll~' TABLE OF CONTENTS cb:·:, ··,c:,' f) ,"-P' , JUL 28 1QOf) , , ,> I o , ..... ACQU{STTK./, ,::; ~",,:Jl,':, Letter from Governor Clements I a" _: ] Council Membe~ship II ":;j Introduction . 1 TEXAS ORGANIZED CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL'S Narcoti cs . III • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 4 ",'j" , , Role of Organized Crime In Narcotics Trafficking ...• 10 ~ Projected Drug Trafficking ..... 13 'l"'"ii;"\, ,f: 1 Gambling .......•.. 16 ANNUAL REPORT ON 1 ,} 1 Fencing of Stolen Property 24 ORGANIZED CRIME * Prostitution 30 1978 "1 "] Pornography 33 11 ~l"t '~ Organized Vehicle Theft Rings 38 ~ 1 i White Collar Crime ........... .. 4:~ } Types and Characteristics of Economic Crime . 44 ,~ Security Frauds . 46 .4:~ Bank Embezzlement Frauds • ? • • • 4B J Welfare Frauds ..... 49 'j Insurance Frauds (Arson) 5'1 Major Consumer Frauds. .... 5:3 S '~ f Organized Criminal Groups in Texas 55 , La Cosa Nostra 5,6 j Mexican Mafia ..... 57 ,r Dixie Mafia . t 5·8 Motorcycle Gangs ...... ~;8 Other Criminal Organizations .••. !;8 Final Analysis ............. , .. 60 <:- II o r TEXAS ORGANIZED CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL Honorable William P. Clements, Jr., Chairman Governor of Texas OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR WILLIAM P. CLEMENTS, JR. STATE CAPITOL GOVERNOR AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711 Colonel James B. Adams Director, Texas Department of Public Safety Alfredo C. Gonzalez Director, Edinburg Department of Public Safety My Fellow Texans: John H. Green District Attorney As our State continues to grow in population and wealth, the incidence Odessa of crime also increases. We have been fortunate in Texas to have excel ,i i' lent law enforcement officials who are dedicated to protecting the lives and property of our citizens. However, their efforts alone cannot result Jack Hammack in a stabilization of the crime rate. It will take the concerted efforts Dall as of all our citizens if we are to win the war against this criminal menace. This report of the Texas Organized Crime Prevention Council should not be John B. Holmes, Jr. perceived as an all-encompassing report of the organized criminal activity District Attorney in our State. In fact, it presents only the tip of the iceburg. Organized Houston i criminals are most adept at avoiding detection, but the Organized Crime 'I Prevention Council has firmly established their presence in Texas and pro jected the dire implications that these organized criminal activities hold Ed Leach i for the people of Texas. It is my hope that this report will serve as a Longview useful tool by which our law enforcement agencies can identify organized criminal activities and direct their efforts toward effectively combating i I this major problem. W.C. IIBi1111 Perryman , I : f Chairman, Texas Criminal Justice Division Advisory Board ! ; Because of the scope and significance of organized crime in our State, and Athens I, under my constitutional duty as chief enforcement officer, I have made the i: Organized Crime Prevention Council a part of the Governor's Office. I am also calling on all elected officials throughout Texas to join us in the Dr. Irving C. Stone, Jr. continuing fight against these highly organized criminal elements which I Da 11 as plague our State. tl Henry Wade Sincerely, fl District Attorney tI Da 11 as · l'l U .0.. ~ 1\.-. .. ~"~ .. Mark White It 'I '-:J_~_A# ... ~~ Attorney General of Texas William P. Clements, Jr. Governor of Texas J.A. Whittenburg, III Amarillo I I '"' -- . ----- ---- ....... -~- ~- - ~~,..------::- -,- -,' --". , •. --~ --...-------~~------ ---11 Page 2 II ') , iJ Ij i , (, defined as organized criminal activities in some instances did not conform Ii ORGANIZED CRH1E IN TEXAS to the various organized crime definitions which have been established in both :i I i the State Penal Code and the Federal statutes~ The criminal activities which are ~ I INTRODUCTION ;'1" expounded upon in this report deal with specific crimes which have in the past j n been identified with organized crime. Additionally, an analysis of white collar I HI, II ~rime has been made because of its rapid growth in the State and because of its Organized crime impacts all aspects of life within our country today. Its suspected links to organized criminals. tentacles have expanded to the point that each )ndividual in our State and country is daily affected by organized criminal activities either directly or indirectly. Currently there does not exist a sound data base by which all types of organized Because of this great challenge to our society, it is imperative that the criminal criminal activity 1n the State can be measured. Many law enforcement agencies justice system develop techniques and stnategies whereby organized criminal have designed their criminal files to conform with uniform crime reporting activities can be effectively curbed. The development of these strategies and procedures utilized in the State. Additionally, because of the operational their successful initiation will not cause any sudden diminution of organized crime. fragmentation within the various law enforcement agencies, many agencies do not The process will require substantial amounts of money and manpower to be directed have any specific unit whose major emphasis is organized crime enforcement. The against this criminal menace and ft will take the dedicated efforts of all aspects Council, realizing these data deficiencies, has attempted to provide th0 mo~t of government, business, and the private citizenry. However, it is believed that accurate description of organized crime in the State as possible. Data sources the war against organized crime can be successful. include: the Uniform Crime Report of the Department of Public Safety, intelli gence data obtained from the ten organized crime control units and the Department An assessment of any prob'iem is only as accurate as the information from \'1hich of Public Safety Intelligence Service; the Texas House of Representatives Select the assessment is drawn. In some problem areas data is readily available which Committee on Child Pornography i.nterim report; past Council reports; various is easily definable and accessible for analysis. However, because of the very newspaper reports; reports obtained from the Attorney General IS Consumer nature of organized criminal activities, complete information cannot be obtained Protection Division, from the Texas Security Board Enforcement Division, and from therefore making it almost impossible to draw a truly accurate picture of the the Texas Department of Human Resources Enforcement Divisi on; i ntell igence provid'ed extent of organized criminal activities in the State. In the analysis of organized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the ctime activities occuring in Texas during 1978, the Council experienced similar U.S. Customs Service; and information provided by the National Auto Theft Bureau. difficulties as it had in prior years. Various activities which are commonly , . ~· __ ~. __= __~~~=-~~ __,M" " l 1 ·r ,~. -[ - --.~~- Page 4 Page 3 r report these offenses will be limited to illegal drug trafficking, gambling, I During the 1977 regular session of the State Legislature, the Organized Crime fencing of stolen property, prostitution, pornography, organized auto theft I Control Bill was enacted which defined engaging in organized criminal activities rings, and white collar crime. In reviewing the data base used to analyze as lIa group of individuals, who \,/ith the intent to establish, maintain, or these crimes, the Council has concluded that estimates and projections are participate in a combination (five or more persons) or in the profits of a conservative in nature and probably serve as a base line to the true picture combination, commit or conspires to commit the follm'ling crimes: murder, capital of these crimes. However, until a more suitable data collection system is murder, arson, aggravated robbery, robbery, burglary, theft, aggravated kidnapping, developed, the information contained within this report must stand by itself. kidnapping, aggravated assault, forgery, any felony gambling offense, promotion of prostitution, aggravated promotion of prostitution, or compelling prostitution, NARCOTICS