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FBI Investigations Decline Sharply

By TChris, Section Crime Policy
Posted on Mon Oct 03, 2005 at 02:03:01 PM EST
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by TChris

The FBI has said since 9/11 that it's shifting its priorities from routine federal law enforcement to terrorist prevention. Statistics show that the FBI has indeed sharply reduced the number of criminal investigations it initiates.

The FBI opened 62,782 criminal investigations in 2000 and 34,451 last year, a drop of 45 percent, [Justice Department inspector general Glenn] Fine said. Drug cases declined by 70 percent, he said.

The unhappy news: although civil rights, health care fraud, corporate fraud, and public corruption investigations have all decreased, obscenity investigations increased. That statistic reflects the Justice Department's misplaced priorities.

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    FBI Investigations Decline Sharply | 21 comments (21 topical)
    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#1)
    by john horse on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:38 PM EST
    (Sarcasm alert) I'm glad that the FFI is cutting back on the investigation of corporate fraud and public corruption. Of course, there is no need now that George Bush and the Republicans are in charge of government. Just because there are billions of public dollars unaccounted for in Iraq is no reason to think that we will have the same result from the billions in no-bid contracts for Katrina. I mean if you can't trust Tom Delay, Mike Brown, Karl Rove,Frist, Safavian, Allbaugh, Abramoff, and Bush, who can you trust?

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#2)
    by mpower1952 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:38 PM EST
    These people have no shame. What does the FBI rank and file have to say about this change in priorities? We need some whistleblowers but that kind of courage in these unsettled days is truly hard to find. Hopefully we won't lose too many good agents before this mess can be fixed. God help us!

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#3)
    by Molly Bloom on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:38 PM EST
    Off Topic: Delay indicted for Money Laundering by a 2nd grand jury.

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#4)
    by scarshapedstar on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:39 PM EST
    Also OT: Miers worked to defend an Enron-style Texas Ponzi scheme.

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:39 PM EST
    There was virtually no enforcement of federal obscenity law under Janet Reno and Slick Willie. Consequently, it's appropriate to once again start enforcing that law -- or else repeal it. Since the Dems haven't repealed it, and since child porn is still being produced and disseminated, it's good that the FBI is devoting some resources to addressing this crime.

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#6)
    by scarshapedstar on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:39 PM EST
    Oh yeah, FFJ, it's all about kiddie porn. Now about that bridge you wanted to buy...

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#7)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:39 PM EST
    What does the FBI rank and file have to say about this change in priorities?
    One FBI agent was quoted as saying "I guess the war on terror is over."

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#8)
    by Aaron on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:39 PM EST
    T. Chris I wish you wouldn't link to the San Jose Mercury news, their web site is a real joke of a nightmare trying to connect to. Why is it that some newspapers think they should provide the same security as a bank when you try to access their web site. Every time I wanna look at one of their stories, I've got to spend 10 minutes signing in, and I've had to change my password five times since they won't send you your password even though my passwords has never changed, and it never works. By the time I finished signing in with them and signing into your web site, which I must also re-sign into almost every single time, even when I've just posted a comment 10 minutes ago, I've forgotten what I was going to write, as is the case this time, sheesh!

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#9)
    by peacrevol on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:40 PM EST
    but you guys don't believe there is a war on terror or that we have any worries concerning terror. if we have obscenity laws on the books, should they simply be ignored-the last time this was posted they were looking for 10 agents to cover the area. is there any objective way to show that is too many?
    what is obscene? to quote eminem: "You find me offensive? I find you offensive For finding me offensive Hence if I should draw a line on any fences If so to what extense if Any, should I go? 'Cause it's getting expensive Being on the other side of the courtroom on the defensive They say that I cause extensive Pshycological nerve damage to the brain when I go to lenghts this, Far at other people's expenses I say your all just too god d*** sensitive It's censorship And it's down right blasphomous Listen to sh** now cause I won't stand for this... ...Now in the Bible it says Thou shalt not watch two lesbians in bed, Have homosexual sex Unless of course you were given the consent to join in Then of course, it's intercourse And it's bi-sexual sex Which isn't as bad, as long as you show some remorse for your actions Either before, during or after peforming the act of that which Is normally referred to have such, more commonly known phrases That are more used by today's kids In a more derogatory way but Who's to say, what's fair to say, and what not to say? Let's ask Dr. Dre Dr. Dre? (What up?) I gotta question if I may? (Yeah) Is it gay to play Putt-Putt golf with a friend (Yeah) And watch his butt-butt when he tees off? (Yeah) But, ut! I ain't done yet In football the quarterback yells out hutt-hutt While he reaches in another grown man's a$$ Grabs on his nuts but just what if It was never meant it was just an accident But he tripped, fell, slipped and his penis went in His teeny tiny little round hiney but he didn't mean it But his little weenie flinched just a little bit And I don't mean to go in into any more details but What if he pictured it as a females butt? Is that gay? I just need to clear things up..." Point being...where's the line on obscene or offensive? Are we supposed to walk on glass so as not to offend? Many people think eminem is obscene, but...they used to think Buddy Holly, Elvis, and the Beatles were obscene. I dont see why obscenity is an FBI matter in the first place.

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#10)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:40 PM EST
    Shorter charley..."The FBI knows best, I trust them 100%, who am I to question them." I think you'd fit in better in a totalitarian regime, brother.

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#11)
    by peacrevol on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:40 PM EST
    i think we would all agree that child porn is obscene. tax evasion = obscene? ok so how bout these...murder = obscene? robbery = obscene? bad language = obscene? drug use = obscene? general violence = obscene? church and state not separated = obscene? genocide = obscene? liberals = obscene? conservatives = obscene? organized crime = obscene? underwear ads = obscene? sexual topics = obscene? My point is...is it fair to give such a broad title to the FBI and just let them run with it? Can we afford to let the FBI, or any other federal authority define for us what is obscene? Many of the things listed above are illegal and well should be. Some are not and maybe should be... Some are and maybe should not be, but to give such a vague department power to decide what it wants to define as obscene, to me, is the fed stepping beyond its bounds.

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#12)
    by peacrevol on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:40 PM EST
    typical of you to offer no substantive reason not to prosecute obscenity but, apparently, your own subjective opinion that it isn't a crime in spite of statutes making it illegal.
    it? What is it?

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#13)
    by roger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:40 PM EST
    So Charley, Does this mean that you approve of fewer fraud investigations? How about corruption? There is more to the story than porn, but I am sure that you know that

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#14)
    by peacrevol on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:40 PM EST
    you would just prefer to close your eyes.
    no charley, we just like to take a step back and look at the whole picture and not just the obvious. nearly all of society accepts and agrees that sexual child depictions are and should be illegal. Now to use one of your examples:
    a depiction of rape on video.
    How many R rated movies can you think of where they depict rape in the film? Is that obscene? in what context is that depiction obscene? obviously...when it's real. blurry line...when it's not real but graphic...or when it's less graphic, but still extremely upsetting.
    failing to pay taxes on money collected from the above.
    this statement baffles me. the "above" to which you refer:
    a child being used sexually. a depiction of rape on video.
    your two big arguments of what obscene is. paying taxes on child pornography? what? who...why...wait...what? isnt child pornography illegal? so...shouldnt not paying taxes on something that was illegal in the first place be the least of the concern? AND...how is not paying taxes obscene? the issue is whether the act was obscene or not obscene...not whether or not the federal govt collects tax revenues from it. I'll tell you one thing that is obscene though charley-o...that's me paying 28% of my pay check each period to the fed so that they can run an FBI that has the power to arrest the makers of my favorite music, movie, books, education, etc b/c they find them obscene under the outskirts of their jurisdiction over obscenity cases that they would otherwise not have.

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#15)
    by Johnny on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:40 PM EST
    hear! hear! peacerevol! Obscenity is such an subjective POV... What one FBI agent may find obscene, another may wank to it after he "confiscates" it... Also, Charley, it is not about kiddie pron as mucha s it is about the conservative puritan radical right wingers telling me not only who i can and cannot foola round with, but also who I can and cannot think about fooling around with. Obscenity laws verge on "thought crime". The FBI really has better things to do, dontcha think? Or by supporting going after pornographers you imp[licitly approve of the policies which draw resources away from other investigations. You know, crimes with victims?

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:41 PM EST
    Drug cases declined by 70 percent, he said.
    True. Drug cases investigated by the FBI, not federal drug cases in general, which increased. How so, you might ask? Well, after 9/11, the FBI ("feebs") made "anti-terrorism" (and porn) their mission, and palmed off the drug cases to the DEA, which typically works through those federally-organized "local-state-fed" regional "task forces".

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#17)
    by Johnny on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:42 PM EST
    So Charley, are crimes with victims more important than crimes without victims? is the fact I am looking at a womans t*t really a concern of the US government? There are a few things wrong wingers have yet to explain adequately... if at all. 1. why looking at naked people boning is soooooo evil 2. Why pot is soooooooo evil 3. Why it is anyone's business anyways?

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#18)
    by peacrevol on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:42 PM EST
    those who profit from it are often involved in organized crime
    Many of the people involved in organized crime eat wheaties for breakfast. Should we outlaw Wheaties, too? Indict them for organized crime. That's cool. Organized crime is illegal. But to outlaw something because of another independant variable is rediculous.
    Congress makes laws/if you wish to break them, you should probably realize that "it's none of your business"
    The point is that these things should not be illegal in the first place because it's nobody's business. It's not a defense for committing a crime, but its an argument against the current system, which, I might add, does not work. And congress makes laws, but that does not mean they are correct when making certain ones. Charley, I think you have gone too long with just accepting the status quo and assuming that becuause someone told you that's how it is, then that's the way it should be. You should question the status quo and make a stand for what is not right in your opinion. A generalization if I may: It seems that a lot of law enforcement is that way (accepting of the status quo). Just from my experience, they have it so engrained in them to uphold the law that in their values, they dont question the laws that they enforce. Perhaps that's a good thing, perhaps it's bad.

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#19)
    by peacrevol on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:42 PM EST
    But charley, you seem like a reasonably intelligent person. Use that noodle of yours to decide what should be and weigh that against what is.

    Re: FBI Investigations Decline Sharply (none / 0) (#20)
    by peacrevol on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:42 PM EST
    I disagree with the theory that the enforcement of laws has a whole lot to do with the increase of illegal depictions of the most vulnerable for several reasons. Our society has become much more sexual in the past 40 or so years. There will always be the fringe society that is going to push the envelope and as sexuality becomes more mainstream, the fringe society grows. Also, enforcement of law has not been a deterrant in the "war on drugs". I would imagine that these perverts that want to have kiddie porn, etc are similar to drug addicts. It's probably an addiction that they cant control once they're hooked. Also, another reason for the increase is the widespread use of the internet. For anything you want to see, there are thousands of websites. That makes all sorts of crazy stuff easily accessible. These are several facts beyond "common sense" that I am using to support my theory, which in turn seems to be more common sense than the "if we punish them for doing it, they'll do it less" theory. There are many more factors involved here than just the lack of enforcement of the laws that makes the numbers not be the whole story. Of course, I am in no way saying that child porn laws should not be enforced. I definately think child pornography should be investigated and punished. I am just expressing my opinion that I dont want a federal authority with the power to define a relative term beyond the hideously obvious.

    Crime BY the FBI (none / 0) (#21)
    by honeytrap on Sat Feb 17, 2007 at 07:55:01 PM EST
    FBI is cutting back on criminal investigations.  Huh.  No surprise here.  I was sexually assaulted by two FBI employees, Special Agents Raul Bujanda and Armando Garza, who worked out of the Portland, Oregon office.  At the time, Garza (I later found out) was working undercover as an informant for a Mexican mafia drug-ring bust in Coquille, Oregon, involving a string of area Mexican resteraunts that were a cover for money laundering and drug deals.  Bujanda was also working "undercover" to some degree, with the Portland police.  I met Bujanda in a federal courthouse, where he gave me his FBI card and asked me out on a couple of "dates" with him.  He found out I'd had an interest in working for the FBI and had actually had prior communications wit htheir office earlier, and then tells me he wants me to meet his "boss".  So I meet him over drinks and when I ask if I'm being recruited, Garza tells me, "We're looking for the right woman for our operations".  At the end of the night, when I asked them to drop me off at my house, they pressured me to let them into my house (telling me, Garza did, he had to "use the bathroom") and then attacked me.  I called people about it the very next day, wondering what I should do and if these guys were really with the FBI.  Turns out, they really WERE.  SO the FBI, after much prodding from me, sends S.S.A. Julia Thornton out to get my statements.  Nothing happens so I send a complaint to Washington D.C. and then 2 S.S.A.s are sent out to interview me.  One of them was from California.  A Don Pryzbyla.  So they ask a bunch of leading questions like, "You don't really believe you were ever sexually harassed or anything like that, isn't that right?"  I said I didn't know, because I didn't know the legal definitions for the things they were talking about.  Later, I found out what they did was a felony and, according to Oregon law, Sex Abuse 1, which, if convicted, would require these FBI agents to register as sex offenders.  But the FBI told me, taking advantage of my ignorance and trust, not to go to the police because it would ruin their investigation.  Their investigation was nothing.  A year later, I asked for records through FOIA and got the generic response:  no records found.  A year after that, a police officer took my report but keeps (at this time, still, it's pending) trying to dumb it down and find excuses for these guys.  He's the guy in charge of sexual assault detail: Sgt. Rich Austria.  So, the FBI concealed crime by their employees, and later, I believe, slandered me and retaliated against me for reporting them.  I was harassed by police after reporting, had my car towed away for a "suspended license" which was not true (DMV confirmed I had never been suspended), arrested/fingerprinted/photographed on false and trumped charges and jailed for two weeks(never in trouble wiht law before in my life and hadn't done anything) which was later dismissed, etc.  I'm reading things about how the FBI isn't investigating crime as much and how public corruption is on the rise.  There is public corruption within the Bureau and they are doing nothing about it.  Abuse of women continues within the FBI, as well as sexual harassment, and when an agent sexually ASSAULTS a citizen, what does he get?  See the Portland Police website and type a search for "Raul Bujanda" to find:  "Achievement Award".  I would be interested in hearing from other women who have been abused by government officials.  I was not raped, but was groped while incapacitated.  They both kissed me but not on the lips as I never kissed them back and tried to get away and asked them what was going on more than once.  Some recruitment.  Some interview.  To this day, I don't think I know the extent of it.  They've probably done it before.  I was lucky to have gotten away without further injury as they both had and showed me glocks they had with them, which were loaded because Garza took out a chamber cartrige or whatever and pulled out a bullet to show it to me.  Just recently I told them I was going to make what happened public and post information online, because they are hiding in secrecy.  I read a book by Rosemary Dew, former S.S.A., recently, called "No Backup" about her experiences within the FBI and how the culture is abusive of women, steeped in ancient and outdated "values", and led to the 9-11 crisis.  I also found her online and asked what she thought about what had happened.  My favorite line from her is where she just writes, flat-out, "the FBI is corrupt".  And here they are, in charge of fighting corruption.  Good luck

    FBI Investigations Decline Sharply | 21 comments (21 topical)