Excerpt
Terrorists, drug traffickers, and street gangs increase their likelihood of success when they organize. Someone acting alone is more likely to change his mind about committing a crime than someone who is involved with others in a criminal conspiracy. Because of their far-reaching effects, conspiracy investigations have been proven to be some of the most effective means to dismantle entire criminal organizations.
Arresting individual low-level terrorists, drug dealers, and street gang members does little to stop their supervisors, managers, organizers, and facilitators from continuing their criminal enterprises. However, these criminal organizations are especially vulnerable to comprehensive conspiracy investigations. Thanks to judicial Interpertation of existing conspiracy laws, these groups can be dismantled by making all members of a criminal conspiracy subject to indictment, arrest, and conviction for the crimes each member of the organization commits in furtherance of the conspiracy.
Conspiracy Investigations: Terrorism, Drugs, and Gangs explains in detail what a conspiracy is, what the elements of the crime are, how the law allows prosecutors to attach criminal liability to all members of a conspiracy, and the many other advantages of charging defendants with these statutes. The book guides the reader through a series of realistic examples to reinforce important teaching points that focus on how to investigate and successfully prosecute these cases. It also discusses the techniques used by federal agencies to perform extrajudicial renditions to bring international conspirators to the United States to face justice, regardless of whether an extradition treaty exists.
While an instructor at the Office of Training for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), I taught new special agents, intelligence analysts, diversion investigators, state and local police officers, and members of the intelligence community how to conduct comprehensive conspiracy investigations. As a member of a DEA international training team, I also taught many foreign law enforcement officials how to apply their newly ratified conspiracy laws against organized drug criminals.
Conspiracy Investigations: Terrorism, Drugs, and Gangs takes the mystery out of the law and explores the many investigative techniques that can be used to expand criminal investigations to their fullest potential, so criminal organizations can be dismantled. This book also describes how to develop successful investigative and prosecution strategies against organized criminals. Along the way, it introduces the reader to the world of terrorism, drug, and gang organizations and how they operate.