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John L. Barrett, Jr. Federal Bureau of Investigation, testimony to the
U.S. House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Subcommittee on the District of Columbia
May 8, 1998

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THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE. IT IS A PLEASURE FOR ME TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION'S (FBI) INVOLVEMENT AND COOPERATION WITH THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT (MPD) IN LOCAL ANTICRIME EFFORTS. WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I WILL SUBMIT MY PREPARED STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD AND SUMMARIZE THOSE COOPERATIVE EFFORTS.

IN APRIL, 1992, ONE OF MY PREDECESSORS, MR. ROBERT M. BRYANT, NOW DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE FBI, CAME TO THIS SUBCOMMITTEE WITH AN OUTLINE OF LOCAL INITIATIVES TO COMBAT RISING LEVELS OF VIOLENT CRIME. AT THAT TIME, OUR PLAN REVOLVED AROUND A REVITALIZED NATIONAL VIOLENT CRIME STRATEGY AIMED AT DRUG AND GANG-RELATED VIOLENT CRIME. THAT STRATEGY WAS CALLED THE SAFE STREETS INITIATIVE. SINCE THEN, THE WASHINGTON FIELD OFFICE (WFO) OF THE FBI HAS FORGED A DYNAMIC AND SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MPD WHICH HAS CONTRIBUTED TO REMOVING SOME OF THE MOST VIOLENT DRUG GANGS OPERATING IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. WITH RESPECT TO ITS SUCCESS, IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THE NUMBERS OF HOMICIDES IN WASHINGTON, D.C. HAS DROPPED FROM 489 IN 1991, TO 301 IN 1997. WHILE THE REDUCED RATE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE COOPERATIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORT THE FBI HAS INITIATED WITH THE MPD, BY TARGETING THE MOST VIOLENT CRIMINAL OFFENDERS AND THE UTILIZATION OF FEDERAL STATUTES IN PROSECUTION HAS HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON WASHINGTON D.C.'S MOST SERIOUS CRIME PROBLEM.

SAFE STREETS VIOLENT CRIMES INITIATIVE

THE NATIONAL STRATEGY OF THE FBI'S SAFE STREETS INITIATIVE IS TO ADDRESS, THROUGH A TASK FORCE APPROACH, MAJOR DOMESTIC VIOLENT STREET GANGS AND DRUG ENTERPRISES AS SIGNIFICANT THREATS TO THE INTEGRITY OF AMERICAN SOCIETY BY DEVELOPING, THROUGHOUT FBI FIELD OFFICES, SUSTAINED, COORDINATED INVESTIGATIONS THAT LEAD TO SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTIONS. CASES ARE PRIORITIZED BASED UPON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TARGET ORGANIZATION AND PURSUED UNDER THE ENTERPRISE THEORY OF INVESTIGATION USING SOPHISTICATED INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES. INVESTIGATIONS ARE FOCUSED ON PROVING A PATTERN OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY RATHER THAN ON INDIVIDUALS OR ISOLATED CRIMINAL ACTS.INVESTIGATIONS ARE TYPICALLY CONDUCTED USING A VARIETY OF SOPHISTICATED INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES IN WHICH ALL MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE CONTRIBUTE EQUALLY. THOSE TECHNIQUES INCLUDE THE USE OF UNDERCOVER DRUG BUYS, CONSENSUAL MONITORING USING COVERT ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE, COVERT VIDEO SURVEILLANCE, PEN REGISTERS, TRAP AND TRACES, THE EXTENSIVE USE OF A CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANT BASE, AND TITLE III ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE.

THE WASHINGTON FIELD OFFICE (WFO) OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN A PIONEER IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FBI'S SAFE STREETS INITIATIVE AND CARRIES THE INVESTIGATIVE STRATEGY IN FULL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MPD. CURRENTLY, WFO AND THE MPD TARGET THE MOST VIOLENT GANGS AND DRUG TRAFFICKERS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA THROUGH A NUMBER OF SQUADS WHICH HAVE INITIATED SAFE STREETS TASK FORCES WITH THE MPD.

SQUAD C-16 — VIOLENT GANGS TASK FORCE

SQUAD C-16 CONSISTS OF 15 FBI AGENTS AND 16 MPD OFFICERS WHO UTILIZE DRUG AND VIOLENT CRIME INVESTIGATIONS TO ADDRESS THE MOST VIOLENT GANGS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IN RECENT YEARS, SQUAD C-16 HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR A NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL HIGH PROFILE CASES. AMONG THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SUCCESSFUL CASES ARE THE FOLLOWING:

THE FIRST AND KENNEDY STREET CREW

A MEMBER OF THE FIRST AND KENNEDY STREET CREW WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACK ON DISTRICT POLICE HEADQUARTERS THAT ENDED IN THE DEATH OF SA MARTHA DIXON-MARTINEZ, SA MICHAEL MILLERAND SERGEANT HENRY DALY. THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED WITH THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF 25 CORE MEMBERS. AS A RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION THE CREW WAS COMPLETELY DISMANTLED. THIS VIOLENT STREET LEVEL NARCOTICS ORGANIZATION WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIRTEEN (13) HOMICIDES WHICH MEMBERS OF THE SAFE STREET TASK FORCE CLOSED.

THE EASTGATE CREW

THIS INVESTIGATION AROSE AS A RESULT OF THE LARGE NUMBERS OF DRUG RELATED HOMICIDES WHICH WERE OCCURRING AS DRUG CREWS COMPETED FOR BUSINESS IN THE EASTGATE GARDENS PUBLIC HOUSING COMPLEX. ONE OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS INCIDENTS INVOLVED THE JUNE, 1993 WOUNDING OF SIX CHILDREN AT THE BENNING PARK RECREATION CENTER SWIMMING POOL BY RIVAL GANG MEMBERS. SEVERAL JUVENILES WERE EVENTUALLY ARRESTED IN THAT INCIDENT. THIS CASE HAS RESULTED IN OVER 33 CONVICTIONS FOR DRUG AND VIOLENT CRIME CASES INCLUDING THE CONVICTIONS OF NINE DEFENDANTS FOR 10 SEPARATE HOMICIDES.

THE WAYNE PERRY CASE

IN THE LATE 1980'S AND EARLY 1990'S, WAYNE PERRY WAS CONSIDERED, BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, TO BE THE MOST VIOLENT PERSON IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA. IN A CONTINUING CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE INVESTIGATION, PERRY WAS TARGETED AND ULTIMATELY CHARGED WITH SIX MURDERS, OF WHICH HE PLED GUILTY TO FIVE. PERRY WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE IN EXCHANGE FOR THE GOVERNMENT AGREEING NOT TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY. SINCE HIS INCARCERATION, PERRY HAS PROVIDED DETAILS TO INVESTIGATORS REGARDING NUMEROUS MURDERS COMMITTED BY HIM IN WASHINGTON, D.C. SO FAR, APPROXIMATELY 30 MURDERS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO PERRY BASED ON THE INTERVIEWS OF HIM AND CORROBORATING EVIDENCE.

SQUAD C-10 — DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA JOINT FUGITIVE TASK FORCE (DCJFTF)

SQUAD C-10, CONSISTING OF 13 FBI AGENTS, 15 MPD OFFICERS, 8 DEPUTY U.S. MARSHALS AND 12 ADDITIONAL FEDERAL AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, FOCUSES EXCLUSIVELY ON THE APPREHENSION OF VIOLENT FUGITIVES. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN AUGUST, 1989, THE DCJFTF HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ARREST OF OVER 6,000 VIOLENT FUGITIVES. THE CONCEPT OF SQUAD C-10 HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THAT IT HAS BEEN EXPANDED INTO NORTHERN VIRGINIA THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FAIRFAX COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FAIRFAX COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

SQUAD C-21 — FBI/MPD MAJOR CASE TEAM

SQUAD C-21 INCLUDES 11 FBI AGENTS AND 10 MPD OFFICERS. THE MISSION OF SQUAD C-21 IS TO INVESTIGATE HOMICIDES WHICH ARE GANG OR NARCOTICS RELATED OR INCLUDE SUBSTANTIAL INSTANCES OF OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. SQUAD C-21'S MISSION ALSO INCLUDES THE INVESTIGATION OF SERIAL KILLERS, HIGH PROFILE CASES, SUCH AS THE BALLOU HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE STUDENT HOMICIDES AND THE STARBUCKS MURDERS, AND CERTAIN ASSAULT WITH INTENT TO KILL (AWIK) OR HOMICIDE CASES WHERE POLICE OFFICERS ARE THE VICTIMS. IT IS A SPECIFIC GOAL OF SQUAD C-21 TO CAUSE A MEASURABLE REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF VIOLENT CRIMES IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND REDUCING THE EXISTING HOMICIDE RATE. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN JUNE, 1992, SQUAD C-21 HAS SOLVED A TOTAL OF 212 HOMICIDES. CURRENTLY, SQUAD C-21 IS ANALYZING A NUMBER OF UNSOLVED HOMICIDES OF FEMALE VICTIMS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE SERIAL KILLERS.

THE WFO AND MPD ALSO COOPERATE BY THE PLACEMENT OF MPD OFFICERS IN SQUAD C-15, THE REGIONAL DRUG INTELLIGENCE SQUAD, AND SQUAD C-18, THE METROPOLITAN AREA VIOLENT VEHICLE THEFT TASK FORCE (MAVVTF).

COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM

AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SAFE STREETS INITIATIVE IS WFO'S EFFORT TO PROMOTE CRIME PREVENTION AND DEVELOP BETTER RELATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY. WFO HAS "ADOPTED" FIVE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND ONE FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOL IN AN EFFORT TO ADDRESS THE ACADEMIC NEEDS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CITIZENS ACADEMY TO EDUCATE BUSINESS AND CIVIC LEADERS IN THE ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS OF THE FBI AND A VICTIM/WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO ASSIST VICTIMS AND WITNESSES THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS.

ADDITIONAL JOINT FBI /MPD EFFORTS

SQUAD C-2 — PUBLIC CORRUPTION

SQUAD C-2 IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION AND GOVERNMENTAL FRAUD REGARDING THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. SQUAD C-2 HAS HAD A NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL JOINT INVESTIGATIONS WITH THE MPD.

FREERIDE

THIS JOINT INVESTIGATION INTO CORRUPTION IN THE REGULATION OF THE WASHINGTON TAXI INDUSTRY HAS ALREADY RESULTED IN THE CONVICTION OF THE HEAD OF THE D.C. OFFICE OF TAXICABS. IN ADDITION, TEN MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTORS AND TWO NON-GOVERNMENT DEFENDANTS HAVE BEEN INDICTED FOR TRAFFICKING IN FRAUDULENT TAXICAB SAFETY INSPECTION STICKERS.

SQUAD C-4 — BANK ROBBERIES, KIDNAPPINGS, ETC.

SQUAD C-4 IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF BANK ROBBERIES, ARMORED CAR ROBBERIES, KIDNAPPINGS, EXTORTIONS AND SIMILAR VIOLENT CRIMES. ALL OF THE AFOREMENTIONED CRIMES ARE ROUTINELY WORKED JOINTLY WITH THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS SECTION OF THE MPD.

SQUAD C-6 — MAJOR DRUG ORGANIZATIONS

SQUAD C-6 IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF MAJOR DRUG ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WELL-ORGANIZED, MULTI JURISDICTIONAL, AND OF MAJOR SIGNIFICANCE AND INFLUENCE. SQUAD C-6 CONCENTRATES RESOURCES ON MULTIFACETED INVESTIGATIONS WHICH TARGET THE ENTIRE CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL SUBJECTS. SQUAD C-6 ROUTINELY CONDUCTS MANY OF ITS INVESTIGATIONS JOINTLY WITH THE MPD UTILIZING TITLE IIIS AND GROUP I AND GROUP II UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS.

SQUAD C-11 — ORGANIZED CRIME

SQUAD C-11 IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING VIOLATIONS OF FEDERAL LAWS AS THEY RELATE TO ORGANIZED CRIME ACTIVITY, INCLUDING ITALIAN ORGANIZED CRIME AND ASIAN ORGANIZED CRIME. THE MPD PARTICIPATES WITH A FULL-TIME INVESTIGATOR IN THE WASHINGTON AREA ASIAN ORGANIZED CRIME INITIATIVE.

SQUAD C-13 — MAJOR NATIONAL DRUG ORGANIZATIONS

SQUAD C-13 IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF MATTERS DESCRIBED IN THE FBI NATIONAL DRUG STRATEGY. IN THE WFO, THIS USUALLY RESULTS IN CASES INVOLVING THE IMPORTATION OF COCAINE AND HEROIN FROM CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA INCLUDING THE CARIBBEAN AREA AND MEXICO. MPD OFFICERS ARE NOT ASSIGNED FULL TIME TO SQUAD C-13, BUT HAVE ASSISTED IN THE FOLLOWING INVESTIGATIONS.

BAD HABIT

THIS IS A JOINT INVESTIGATION INCLUDING THE FBI, DEA, IRS, U.S. POSTAL INSPECTORS SERVICE, AND THE MPD TARGETING A SIGNIFICANT ORGANIZATION OPERATING WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. THE MPD HAS ASSIGNED THREE OFFICERS ON A PART TIME BASIS TO THE INVESTIGATION. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS RESULTED IN SEIZURES OF DRUGS AND WEAPONS AND ARRESTS.

CARIBBEAN CRUSH

THIS INVESTIGATION FOCUSES ON A DOMINICAN DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION OPERATING WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS RESULTED IN THE SEIZURES OF DRUGS, CASH, AND VEHICLES AND 18 ARRESTS. THIS CASE IS BEING WORKED JOINTLY WITH THE MPD AND THE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE.

MONEY MAGIC

THIS WAS A MONEY LAUNDERING INVESTIGATION TARGETING AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIPS WHICH WAS WORKED JOINTLY WITH THE MPD AND THE IRS FROM JANUARY, 1991 TO NOVEMBER, 1994. TWO MPD OFFICERS WERE ASSIGNED TO THIS INVESTIGATION WHICH RESULTED IN 18 CONVICTIONS AND THE SEIZURE OF 74 VEHICLES AND THE FORFEITURE OF $3,677,739.

SQUAD C-22 - HEALTH CARE FRAUD — DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

SQUAD C-22 IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING HEALTH CARE FRAUD IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. SQUAD C-22 IS INVOLVED IN A COOPERATIVE EFFORT WITH THE MPD IN ADDRESSING PRESCRIPTION DRUG DIVERSION. IN THESE MATTERS, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS PURCHASED AT THE STREET LEVEL ARE RE-SOLD TO LOCAL INDEPENDENT PHARMACIES. THE DRUGS ARE OFTEN EXPIRED AND STORED IN UNSANITARY CONDITIONS. THE MPD MAJOR NARCOTICS SECTION HAS ASSIGNED TWO OFFICERS TO WORK WITH SQUAD C-22 ON THIS INITIATIVE WHICH IS ANTICIPATED TO LAST AT LEAST 12 - 18 MONTHS.

SQUAD NS1-3 — JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCE

SQUAD NS1-3 IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PREVENTION, INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF ALL ACTS OF TERRORISM ON UNITED STATES SOIL BY BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISTS. THIS SQUAD INCLUDES A FULL TIME MEMBER OF THE MPD WHO ALSO PARTICIPATES IN THE WFO EVIDENCE RESPONSE TEAM.

RESOURCES PROVIDED TO MPD THROUGH THE SAFE STREETS/VIOLENT CRIMES INITIATIVE (FY 1998 BUDGET)

IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE SAFE STREETS/VIOLENT CRIMES INITIATIVE, WFO IS AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND $435,306 IN SUPPORT OF THE SAFE STREETS TASK FORCES. THIS AUTHORIZATION REPRESENTS 54% OF WFO'S CRIMINAL CASE FUNDS FOR FY-1998. THOSE FUNDS EXPENDED ARE USED TO SUSTAIN THE OFFICERS OF PARTICIPATING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THE FBI PROVIDES THE MPD WITH VEHICLES, EQUIPMENT AND OVERTIME PAY FOR TASK FORCE OFFICERS.

CURRENTLY, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 71 SPECIAL AGENTS WORKING VIOLENT CRIME MATTERS AND APPROXIMATELY 66 SPECIAL AGENTS WORKING DC/DRUG MATTERS IN WFO, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 42 MPD OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO VARIOUS TASK FORCES OF THE FBI.

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