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Continuing Criminal Enterprise Statute

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The Continuing Criminal Enterprise Statute (commonly referred to as CCE Statute or The Kingpin Statute) is a United States federal law that targets large-scale drug traffickers who are responsible for long-term and elaborate drug conspiracies. Unlike the RICO Act, which covers a wide range of organized crime enterprises, the CCE statute covers only major narcotics organizations. CCE is codified as Chapter 13 of Title 21 of the United States Code, 21 U.S.C. § 848. The statute makes it a federal crime to commit or conspire to commit a continuing series of felony violations of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 when such acts are taken in concert with five or more other persons. For conviction under this statute, the offender must have been an organizer, manager, or supervisor of the continuing operation and have obtained substantial income or resources from the drug violations.[1]

The sentence for a first CCE conviction is a mandatory minimum twenty years' imprisonment (with a maximum of life imprisonment), a fine of not more than $2 million, and forfeiture of profits and any interest in the enterprise. Under the so-called "super kingpin" provision added as subsection (b) to the CCE statute in 1984, a person convicted of being a "principal" administrator, organizer, or leader of a criminal enterprise that either involves a large amount of narcotics (at least 300 times the quantity that would trigger a five-year mandatory-minimum sentence for possession), or generates a large amount of money (at least $10 million in gross receipts during a single year), must serve a mandatory life sentence without possibility of parole (sometimes referred to as a "living death" or "pine box" sentence, since the offender is strictly ineligible for release while alive). Anyone engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise who intentionally kills a person or causes an intentional killing may be sentenced to death. Probation, parole, and suspension of the sentence are prohibited.

Famous cases

Black Mafia Family

The Black Mafia Family was a major cocaine distribution organization led by brothers Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory and Terry "Southwest T" Flenory. Originally from the streets of Southwest Detroit, the brothers started selling $50 bags of crack in high school and by the early 1990s were distributing thousands of kilograms of cocaine in over 21 states.[2]

Rayful Edmond III

Rayful Edmond was convicted of distributing thousands of kilograms of cocaine in the Washington, D.C. area. His trial featured the first ever anonymous jury in the District's history. Furthermore, jurors were kept behind bulletproof glass in the courtroom and the defendant, Edmond, was housed at the U.S. Marine Base at Quantico and flown in daily on military transport.[3]

Larry Hoover

Larry Hoover was the founder of the Gangster Disciples street gang and was alleged to be its leader despite being in prison since 1973. On August 31, 1995, Hoover was arrested by federal agents at the Vienna Correctional Center and moved to MCC Chicago, being charged with Continuing Criminal Enterprise and a host of other charges related to gang activity. He is currently serving a life sentence at the super-maximum security facility in ADX Florence in Florence, Colorado.[4]

Tijuana Cartel

Several leaders of the Tijuana Cartel all would eventually have CCE charges brought against them for cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana trafficking offenses; as well as numerous murders. All brothers are now either captured, killed by police, or in prison except for Francisco Rafael Arellano Félix and Luis Fernando Arellano Félix. Luis Fernando is believed to be the current head of the organization and is believed to be aided by his remaining sisters, principally Alicia and Enedina.[5][6]

Augusto Falcon and Salvador Magluta

Salvador "Sal" Magluta and Augusto "Willy" Falcon operated one of the most significant cocaine trafficking organizations in South Florida history. They were indicted by a federal grand jury in April 1991 for a plethora of drug trafficking crimes, including operating a continuing criminal enterprise. They were accused of importing and distributing over 75 tons of cocaine, or over 68,181 kilograms (150,000 lbs). Both Magluta and Falcon were found not guilty after a lengthy trial before Judge Federico Moreno. Magluta was represented by Roy Black, Martin Wienberg, and Richard Martinez and Falcon was represented by Albert Krieger, Susan Van Dusen, and D. Robert "Bobby" Wells.[7] Following the trial, the United States Attorney's Office directed an investigation into Magluta and Falcon's finances that ultimately revealed that members of their jury - including the jury foreman - had been bribed. Magluta, Falcon, several of the jurors, their associates and even some of their lawyers were ultimately charged with various criminal offenses arising from the conduct. Magluta was eventually sentenced to 205 years in federal prison, while Falcon received only 20 years after striking a plea deal with the government. Magluta was initially transferred to the supermax federal prison facility in Florence, Colorado. In 2010, after Magluta's attorney, Paul Petruzzi, sued the Federal Government, Magluta was transferred out of ADX Florence. Federal agents involved in the case say there are few drug traffickers in history more successful or well-known than Magluta and Falcon. Magluta is currently seeking a new trial based on over 40 legal violations. He is presently represented by Paul Petruzzi and Richard Klugh.[8]

Felix Mitchell

Felix "The Cat" Mitchell was a well-known heroin kingpin and leader of the "69 Mob" in Oakland, CA. At its height, his empire covered all of California and extended into the Midwest. His organization brought in an estimated $400,000 in monthly business. In 1985 Felix was convicted of running a continuing criminal enterprise and sentenced to life in prison in USP Leavenworth, one of the most violent maximum security facilities in the country. Less than a year into his sentence, on August 21, 1986, Felix was stabbed to death in his cell, just days before his 32nd birthday. His funeral was a major spectacle in Oakland. Over 10 Rolls-Royce limousines trailed the horse-drawn carriage that carried his body. Many celebrities and over 1,000 people attended the elaborate funeral, which received international media coverage.[9]

Ross William Ulbricht

Ross William Ulbricht was indicted under the Continuing Criminal Enterprise statute, along with other offenses, for running the Silk Road online marketplace.[10] On February 4, 2015, he was found guilty on all counts.[11] On May 29, 2015, Ulbricht was sentenced to life without parole.

Joaquin Guzman

Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, a drug cartel known for shipping cocaine, methamphetamines, marijuana,[12] and heroin throughout the US. He was charged with 27 separate violations and the jury decided that he was guilty of 25.[13] Guzmán was imprisoned at ADX Florence, a supermax prison in Colorado, after he was sentenced on July 17, 2019.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ Carlson, K (1993). "Prosecuting Criminal Enterprises". National Criminal Justice Reference Series. United States: Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report: 12. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
  2. ^ "Black Mafia Family Members Sentenced To 30 Years". DEA. September 12, 2008. Archived from the original on 16 September 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  3. ^ "USA v. RAYFUL EDMOND, III" (PDF). Court of Appeals, District of Columbia. 28 April 1995. pp. 1–39. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  4. ^ "Larry Hoover & The Gangster Disciples". DEA. 1997. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  5. ^ "Mexico seizes top drugs suspect". BBC News. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  6. ^ "Leader and Senior Lieutenant of Arellano-Felix Organization Plead Guilty to Criminal Charges". DEA. 18 September 2007. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  7. ^ DeFede, Jim (14 December 1995). "The Best Defense Money Can Buy". Miami New Times.
  8. ^ "Inside The Cartels Of The Real "Miami Vice"". America's Most Wanted. Archived from the original on 13 December 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  9. ^ "The Paradox of Felix Mitchell Junior". Oaklandish. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  10. ^ "Ross Ulbricht indicted for Silk Road narcotics trafficking, hacking". ars technica. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  11. ^ "Man Behind Silk Road Website Is Convicted On All Counts". NYTimes. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  12. ^ "Where 7 Mexican drug cartels are active within the U.S." Washington Post.
  13. ^ Hamilton, Keegan (February 12, 2019). "Breaking: El Chapo found guilty, faces life in U.S. prison". VICE.
  14. ^ Gearty, Robert (February 13, 2019). "'Alcatraz Of The Rockies' awaits El Chapo's possible arrival; inmates include Boston bomber and Ted Kaczynski". Fox News.
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