The Western District of Texas includes 68 counties
and is comprised of approximately 93,000 square miles.
The district consists of seven separate divisions
- San Antonio, Del
Rio, Austin, Waco, Midland, Alpine, Pecos and El Paso. There is also an unstaffed
office in Pecos. The District embraces the goals of the Attorney
General, with particular emphasis on those areas which pose the
more significant threats to the district. Due to our proximity to
Mexico, obviously drug trafficking, alien smuggling, and illegal
immigration violations are among our highest criminal priorities.
Of all the districts sharing a common border with the Republic of
Mexico, the Western District has the longest common border with
Mexico, approximately 660 miles.
Statistics compiled by the El Paso Intelligence Center
(EPIC) indicate that a majority of the cocaine imported into this
country is transported through the southwest border area of the
United States. Because of its border cities and isolated interior
areas, the geography of the district lends itself to the importation
of large quantities of controlled substances from the Republic of
Mexico. In addition, the major cities in the interior of the district
- San Antonio, Austin, Midland, and Waco - are situated on primary
interstate highway systems, and as such, operate as major trans-shipment
points and staging areas for controlled substance transportation
into other areas of the continental United States.
The District also concentrates on youth and gang violence,
particularly those involving firearms violations. Anti Terrorism
is always a top priority. White collar priorities include health
care fraud, bankruptcy fraud, telemarketing fraud and environmental
violations. Affirmative Civil Enforcement and Financial Litigation
are integral to our criminal enforcement efforts. |
