Narcotics/Drugs Convictions for August 2026
The latest available data from the Justice Department show that during August 2026 the government reported 1143 new narcotics/drugs convictions. According to the case-by-case information analyzed by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), this number is down 11.8 percent over the previous month.
The comparisons of the number of defendants convicted for narcotics/drugs-related offenses are based on case-by-case information obtained by TRAC under the Freedom of Information Act from the Executive Office for United States Attorneys (see Table 1).
When monthly 2026 convictions of this type are compared with those of the same period in the previous year, the number of convictions was down (-22.2%). Convictions over the past year are still much lower than they were five years ago. Overall, the data show that convictions of this type are down 20.2 percent from levels reported in 2021.
Figure 1. Monthly Trends in Narcotics/Drugs Convictions
The decrease from the levels five years ago in narcotics/drugs convictions for these matters is shown more clearly in Figure 1. The vertical bars in Figure 1 represent the number of narcotics/drugs convictions of this type recorded on a month-to-month basis. Where a prosecution was initially filed in U.S. Magistrate Court and then transferred to the U.S. District Court, the magistrate filing date was used since this provides an earlier indicator of actual trends. The superimposed line on the bars plots the six-month moving average so that natural fluctuations are smoothed out. The one and five-year rates of change in Table 1 and in the sections that follow are all based upon this six-month moving average. To view trends year-by-year rather than month-by-month, see TRAC's annual report series for a broader picture.
Within the broad category of narcotics/drugs, cases were classified by prosecutors into more specific types.
Case types within narcotics/drugs are
Drug Trafficking
Simple Drug Possession
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)
Major Project Triggerlock Prosecutions (OCDETF)
Other Triggerlock Prosecutions (OCDETF)
The largest number of convictions of these matters in August 2026 was for "Drugs-Drug Trafficking", accounting for 69.3 percent of convictions. Convictions were also filed for "Drugs-Organized Crime Task Force" (30.4%). See Figure 2.
The lead investigative agency for narcotics/drugs convictions in August 2026 was DEA accounting for 39 percent of convictions. Other agencies with substantial numbers of narcotics/drugs convictions were: FBI (22% ), DHS (17%), ATF (10%), Local (7%). See Figure 3.
Narcotics/Drugs Convictions in U.S. Magistrate Courts
Top Ranked Lead Charges
In August 2026, no defendants in narcotics/drugs cases for these matters were convicted in U.S. Magistrate Courts. These courts handle less serious misdemeanor cases, including what are called "petty offenses." In addition, complaints are sometimes filed in the magistrate courts before an indictment or information is entered. In these cases, the matter starts in the magistrate courts and later moves to the district court where subsequent proceedings take place.
Narcotics/Drugs Convictions in U.S. District Courts
In August 2026, 1141 defendants in new cases for these matters were charged in the U.S. District Courts. In addition during August there were an additional 0 defendants whose cases moved from the magistrate courts to the U.S. district courts after an indictment or information was filed. The sections which follow cover both sets of cases and therefore cover all matters filed in district court during August.
Top Ranked Lead Charges
Table 2 shows the top lead charges recorded in the convictions of narcotics/drugs matters filed in U.S. District Court during August 2026.
Lead Charge Count Rank 1yr ago 5yrs ago 21 USC 841 - Drug Abuse Prevention & Control-Prohibited acts A 680 1 1 1 More 21 USC 846 - Attempt and conspiracy 312 2 2 2 More 21 USC 952 - Importation of controlled substances 50 3 3 3 More 18 USC 922 - Firearms; Unlawful acts 19 4 5 5 More 21 USC 963 - Attempt and conspiracy 13 5 7 7 More 18 USC 924 - Firearms; Penalties 9 6 17 12 More 18 USC 1956 - Laundering of monetary instruments 7 7 8 8 More 18 USC 371 - Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud US 5 8 16 12 More 21 USC 848 - Continuing criminal enterprise 5 8 35 21 More 21 USC 959 - Possession, manufacture, or distribution for purpo 4 10 12 11 More 46 USC 70503 - Possession control substance on vessel subject to jurisdiction of US 4 10 6 6 More Table 2. Top Charges for Convictions
"Drug Abuse Prevention & Control-Prohibited acts A" (Title 21 U.S.C Section 841) was the most frequent recorded lead charge. "Drug Abuse Prevention & Control-Prohibited acts A" (Title 21 U.S.C Section 841) was ranked 1 a year ago, while it was ranked 1 five years ago.
Ranked 2nd in frequency was the lead charge "Attempt and conspiracy" under Title 21 U.S.C Section 846. "Attempt and conspiracy" under Title 21 U.S.C Section 846 was ranked 2 a year ago, while it was ranked 2 five years ago.
Ranked 3rd was "Importation of controlled substances" under Title 21 U.S.C Section 952. "Importation of controlled substances" under Title 21 U.S.C Section 952 was ranked 3 a year ago, while it was ranked 3 five years ago.
Among these top ten lead charges, the one showing the greatest increase in convictions — up 275 percent — compared to one year ago was Title 21 U.S.C Section 848 that involves " Continuing criminal enterprise ". Compared to five years ago, the largest increase — 200 percent — was registered for convictions under " Firearms; Penalties " (Title 18 U.S.C Section 924 ).
Again among the top ten lead charges, the one showing the sharpest decline in convictions compared to one year ago — down 62 percent — was " Possession control substance on vessel subject to jurisdiction of US " (Title 46 U.S.C Section 70503 ). Compared to five years ago, the most significant decline in convictions — 68.6 percent — was for convictions where the lead charge was " Importation of controlled substances " (Title 21 U.S.C Section 952 ).
Top Ranked Judicial Districts
In August 2026 the Justice Department's case-by-case records show that the government obtained 402.6 narcotics/drugs convictions for every ten million people in the United States.
Understandably, there is great variation in the per capita number of narcotics/drugs convictions in each of the nation's ninety-four federal judicial districts.
The districts registering the largest number of convictions per capita for these matters last month are shown in Table 3. Districts must have at least 5 narcotics/drugs convictions to receive a ranking.
Judicial District Percapita Count Rank 1yr ago 5yrs ago Montana 2,427 23 1 32 37 More Alaska 2,199 13 2 86 65 More Cal, S 1,965 57 3 1 1 More W Virg, N 1,934 15 4 17 17 More Ark, E 1,598 22 5 43 31 More Mo, E 1,516 37 6 12 7 More Okla, N 1,177 11 7 48 77 More Iowa, S 1,136 18 8 19 12 More La, E 1,019 14 9 38 79 More Ala, M 995 10 10 56 84 More Table 3. Top 10 Districts (per ten million people)
The District of Montana — with 2427 convictions as compared with 402.6 convictions per ten million population in the United States — was the most active during August 2026.
The District of Alaska ranked 2nd.
Southern District of California (San Diego) is now ranking 3rd. The Southern District of California (San Diego) was ranked 1 a year ago, while it was ranked 1 for most frequent use five years ago.
Recent entrants to the top 10 list were Eastern District of Missouri (St. Louis), now ranked 6th , and Northern District of West Virginia (Wheeling) at 4th In the same order, these districts ranked 12th and 17th one year ago and 7th and 17th five years ago.
The federal judicial district which showed the greatest growth in the rate of narcotics/drugs convictions compared to one year ago — 177.3 percent — was Alaska . Compared to five years ago, the district with the largest growth — 233.3 percent — was Middle District of Alabama (Montgomery).
In the last year, the judicial District Court recording the largest drop in the rate of narcotics/drugs convictions — 50.3 percent — was Northern District of West Virginia (Wheeling). But over the past five years, Southern District of California (San Diego) showed the largest drop — 67 percent.
Top Ranked District Judges
At any one time, there are about 680 federal District Court judges working in the United States. The judges recorded with the largest number of new narcotics/drugs crime cases resulting in convictions of this type during August 2026 are shown in Table 4.
Judge Count Rank Pearson, Benita Yalonda Ohio, N 13 1 More Conley, William Martin Wisc, W 13 1 More Huff, Marilyn L. Cal, S 12 3 More Delgado-Colon, Aida M. Puer Rico 11 4 More Corker, Clifton Leland Tenn, E 10 5 More Rose, Stephanie Marie Iowa, S 9 6 More Collins, Raner Christercunean Arizona 8 7 More Ruiz, Rodolfo Armando, II Fla, S 8 7 More Kleeh, Thomas Shawn W Virg, N 8 7 More Wier, Robert Earl Ken, E 7 10 More Simon, Michael Howard Oregon 7 10 More Immergut, Karin Johanna Oregon 7 10 More Mazzant, Amos L. Texas, E 7 10 More Morales, David Steven Texas, S 7 10 More Counts, Walter David, III Texas, W 7 10 More Pepper, Pamela Wisc, E 7 10 More Table 4. Top Ten Judges
A total of 3 out of the "top ten" judges were in districts which were in the top ten with the largest number of narcotics/drugs convictions per capita, while the remaining 13 judges were from other districts. (Because of ties, there were a total of 16 judges in the "top ten" rankings.)
Judges Benita Yalonda Pearson in the Northern District of Ohio (Cleveland) and William Martin Conley in the Western District of Wisconsin (Madison) ranked 1st with 13 convicted in narcotics/drugs convictions.
Judge Marilyn L. Huff in the Southern District of California (San Diego) ranked 3rd with 12 convicted in narcotics/drugs convictions.
Report Generated: October 27, 2026
