United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York
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| United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York | |
|---|---|
 U.S. government · Public domain · source | |
| Name | United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York |
| Department | United States Department of Justice |
| Seat | Brooklyn, New York City |
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York is the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Eastern District of New York. The office prosecutes violations of federal statutes, represents the United States in civil litigation, and coordinates with federal, state, and local law enforcement. Located in Brooklyn with satellite operations in Central Islip and Staten Island, the office has played roles in matters ranging from organized crime prosecutions to national security investigations.
History
The office was established following the subdivision of the Southern District of New York to better serve federal matters in Kings County, Queens County, Richmond County, and Nassau County. Early eras saw prosecutions tied to anti-corruption efforts involving figures from Tammany Hall-era politics and cases connected to the Prohibition in the United States. During the mid-20th century the office addressed organized crime activities linked to the American Mafia and prosecuted members associated with families such as the Genovese crime family and the Lucchese crime family. In later decades the office gained prominence prosecuting complex securities matters related to firms on Wall Street and handling terrorism prosecutions following the September 11 attacks. Recent history includes civil rights enforcement under statutes like the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and litigation arising from crises such as the Financial crisis of 2007–2008.
Jurisdiction and Organization
The Eastern District of New York covers Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Nassau County and includes docket types spanning criminal prosecutions, civil fraud, public corruption, and national security matters. The office works alongside agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation division. For civil matters it represents executive branch entities such as the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Social Security Administration. The office’s prosecutorial priorities have adapted to address cybercrime involving entities linked to events like the Sony Pictures hack and transnational organized crime connected to international fora such as the United Nations.
List of United States Attorneys
The office has been led by a succession of appointees nominated by presidents including Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. Prominent past leaders went on to serve in roles with the United States Senate, state judiciaries such as the New York Supreme Court, or in private practice with firms involved in high-profile litigation before tribunals like the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Notable Cases and Initiatives
The office has prosecuted organized crime figures associated with the Mafia Commission Trial-era prosecutions, public corruption cases involving elected officials from New York City and Nassau County, and corporate fraud matters tied to firms implicated during the Enron scandal era and the Financial crisis of 2007–2008. It handled terrorism-related prosecutions post-September 11 attacks and cases connected to plots and material support charges tied to actors influenced by groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS. High-profile civil enforcement actions concerned allegations against contractors linked to Hurricane Sandy recovery and False Claims Act litigation involving federal programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The office led cybercrime investigations involving actors tied to operations like the NotPetya outbreak and pursued hate-crime and civil-rights enforcement under precedents set by rulings from the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Office Structure and Personnel
The office comprises divisions and sections including Criminal, Civil, Organized Crime and Gangs, National Security, Civil Rights, Public Integrity, and an Appellate Unit. Attorneys collaborate with specialists such as trial attorneys, investigative analysts, and paralegals; many litigators previously clerked for judges of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York or the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The office employs Assistant United States Attorneys who have prosecuted cases involving statutes like the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, the Controlled Substances Act, the Espionage Act of 1917, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Support personnel coordinate technology and forensic support with partners like the National Security Agency and academic centers at institutions such as Columbia University and New York University.
Appointment and Tenure
The United States Attorney is nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate pursuant to Article II appointment procedures. Tenure typically aligns with presidential administrations, though holders may remain through transitions or be appointed interim by the Attorney General of the United States. Resignations and interim appointments have been part of political transitions spanning administrations from Franklin D. Roosevelt through recent presidencies. Removal and oversight involve interactions with congressional committees such as the United States Senate Judiciary Committee and, in some instances, inquiries by the United States House Committee on the Judiciary.
Community and Interagency Relations
The office engages with community stakeholders including municipal leaders from New York City boroughs, county executives from Nassau County, civic organizations, and advocacy groups focused on issues such as voting rights and police accountability. Interagency task forces have been formed with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster-related fraud, with the United States Marshals Service for witness protection, and with the Customs and Border Protection for transnational trafficking matters. Outreach includes partnerships with law schools such as Brooklyn Law School and non-profits that assist victims such as Safe Horizon.