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Case Matter Divisions

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland is headed by United States Attorney Erek L. Barron.  The Office is led by United States Attorney Barron, First Assistant United States Attorney Phil Selden. The Office Case Matter Divisions are comprised of Assistant United States Attorneys and support personnel that includes members of the Appellate, Civil, Criminal Divisions.

The Appellate Division is responsible for overseeing the handling of appeals in criminal cases in our district.  

Criminal Division AUSAs prepare their own briefs and argue their own appeals, however the Appellate Division plays an integral role in the litigation of appeals in the Fourth Circuit arising from the District of Maryland.  This includes assisting in drafting and editing briefs, conducting moot courts and otherwise preparing AUSAs for oral arguments, writing briefs and handling oral arguments.  The Appellate Division also assists in the preparation of responses to post-appeal collateral attacks.  In addition, the Appellate Division is actively involved in determining whether to file government appeals, reviewing and editing district court filings on significant points of law, providing legal advice generally to Criminal Division AUSAs, and participating in the formulation of office policy and trainings. 

The Appellate Division is currently supervised by Jason Medinger with assistance from Deputy Chiefs David Bornstein, Brandon Moore, Elizabeth Wright and Jeffrey Gray.  They can be reached by calling 410-209-4800 and 301-344-4433, respectively.

The Civil Division, based in Baltimore, defends agencies of the United States when sued in court, prosecutes affirmative civil matters to enforce federal law and collects debts owed to the United States.  Civil Division Assistant U.S. Attorneys represent the interests of the United States in litigation involving the United States in federal and state courts in Maryland.  Civil litigation encompasses many subject matters, including administrative, bankruptcy, civil rights, commercial, constitutional, employment, environmental, fraud, immigration, tax and tort matters.  In fiscal year 2020, the Division collected $19,685,099.09 in civil actions.

The Civil Division is supervised by Chief Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Corcoran with assistance from Deputy Chief Assistant United States Attorney Tarra Deshields.  They can be reached by calling 410-209-4800.

The Criminal Division includes prosecutors in the Northern Division in Baltimore and prosecutors in the Southern Division in Greenbelt.  In fiscal year 2020, the District of Maryland collected criminal debts owed to the United States government and to federal crime victims, including restitution, criminal fines and felony assessments.  Assistant United States Attorney Alicia Washington serves as the Chief of the Criminal Division and she can be reached by calling 410-209-4800.  

In Baltimore Criminal Division attorneys and support personnel are divided into five sections and one unit and in the Southern Division attorneys and support personnel are in Greenbelt:

The Violent and Organized Crime (“VOC”) Section investigates and prosecutes violent crimes and criminal organizations involved in violence and major drug trafficking.

Working with our federal, state and local partners, the VOC Section prosecutes violent crimes, including, murder, carjackings and commercial robberies, in addition to violations of the federal firearms laws.  The VOC Section also focuses on dismantling gangs, violent drug-trafficking organizations and organized robbery crews, by making use of the federal racketeering and conspiracy statutes.

In order to combat the flow of illegal drugs into Maryland, the VOC Section prosecutes major drug trafficking organizations, including international and interstate narcotics traffickers.  The Section also prosecutes other forms of complex narcotics trafficking, including cases involving physicians and pharmacists, fatal overdoses, and drug trafficking involving the Dark Web.  The Section also targets major money laundering operations, especially those that work to transmit drug proceeds to international drug cartels.  Through attention to asset forfeiture and money laundering, the Section strives to ensure that traffickers and their families never benefit financially from their crimes.

The VOC Section makes frequent use of social media data analysis, Title III wiretaps and other covert law enforcement technics to penetrate organizations and gather evidence.  It also uses extradition powers to prosecute international drug traffickers and gang members who conspire to commit crimes in and impacting the United States.

Many of the section’s investigations are Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force cases involving multiple federal and state law enforcement agencies, including the ATF, DEA, FBI, HSI and the IRS. 

Assistant United States Attorneys James Wallner and Kenneth Clark serve as the Chiefs of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and they are assisted by Assistant United States Attorney LaRai Everett who serves as the Deputy Chief of the Section.  They can be reached by calling 410-209-4800.

The Fraud and Public Corruption Section prosecutes two broad categories of cases.

Fraud victimizes consumers, businesses, financial institutions and public agencies through a broad array of sophisticated scams to cheat victims of money or property.  Fraud schemes are a significant drain on our economy and can be personally devastating to individuals who lose money or property.  This Office prosecutes telemarketing fraud, corporate fraud, mortgage fraud, fraud on financial institutions, government contracting fraud, tax fraud, insurance fraud such as staged automobile accident fraud and arson for profit, bankruptcy fraud, investment fraud schemes involving securities and commodities, and internet fraud.

Public corruption violates the trust between the public and government employees or elected officials whose responsibility is to serve the public trust, and not their private interests.  This Office vigorously prosecutes federal, state and local officials who act corruptly in the performance of their duties or the conduct of their offices.

Many of the fraud and public corruption cases prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office are investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Inspector Generals of many government agencies.

Assistant United States Attorney Harry Gruber serves as the Chief of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section and is assisted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul Riley who serves as the Deputy Chief of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section and they can be reached by calling 410-209-4800. 

The Civil Rights and Special Victims Section (CRSVS) is staffed by Assistant United States Attorneys from the Civil Division and Criminal Division.  The CRSVS enforces a wide spectrum of federal civil rights laws to protect the constitutional rights of Marylanders and affirm equal opportunity for all, regardless of one’s race, ethnicity, sex, color, disability, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation.  The Criminal Division Assistant United States Attorneys in CRSVS maintain a strong focus on cases involving vulnerable victims and federal criminal civil rights enforcement, including hate crimes, child exploitation, human trafficking and identity theft, among other federal crimes.

Civil Enforcement of Civil Rights.  Civil Rights and Special Victims Section is committed to the enforcement of federal civil rights laws in Maryland and investigates and litigates numerous cases each year.  Our Office coordinates with the United States Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and other federal agencies to enforce a more than 20 civil statutes prohibiting discrimination.

Criminal Enforcement of Civil Rights.  Civil Rights and Special Victims Section is responsible for investigating and criminally prosecuting civil rights violations, including hate crimes and government officials acting under color of law to deprive individuals of their constitutional rights.  The Civil Rights and Special Victims Section also investigates threats of force, obstruction, and property damage interfering with reproductive health care services or religious worship.

Special victims and Other Prosecutions.  Additional crimes handled by Civil Rights and Special Victims Section include bank thefts and robberies, United States Postal thefts and robberies and obstruction of the mail, workers’ compensation and Social Security benefits fraud, interstate transportation of stolen property, threatening interstate communications, domestic violence and interstate stalking, crimes involving fish and wildlife, counterfeiting, unauthorized flight after prosecution (fugitives) and escape, kidnapping, copyright and trademark violations, and loan sharking and gambling.

Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Marquardt and Paul Budlow serve as Chiefs of the Civil Rights and Special Victims Section.  They can be reached by calling 410-209-4800. 

The mission of National Security and Cybercrime Section is to investigate and prosecute cases involving terrorism, counterespionage, export violations and cybercrime.

The National Security and Cybercrime Section oversees investigations involving the provision of material support to terrorists and foreign terrorist organizations, terrorism financing, and federal offenses calculated to influence or affect the conduct of government by intimidation or coercion, or to retaliate against government conduct.

The National Security and Cybercrime Section also investigates violations of the Arms Export Control Act and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, as well as counterespionage investigations and cases involving the unlawful retention and disclosure of classified information.

The National Security and Cybercrime Section also investigates cybercrime, including computer intrusions, nationwide or international Internet fraud, economic espionage, theft of trade secrets, cyberstalking, swatting and financial offenses relating to cryptocurrency businesses.

The National Security and Cybercrime Section works with numerous federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Security Agency. Uniquely situated with numerous federal agency headquarters located within the District of Maryland, the National Security and Cybercrime Section works extensively with the offices of numerous Inspectors General, including NASA, IRS and the National Science Foundation.

The National Security and Cybercrime Section also has primary responsibility for the United States Attorney’s Office for crisis response and management.

Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen Gavin serves as the Chief of the National Security and Cybercrime Section and is assisted by Assistant United States Attorney Aaron Zelinsky who serves as the Deputy Chief of the National Security and Cybercrime Section and they can be reached by calling 301-344-4433 and 410-209-4800, respectively.  Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Izant serves as the Cybercrime Counsel and can be reached by calling 301-344-4433.

The Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Unit (“ARMLU”) provides a comprehensive approach to money laundering, asset forfeiture and restitution issues in order to disrupt criminal actors, dismantle criminal organizations and return funds to victims.  ARMLU works closely with criminal Assistant United States Attorneys throughout the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, the Department of Justice and with local, state and national law enforcement partners to ensure that money laundering investigations are pursued in all appropriate investigations.  In so doing, we are able to bring both legal expertise and investigative resources to those matters. 

Specially assigned ARMLU AUSAs also work to ensure that all assets derived from or traceable to the proceeds of crime or used to facilitate criminal conduct are seized and forfeited.  ARMLU AUSAs are responsible for criminal and civil forfeiture matters.  In cases involving victims of crimes, ARMLU AUSAs help determine and prove the amount of restitution a defendant is ordered to pay.  The ARMLU also handles collection on forfeiture money judgments and any other criminal monetary penalties, such as fines, assessments, and/or restitution.  In addition, ARMLU AUSAs handle appeals involving money laundering, asset forfeiture and financial litigation as well as post-conviction litigation.  ARMLU is supported by a staff of paralegals, legal assistants and government contractors who provide administrative, financial and forensic accounting assistance.  

Assistant United States Attorney Tamera L. Fine serves as the Chief of the Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Unit and is assisted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Williamson who serves as the Deputy Chief of the Unit and they can be reached at 410-209-4800.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland’s COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force (the “Strike Force”) investigates and prosecutes crimes involving the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act.  The Strike Force primarily focuses on prosecuting all types of CARES Act fraud, with a focus on fraud relating to the receipt of Paycheck Protection Program loans, Economic Injury Disaster Loans and unemployment insurance benefits.

The Strike Force seeks to target large scale criminal organizations, overseas actors, and sophisticated criminals.  Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, these individuals have engaged in significant frauds, including illegally obtaining large amounts of funds that were intended to help needy Americans during the pandemic.  The Strike Force works closely with the Department of Justice’s National Director for COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement pursuing potential cases based on available data and leads from law enforcement. 

Assistant United States Attorney Harry M. Gruber serves as the Chief of the Maryland COVID-19 Cares Act Strike Force and is assisted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul A. Riley, who serves as the Deputy Chief of the Strike Force.  They can be reached by calling 410-209-4800.

In addition to an office in Baltimore, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland maintains a Southern Division in Greenbelt, Maryland.  Assistant United States Attorneys in this Division handle prosecutions of federal crimes occurring in Prince George’s, Montgomery, Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties, involving the same categories of cases that are prosecuted in Baltimore in the Northern Division.

Violent crime prosecution priorities in Greenbelt include using federal racketeering, conspiracy and firearms statutes to disrupt violent gangs and reduce gang activity.  The scope of these gang prosecutions ranges from local to national and international.  In Prince George’s County, the Greenbelt office works with federal agencies, local prosecutors, and state and local police to implement enforcement of firearms related offenses.  The office also prosecutes violent crime offenses, including homicides, arising on exclusive federal enclaves.

Southern Division narcotics cases frequently involve multiple federal and local law enforcement agencies and task forces.  Using undercover agents, confidential informants, consensual and Title III wiretaps, multiple-location searches and a host of other law enforcement techniques, narcotics investigations in the Southern Division have resulted in the successful prosecutions of high-level cocaine traffickers.

Southern Division prosecutors also investigate and prosecute significant public corruption and fraud cases.  Public corruption cases involve state and local government officials and employees of the many federal agencies located in the Southern Division.  Fraud cases range from complex corporate fraud cases involving corporations on the I-270 technology corridor to investment and mortgage fraud schemes that target immigrants, the elderly and other vulnerable victims.

Similar to the Major Crimes Section in Baltimore, the Southern Division prosecutes a wide array of other federal offenses, including child pornography, bank robberies, immigration violations, and counterfeiting.

The Southern Division office also handles thousands of misdemeanor cases that occur on areas of exclusive federal jurisdiction such as the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, the National Institutes of Health, and military bases.

The Southern Division is supervised by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Hayes who serves as the Chief of the Southern Division with assistance from Deputy Chief Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Collins.  They can be reached by calling 301-344-4433.

Updated March 13, 2024