The Criminal Division represents the United States government in criminal matters before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Cases are handled by approximately 80 Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including approximately 15 attorneys who are assigned for short “rotations” in the Division and who primarily handle arrest-generated matters.

The Criminal Division is divided into four sections and two units. The National Security Section handles all terrorism, terrorism hoax, export enforcement and espionage matters, investigations into leaks, mishandling, or other disclosure of classified information, and other sensitive matters that implicate national security and/or have significant extraterritorial aspects. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3238, the District of Columbia is the proper venue for prosecution of criminal acts committed against U.S. persons outside the United States when the crime is committed by a person with no connection to any other district. Accordingly, our Office has responsibility for investigating and prosecuting most violations of federal criminal statutes committed in foreign countries by foreign nationals. Traditionally (although not exclusively), these extraterritorial cases arise on the context of terrorist crimes and hostage takings, which are handled by the National Security Section.

The Organized Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section handles long-term investigations, initiatives, and prosecutions of gang-related violence and complex narcotics conspiracies, working with both our federal and local law enforcement partners. The Federal Major Crimes Section handles non-national security federal crimes such as civil rights violations, bank robberies, immigration fraud, human trafficking, child pornography, environmental crimes, counterfeiting, short-term federal criminal cases, including routine gun prosecutions, stand-alone drug cases, and short-term bank and credit card fraud. The Fraud and Public Corruption Section handles white collar crime and public corruption offenses, major consumer fraud and identity theft, health care fraud, tax violations, corporate and securities fraud, mail and wire fraud, computer hacking, and intellectual property crimes.

Also located in the Criminal Division are the Asset Forfeiture Unit and the Docketing Unit. The Asset Forfeiture Unit vigorously develops and litigates the forfeiture potential of every criminal case in the Division, exploiting both civil and criminal remedies. The Docketing Unit is responsible for the case management and tracking of all matters assigned to the Criminal Division.