Criminal Division
The Criminal Division is the largest division and includes the following:
Appeals
The Appellate Unit is responsible for all aspects of the office appellate practice, both criminal and civil. The primary function of the Appellate Unit is to ensure that the arguments presented all appeal briefs filed by Office are consistent with the legal positions taken in other cases and by the Department of Justice and meet the standards for good appellate practice. Similarly, the Unit is responsible for ensuring AUSAs are well prepared for oral arguments and are effective advocates for the government's position. The Appellate Unit also provides legal advice to the office, and is responsible for updating the staff on a daily basis regarding appellate opinions and any changes in the law and federal rules that may impact the work of the office.
Complex Crimes
The Complex Crimes Unit bears responsibility for the prosecution of white collar and other types of sophisticated crime. The Unit includes two sub-groups that focus on the priority areas of corporate and investment fraud and computer crime. In addition to those priorities, the Unit focuses on criminal cases involving public corruption, environmental crime, health care fraud and other types of fraud. In each of these areas, the Complex Crimes Unit promotes and manages collaborative working relationships, both formal and informal, with federal, state, and local law enforcement.
The Corporate and Investment Fraud Group exemplifies the Office's strong emphasis and substantial experience and expertise in the prosecution of investment, securities, and corporate fraud. The four prosecutors who comprise the Group work primarily with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service, Postal Inspection Service, and Inspectors General of various federal agencies. The Office has established a Corporate and Investment Fraud Working Group through which the prosecutors coordinate with state and local law enforcement and civil enforcement organizations such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Securities Division of the Washington Department of Financial Institutions, and the National Association of Securities Dealers.
The Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (CHIP) Group also represents an important Office priority. As one of a dozen CHIP units located in major U.S. cities, the CHIP Group focuses on crimes involving computers and the Internet, including computer intrusions, intellectual property violations, and Internet fraud. The five prosecutors in the CHIP Group develop cases hand-in-hand with not only federal law enforcement but also with state and local prosecutors and law enforcement though the Cyber Crime Task Force, which the Office has established in conjunction with the FBI and U.S. Secret Service.
Criminal Enterprises
The Criminal Enterprises Unit was formed in May 2002. The eight experienced prosecutors identify, investigate, and prosecute organized criminal groups operating in Western Washington and involved in both drug and non-drug criminal enterprises. Emphasis is place on multi-agency participation, extensive financial investigations, use of electronic surveillance, and close coordination with other U.S. Attorney's Offices conducting similar investigations.
The Unit's attorneys work with agents from the DEA, FBI, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ATF, and other federal agencies. The crimes investigated include drug trafficking, gambling, extortion, alien smuggling, and other federal offenses committed by criminal organizations. Some investigations arise from the 13 drug task forces operating in Western Washington and funded by Justice Department Byrne Grants. All of the drug investigations are approved and partially funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, a federal multi-agency investigative effort.
General Crimes
The General Crimes Unit, the Office's largest unit, is assembled to handle the majority of primarily reactive criminal cases. Cases prosecuted by this unit span the gamut of federal crimes, including narcotics distribution, border crimes, thefts, false statements, violations of immigration laws, illegal firearms, mail fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, counterfeiting, crimes of violence, and crimes against children. The Unit's activities focus mainly on non-organized crimes, and shorter-term investigations. With an eye toward the efficient and effective prosecution of a broad variety of cases, the General Crimes Unit works with virtually all federal agencies, as well as with state and local law enforcement in order to better promote the Office's mission of cooperation and coordination among all law enforcement agencies.
Terrorism & Violent Crimes
The Terrorism and Violent Crimes Unit is currently staffed with eight attorneys. The primary objective of the unit is to combat terrorism. The unit is committed to vigorously prosecuting those who have committed or intended to commit terrorist acts in the Western District of Washington. One attorney in the unit acts as the Terrorism Coordinator and is responsible for working closely with all federal, state, and local agencies to coordinate the sharing of information relating to terrorist activity in the district and all investigations into terrorism related crimes.
In addition to terrorism, the unit is aggressively prosecuting gun crimes in accordance with the Project Safe Neighborhood Program. As part of this program we work closely with state and local investigators and prosecutors to identify the most violent felons for federal prosecution. Additionally, the unit is attempting to reduce the supply of illegal guns by prosecuting corrupt gun dealers and individuals who illegally sell guns at gun shows.
The unit is also responsible for prosecuting all armed bank robberies and other federal crimes of violence that occur within the Western District of Washington. Additionally, one lawyer in the unit is responsible for prosecuting crimes that occur on Indian Reservations within the district.