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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Attorney General Janet Reno has appointed eight United States Attorneys to serve on her Advisory Committee of United States Attorneys. She has also selected two Assistant United States Attorneys to serve as ad hoc members. The Committee, created in l973, advises the Attorney General on law enforcement issues and gives the United States Attorneys a key voice in Department policy. Each of the new members will serve two-year terms effective immediately. They are:

• David M. Barasch, Middle District of Pennsylvania

• Robert C. Bundy, District of Alaska

• Loretta E. Lynch, Eastern District of New York

• Denise E. O'Donnell, Western District of New York

• José de Jesus Rivera, District of Arizona Thomas Strickland, District of Colorado

• Gregory A. Vega, Southern District of California

• Sharon J. Zealey, Southern District of Ohio

• Mary Gordon Baker, First Assistant United States

• Attorney, District of South Carolina, ad hoc

• Patrick Flatley, Civil Chief, Northern District of West Virginia ad hoc

Reno also announced that Todd Jones, United States Attorney, District of Minnesota, would serve as the new vice chair of the Committee. Mark T. Calloway, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, will continue to serve as the Committee's Chair. "Although the crime rate is falling, this Administration is committed to ensuring that this downward trend continues as we move into the 21^st Century," Reno said. "I believe that my 2000 Advisory Committee will have the expertise and perseverance to address the challenging issues before us such as cybercrime, law enforcement in Indian Country, southwest border and immigration issues, and environmental concerns. In making these appointments, we have tried to achieve a balance of office size, judicial districts and diversity."

As noted below, the new members will bring a broad range of experience to the Committee:

• Barasch has made major contributions in the area of health care fraud and serves on the Advisory Committee's Health Care Fraud Subcommittee. Barasch is also a member of the White Collar Crime, Public Corruption, and Investigation and Intelligence Subcommittees.

• Bundy chairs the Advisory Committee's Environmental Issues Subcommittee and will bring to the Committee an expertise on environmental matters. Bundy also serves on the Native American Issues, Border and Immigration Law Enforcement, Civil Issues/Financial Litigation, and Ethics in Government Subcommittees.

• Lynch co-chairs the Advisory Committee's White Collar Crime Subcommittee and plays a vital role in the Eastern District of New York's eight weed and seed sites.

• O'Donnell chairs the Advisory Committee's Investigation and Intelligence Subcommittee. She also serves on the following subcommittees: Border and Immigration Law Enforcement; Civil Rights; Justice Programs; Organized Crime/Violent Crime/Violence Against Women; and Office Management and Budget.

• Rivera was recently appointed by the Attorney General to serve as her Special Representative for Southwest Border Issues and to chair the Advisory Committee's Border and Immigration Law Enforcement Subcommittee. He also serves on the Civil Rights, Native American Issues, and Domestic and International Terrorism Subcommittees.

• Strickland represents a large district from the 10^th Judicial Circuit. He has taken the lead on the District of Colorado's Project Exile, and his particular focus in the district has been on gun violence and the enhanced enforcement of gun laws. Strickland will bring to the Committee significant input on this issue.

• Zealey has made major contributions as a member of the Advisory Committee's Civil Rights, Justice Programs, and Sentencing Guidelines Subcommittees, and has spearheaded efforts to bring together law enforcement entities and community members to address hate crimes in the Southern District of Ohio.

• Vega serves as co-chair of the Advisory Committee's White Collar Crime Subcommittee and has provided valuable expertise on southwest border issues as a member of the Border and Immigration Law Enforcement Subcommittee. Vega also serves on the Civil Rights, Native American Issues, and Domestic and International Terrorism Subcommittees.

• Mary Gordon Baker serves as the First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina. Patrick Flatley serves as Civil Chief for the Northern District of West Virginia.

The remaining members of the Committee are:

• Mark T. Calloway, Western District of North Carolina, Chair

• B. Todd Jones, District of Minnesota, Vice Chair

• Lynne Battaglia, District of Maryland

• Saul A. Green, Eastern District of Michigan

• P.K. Holmes, III, Western District of Arkansas

• Walter C. Holton, Jr., Middle District of North Carolina

• Beverly Baldwin Martin, Middle District of Georgia

• Judith A. Stewart, Southern District of Indiana

• Charles R. Tetzlaff, District of Vermont

• Donald K. Stern, District of Massachusetts, ex officio

• Wilma A. Lewis, District of Columbia, ex officio



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