Justin D. Whatcott

Justin D. Whatcott

Acting U.S. Attorney

Mr. Whatcott became the Acting United States Attorney on February 14, 2025, by virtue of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 (5 U.S.C. § 3345). Previously, he served as First Assistant United States Attorney from 2022 to 2025 and as Criminal Chief from 2020 to 2025.

Mr. Whatcott has served as a prosecutor in Idaho for his entire 25-year career, including 9 years representing the State of Idaho and 16 years representing the United States.  He began his career in 2000 as an intern in the Latah County Prosecutor’s Office, served as a Deputy Prosecutor in Blaine and Ada Counties, and as Lead Deputy Attorney General in the Special Prosecutions Unit of the Idaho Attorney General’s Office. He prosecuted cases in over 20 Idaho Counties, including State v. Sarah Johnson, a First-Degree Murder case in Blaine County, State v. Timothy Dunlap, a Capital Murder case in Caribou County, and State v. Warren Weagant, a Second-Degree Murder case in Boise County.

Mr. Whatcott joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2009 as the Treasure Valley Partnership Special Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting firearms, narcotics, and violent crimes committed by gang members.  He was appointed as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) in 2010, serving as the district’s first Immigration Coordinator. During his ten years as an AUSA, he prosecuted immigration and white-collar fraud cases, served as the Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (CHIP) Coordinator, and served as the Project Safe Childhood Coordinator prosecuting child exploitation and human trafficking crimes.

In 2015, Mr. Whatcott received the Director’s Award for Excellence by a Litigative Team for his work in United States v. Swenson et. al., the securities and wire fraud case arising from the collapse of DBSI, Inc.  His notable federal cases also include United States v. Apodoca et. al., the District of Idaho’s first Racketeering in Corrupt Organizations (RICO) case against a criminal street gang, United States v. Joseph Duncan (Capital Murder), and United States v. Babichenko et. al. (Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods).

Mr. Whatcott serves as faculty for the Department of Justice Office of Legal Education, teaching Trial Advocacy and Presentation Skills.  He is a frequent lecturer on the Fourth Amendment, Digital Evidence, and Prosecutorial Ethics.  He has presented for the United States District Court, the Idaho Prosecuting Attorney’s Association, the Idaho Sheriff’s Association, the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association, Idaho Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST), the Idaho State Bar, the Idaho State Judiciary, the University of Idaho College of Law, and numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

Mr. Whatcott is a lifelong Idaho resident and a graduate of Post Falls High School, The University of Idaho, and the University of Idaho School of Law.