Programs

The U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of North Carolina is involved in a number of programs and projects in our community. Some of our major efforts are listed below.

Operation Take Back America

Operation Take Back America (TBA) is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 

Countering Anti-Semitism, Hate, and Bias

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to countering anti-Semitism, hate, and bias, and protecting the civil rights of all people in the Western District of North Carolina through criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement actions.

Terrorism

Working with federal, state, local, and tribal partners, the District of North Carolina Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council (ATAC) fosters awareness, education, and training programs as part of the nation's overall terrorism prevention strategy

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)

Launched in 2001, the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  PSN follows four key design elements of successful violent crime reduction initiatives: community engagement, prevention and intervention, focused and strategic enforcement, and accountability.  

Illegal Firearms

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) is committed to reducing gun violence and encouraging the public to report illegal firearms activity.

Elder Justice Initiative

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina is committed to combating neglect, abuse, and financial exploitation of seniors.  As part of this initiative, the office is actively engaged in efforts to investigate and prosecute financial scams targeting or disproportionately impacting seniors; provide training and resources to law enforcement to identify and respond to elder abuse; host outreach events for elder Americans and caretakers on how to identify and respond to elderly exploitation and financial scams; pursue nursing homes and other facilities that provide grossly substandard care to seniors; and promote greater coordination with state and local partners to combat elder financial exploitation and abuse. For more information about the Department of Justice’s elder justice initiative, please visit elderjustice.gov. 

Project Safe Childhood

Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 that aims to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for physical sexual contact is well-known and serious; the danger of perpetrators who produce, distribute, and possess child pornography is equally dramatic and disturbing.

Indian Country

The Qualla Boundary, home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the largest federally recognized Indian tribe east of the Mississippi River, is located within the Western District of North Carolina. The primary section of the Qualla Boundary spans Swain and Jackson Counties, with smaller out-parcels found in Cherokee, Graham, and Haywood Counties. At its center is the town of Cherokee, which is approximately one hour west of the City of Asheville.  The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina derives its criminal jurisdiction over cases originating from the Qualla Boundary from Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1152 and 1153.

Human Trafficking

The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecutes all forms of human trafficking. Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons, is a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. The coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological.  Exploitation of a minor for commercial sex is human trafficking, regardless of whether any form of force, fraud, or coercion was used.

Health Care Fraud

The prosecution and prevention of health care fraud is an important priority of the district, focusing upon fraud matters involving false billings, violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute and other schemes that victimize patients, health care providers, private insurers and government insurers, such as Medicare and Medicare

Whistleblower Program

The Department of Justice’s Criminal Division has launched a Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program to uncover and prosecute corporate crime. Under this pilot program, a whistleblower who provides the Criminal Division with original and truthful information about corporate misconduct that results in a successful forfeiture may be eligible for an award.

LECC

The Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee sponsors and co-sponsors training seminars for federal, state and local law enforcement agencies addressing a variety of subjects.