FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CR MONDAY, MAY 1, 995 (202) 616-2765 TDD (202) 514-1888 RICHARD W. ROBERTS NAMED CRIMINAL SECTION CHIEF IN CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Richard W. Roberts, Principal Assistant U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C., has been named Chief of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division, the Justice Department announced today. Roberts succeeds Linda Davis who was nominated by President Clinton as a D.C. Superior Court judge. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick said Roberts will lead the Department's efforts to enforce the nation's criminal civil rights laws. "Mr. Roberts' wealth of experience in criminal civil rights laws and his management experience will make him an extremely valuable asset to the Division," stated Patrick. Roberts, 41, a native of New York City, has served in the U.S. Attorney's office in Washington since December 1988. During that time he served in the Trial/Grand Jury Section, the Public Corruption Section, and the Economic Crimes Section. In October 1993, Roberts was appointed by U.S. Attorney Eric H. Holder, Jr. as the Principal Assistant U.S. Attorney, serving as second-in-command of the office. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney's office, Roberts served for three years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Manhattan. He was an associate with the Washington law firm of Covington and Burling for three years, and also served for four years as a trial attorney in the Section he will now head. As a federal prosecutor, Roberts successfully prosecuted cases involving a defendant who killed two black Salt Lake City joggers in a racially motivated sniper attack; migrant labor crew leaders who caused the death of a laborer forced to work against his will; a former judge involved in a $2 million bank fraud scheme; the leaders of a major multi-state car theft ring; a defendant who hid $1 million in assets in a bankruptcy fraud scheme; and Washington Mayor Marion Barry for violating federal narcotics laws. Roberts earned an A.B. degree cum laude from Vassar College in 1974, an M.I.A. degree from the School for International Training in 1978, and a J.D. degree from Columbia Law School in 1978. He is a founding member of the Washington chapter of Concerned Black Men (CBM) Inc., and is currently the deputy general counsel of the CBM National Organization. Roberts previously served as an adjunct Professor at the Georgetown University Law Center where he taught trial practice. "Ricky's wise counsel and sound judgment will be sorely missed in this Office," said Holder. "The Department could not have selected a finer lawyer to carry out those important responsibilities." No specific date has been set for Roberts to assume his Senior Executive Service position. # # # 95-247