Civil Division
Civil Chief Margaret L. Hutchinson leads the Civil Division of 25 attorneys. Civil AUSAs are generalist litigators who represent the federal government and its agencies and employees in civil litigation in the District. Primary areas of practice are tort cases, including medical malpractice and Constitutional tort cases, and Title VII cases alleging discrimination in hiring and employment practices by agencies of the United States. Other areas of practice include immigration, bankruptcy, debts owed the United States or its agencies, breach of contract, and judicial review of administrative findings.
The district is known as a major originator of affirmative civil enforcement actions to address fraud on the United States, and to bring civil penalty and injunctive actions enforcing a wide variety of federal agency regulations such as the environmental laws, predatory lending, and drug diversion. Civil AUSAs work with Inspectors General of many agencies to investigate and litigate under the False claims Act and its whistleblower provisions. Our affirmative civil enforcement pursues nationwide fraud schemes in the phparmaceutical industry and quality of care concerns in nursing homes, residential facilities, and personal care homes.
Criminal Division
Criminal Chief Peter F. Schenck leads the criminal division, which consists of 93 Assistant United States Attorneys. For management purposes, the criminal division is divided into eight teams. Attorneys in the criminal division are assigned to teams and the team leader serves as an administrative head of the team. Our criminal assistants are generalists within all areas of criminal law.
The team leaders also serve as subject matter chiefs. They maintain expertise in these areas and maintain relationships with the investigative agencies in their subject matter. The sections are:
- Organized Crime Strike Force
- Narcotics and OCDETF
- Economic Crime
- Health Care and Government Fraud and Environmental Crime
- Official Corruption, Tax Fraud and Civil Rights
- Violent Crime and Firearms
- White Collar Crime and Terrorism
- Computer Crimes, Child Exploitation and Intellectual Property Crimes
The criminal division also includes approximately 51 Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys assigned from other federal agencies and local prosecutors' offices to handle firearms offenses and other matters.
Administrative Division
Administrative Officer Richard C. Rizzo leads the Administrative Division. The Division is responsible for planning and executing a comprehensive range of administrative services that support the mission of the United States Attorney's Office. It provides policy and procedural direction, in addition to central services support, for the District in all areas of management and administration, including Acquisitions; Financial Management; Human Resources; Litigation Support; Support Services; and Systems Support. The Administrative Officer is the principal advisor to the United States Attorney and the District on all administrative matters.
