FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2003 WWW.USDOJ.GOV EOUSA (202) 514-2007 TDD (202) 514-1888 WASHINGTON, D.C. Attorney General John Ashcroft appointed nine new members to serve on his 2003 Attorney General's Advisory Committee of United States Attorneys. The Attorney General's Advisory Committee provides advice and counsel to the Attorney General on law enforcement issues and provides a voice for the United States Attorneys in making Department policy.
The Advisory Committee plays a vital role in furthering the Department's law enforcement efforts. Together, in partnership with state, local and federal authorities, the Advisory Committee will be crucial in advancing the Department's efforts to battle terrorism and combat corporate fraud, as well as continue its law enforcement mission in areas such as civil rights, violent crime, environmental crime, and health care fraud.
The following new members have been appointed to serve two-year terms, expiring on Dec. 31, 2004, on the Advisory Committee: Mary Beth Buchanan, United States Attorney, Western District of Pennsylvania Jeffrey G. Collins, United States Attorney, Eastern District of Michigan Marcos Daniel Jiménez, United States Attorney, Southern District of Florida Charles W. Larson, Sr., United States Attorney, Northern District of Iowa Michael T. Shelby, United States Attorney, Southern District of TexasJohnny K. Sutton, United States Attorney, Western District of Texas Gregory F. Van Tatenhove, United States Attorney, Eastern District of Kentucky Debra W. Yang, United States Attorney, Central District of California Gretchen Leah Witt, Civil Chief, District of New Hampshire The Attorney General also has extended the term of the current chair of the Advisory Committee, Paul Warner, United States Attorney, District of Utah. In addition, he has extended for one year the terms of three current members of the group: United States Attorneys William Mercer (Montana); Patrick J. Fitzgerald (Northern District of Illinois); and Timothy M. Burgess (Alaska). The terms of these members have been extended in order for the Committee to continue to benefit from their law enforcement expertise.
"I will continue to seek the wise counsel of the experienced federal prosecutors who make up our U.S. Attorney ranks to assist with the Department's overriding priorities of preventing terrorism and combating corporate fraud," said Attorney General Ashcroft. "These new members bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our critical efforts in these areas." Mary Beth Buchanan (Western District of Pennsylvania), who was appointed U.S. Attorney on Oct. 15, 2001, currently serves on the Advisory Committee to the Sentencing Commission studying Organizational Guidelines. She also heads up the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Working Group's committee that is developing a protocol to address child exploitation cases nationwide. Prior to her appointment as U.S. Attorney, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania (1988-2001).
Jeffrey G. Collins (Eastern District of Michigan) was appointed U.S. Attorney on Nov. 19, 2001. The District has had many high profile cases including a trial involving the material support of terrorism. In addition, Mr. Collins meets monthly with Arab American community leaders to discuss relevant issues and to enhance trust. Collins previously served as a Judge with the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Wayne County Circuit Court.
Marcos Daniel Jiménez (Southern District of Florida) was appointed U.S. Attorney on August 5, 2002. Since the events of September 11th, he formed a National Security Section in his office comprised of 10 Assistant U.S. Attorneys to aggressively combat terrorism. Previously, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida (1989-1992).
Charles W. Larson, Sr. (Northern District of Iowa), who was appointed U.S. Attorney on Oct. 17, 2001, serves as Chair of the Advisory Committee's White Collar Crime Subcommittee. His office recently completed a program for Project Safe Neighborhoods where more than 800 state and local law enforcement officers were trained to deal with anti-terrorism issues. This is Larson's second term as a United States Attorney. Previously, he served as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa from 1986-1993.
Michael T. Shelby (Southern District of Texas) was appointed U.S. Attorney on April 8, 2002. Previously, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona from 1997-2001, and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas (1992-1997 and 1989-1991). He is actively involved in advising other districts on creating an effective Anti-Terrorism Task Force and is a member of the President's Corporate Fraud Task Force.
Johnny K. Sutton (Western District of Texas) was appointed U.S. Attorney on December 7, 2001. Prior to his appointment, he served as Associate Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice (2001); Criminal Justice Policy Director, Office of Texas Governor George W. Bush (1995-2000); and Assistant District Attorney, Harris County District Attorney's Office (1987-1995). In addition to working with the Department on Southwest Border issues, the District has done many major narcotics trafficking cases and public corruption cases.
Gregory F. Van Tatenhove (Eastern District of Kentucky), who was appointed U.S. Attorney on Sept. 24, 2001, serves as Chair of the Advisory Committee's Office Management and Budget Subcommittee and as the new Vice-Chair of the Appalachian High Intensity Drug Task Force. Prior to his appointment, he served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Ron Lewis, Washington, D.C. (1994-2001); and as Trial Attorney in the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. (1990-1994). Van Tatenhove has been promoting the Department's commitment to sound strategic management and planning in the United States Attorneys' offices nationwide.
Debra W. Yang (Central District of California), who was appointed U.S. Attorney on May 17, 2002, serves as Chair of the Advisory Committee's Civil Rights Subcommittee and is also a member of the President's Corporate Fraud Task Force. Currently, her District is engaged in some high profile corporate fraud matters. She is also launching a conference with the Mayor of Los Angeles on Project Safe Neighborhoods. Prior to her appointment as United States Attorney she served as a Judge for the Los Angeles Superior Court (2000-2002) and Municipal Court (1997-2000). Yang served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California from 1990-1997.
Gretchen Leah Witt has served as the Civil Chief for the District of New Hampshire since 1986. She currently serves as Chair of the Advisory Committee's Civil Chief's Working Group. Witt has made major contributions in the area of civil litigation with regard to tort defense, environmental enforcement, and enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act during her tenure with the District of New Hampshire. Previously she was a trial attorney for the Torts Branch, U.S. Department of Justice (1982-1986).
The following is a complete listing of the Attorney General's Advisory Committee for 2003: Paul M. Warner, United States Attorney, District of Utah, Chair Paul J. McNulty, United States Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia, Vice Chair Susan W. Brooks, United States Attorney, Southern District of Indiana Mary Beth Buchanan, United States Attorney, Western District of Pennsylvania Timothy M. Burgess, United States Attorney, District of Alaska Jeffrey G. Collins, United States Attorney, Eastern District of Michigan James B. Comey, United States Attorney, Southern District of New York Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney, Northern District of Illinois Todd P. Graves, United States Attorney, Western District of Missouri David C. Iglesias, United States Attorney, District of New Mexico Marcos Daniel Jiménez, United States Attorney, Southern District of Florida Charles W. Larson, Sr., United States Attorney, Northern District of Iowa William W. Mercer, United States Attorney, District of Montana Michael T. Shelby, United States Attorney, Southern District of Texas Johnny K. Sutton, United States Attorney, Western District of Texas Gregory F. Van Tatenhove, United States Attorney, Eastern District of Kentucky Debra W. Yang, United States Attorney, Central District of California Roscoe C. Howard, Jr., United States Attorney, District of Columbia, ex officio Gretchen Leah Witt, Civil Chief, District of New Hampshire 03-023
Source: US Department of Justice
