James M. Warden, the longest-serving Assistant U.S. Attorney in the history of the Southern District of Indiana, has retired after nearly four decades of public service. Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, praised Warden's dedication and contributions.
“Jim Warden is one of the finest and most dedicated public servants I’ve had the privilege to know," said U.S. Attorney Myers. "Throughout his career he has demonstrated tremendous commitment to protecting the public and holding offenders accountable for the harm they cause in our community."
Warden began his tenure with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on May 20, 1985, after being selected by then-U.S. Attorney John D. Tinder. His career spanned seven Presidentially appointed U.S. Attorneys and twelve Attorneys General.
As a federal prosecutor, Warden specialized in prosecuting criminal tax violations, complex frauds, violent crime, and public corruption cases. He led many first-time prosecutions for the office, including money laundering and currency transaction structuring cases.
In 1999, he secured the district’s first car-jacking conviction and prosecuted numerous bank robbers such as the Curry Brothers who were convicted after stealing over a million dollars from four Indiana banks in 2008.
Warden also achieved significant convictions against public officials like former Marion County Chief Deputy Prosecutor David Wyser for accepting a bribe in 2013. Additionally, he served as lead prosecutor for offenses arising from the Bureau of Prisons’ Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute.
Beyond his prosecutorial achievements, Warden founded and chaired the Indiana Bank Fraud Working Group for 35 years and led several financial crime task forces.
Warden graduated from Indiana University-Bloomington in 1974 and earned his law degree from Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis in 1977. He started his legal career as a municipal court public defender before becoming a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Hancock County and later Marion County.
His military service includes over thirty years in the United States Navy where he rose to Captain and served as a military judge.
