U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr., has announced his resignation effective February 3, 2025, after serving since November 2021. President Joseph Biden nominated Easley on September 28, 2021, and he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on November 21, 2021.
Reflecting on his tenure, Easley stated, “It has been the highest honor to serve as the top federal law enforcement official for Eastern North Carolina – a place I was born, raised, and am proud to call home.” He expressed gratitude towards the staff and law enforcement partners who worked with him in efforts to reduce crime and protect civil rights.
Eddie Caldwell of the North Carolina Sheriffs Association praised Easley's partnership with local sheriffs: “U.S. Attorney Easley is the kind of partner every sheriff hopes for - sharp, decisive, and committed to results.”
Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson acknowledged Easley's leadership in making Raleigh safer through initiatives like VCAP: “We are deeply grateful for the years that U.S. Attorney Easley served at the helm of the Eastern District of North Carolina.”
During his time in office, Easley expanded resources within the district by increasing prosecutors and investigators by nearly 17%. His efforts included significant work against violent crime and drug trafficking through initiatives such as Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP). The district saw declines in homicides across various cities due to these efforts.
Easley also focused on dismantling organized crime networks through enhanced wiretaps and intelligence-driven operations under OCDETF. This approach led to high-profile prosecutions involving drug traffickers and gang members.
His administration prioritized addressing fentanyl-related cases by launching training programs for law enforcement officers. Additionally, under his leadership, there was a surge in white-collar fraud enforcement with an increase in caseloads by 115%.
Easley emphasized national security cases involving terrorism and cybersecurity threats while forming partnerships with DOJ’s National Security Division to protect sensitive technology from foreign adversaries.
Civil rights enforcement was another priority during his term; he launched a dedicated Civil Rights Team focusing on community engagement and officer training. Two human trafficking task forces were also established under his guidance.
Before becoming U.S. Attorney, Michael F. Easley Jr., worked as a partner at an international law firm specializing in internal investigations.
