William S. Thompson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia
Lisa G. Johnston has been appointed as the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia. In this role, she will serve as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the district, which includes 23 counties. Johnston is responsible for overseeing all federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation where the United States has an interest.
"I am honored to serve as Acting United States Attorney and pledge to continue to fulfill the vital mission of the Department of Justice," Johnston stated. "On behalf of this office and its dedicated attorneys and staff, I look forward to working closely and collaboratively with our law enforcement partners to protect the public, enforce the law fairly and consistently, and promote respect for the legal system and the rule of law."
Johnston previously held this position from February 2021 to October 2021. She joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in August 2006 and has served as First Assistant United States Attorney since January 2018. Her career began in the Northern District of West Virginia, where she worked as a Special Assistant United States Attorney before becoming an Assistant United States Attorney.
In October 2001, Johnston took on a role with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Chief Counsel’s Office as a legal advisor in Louisville. Later, in August 2005, she handled immigration appeals at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Throughout her career, Johnston has managed investigations and prosecutions involving various federal criminal laws such as crimes against children, firearms offenses, violence, drug trafficking, health care fraud, immigration issues, and white-collar crimes.
As Acting United States Attorney, she leads a team comprising 34 attorneys and 41 non-attorney personnel across offices in Charleston, Huntington, and Beckley.
Johnston hails from Moundsville, West Virginia. She holds a Juris Doctor degree from West Virginia University College of Law (1988) and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from West Virginia University (1984).
A copy of this press release is available on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
