Nicholas J. Ganjei United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
Nicholas J. Ganjei has officially taken the oath of office to continue serving as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX). His appointment was initially made by former acting Attorney General James McHenry on January 29.
Under the Vacancy Reform Act, an interim U.S. Attorney can be appointed by the Attorney General for up to 120 days, after which a district court appoints someone until a permanent successor is confirmed. Recently, Ganjei received unanimous support from judges in the Southern District of Texas, securing his reappointment.
“I am honored by the district court’s vote of confidence in my leadership of this great office,” said Ganjei. “There is much unfinished business for SDTX to address, from leading the fight to secure our southern border, to ensuring our streets are safe from drugs and violent crime. I am grateful to remain at the helm of the Southern District as we continue to deliver for the American people.”
The oath was administered by Chief Judge Randy Crane in front of U.S. Attorney’s Office staff and court personnel.
Ganjei brings extensive experience as a federal prosecutor, having served previously as acting U.S. Attorney and First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas. Since joining the Department of Justice in 2008, he has prosecuted cases involving organized crime, immigration violations, narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, public corruption, and white-collar crimes.
Before his tenure with SDTX began, Ganjei served as chief counsel to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and worked with legal matters related to criminal justice and other areas within Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution.
As U.S. Attorney for one of America's busiest districts covering 43 counties and more than nine million residents over 44,000 square miles, Ganjei prioritizes public safety and border security under his leadership. Efforts have been enhanced both at borders and internally within districts against unlawful activities such as human trafficking or violent offenses against children.
The Southern District's operations involve collaboration among Assistant U.S Attorneys across seven divisions including Houston; Galveston; Victoria; Corpus Christi; Brownsville; McAllen; Laredo alongside federal-state-local partners prosecuting various offenders involved in these significant federal crimes.
