Office Description
Our office is divided into the following four divisions - Criminal, Civil, Appellate, and Administrative. The First Assistant United States Attorney is charged with overall supervision of all four divisions. The Administrative Officer is charged with the management and coordination of administrative functions in support of the office.
CRIMINAL DIVISION:
The Criminal Division is the largest division within the office and is responsible for all criminal investigations and prosecutions. Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) investigate and prosecute cases arising from a vast array of criminal activity such as economic crimes, health care fraud, drug crimes including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force matters (OCEDTF) and violent crimes. The Criminal Division has responsibility for various national initiatives, including Anti-Terrorism and matters of national security, Project Safe Neighborhoods, Project Safe Childhood and Anti-gang.
Asset Forfeiture: This office investigates and prosecutes both civil and criminal cases that involve the possible forfeiture of real property, currency, vehicles, and other items of value. We also work to enhance cooperation among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies through the equitable sharing of assets recovered through forfeiture.
Economic Crimes: Our office handles the investigation and prosecution of a wide variety of economic crimes, including public corruption, bank fraud, bankruptcy fraud, advance fee schemes, insurance fraud, “con man” schemes, money laundering offenses, tax offenses, securities fraud, commercial bribery, copyright infringement, defense procurement fraud, environmental crimes, and complex computer-related crimes.
Health Care Fraud: This office also investigates and prosecutes complex health care fraud committed by corporate and individual defendants, including independent clinical laboratories, outpatient dialysis providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, medical device manufacturers, hospitals, ambulance service provider, doctors, pharmacists, and other medical providers.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement: The Drug Unit within the Criminal Division handles the investigation and prosecution of drug cases, and drug-related offenses, with emphasis on major illegal drug importation and distribution organizations.
Anti-Terrorism and National Security: Our office also has responsibility for anti-terrorism investigations, as well as those involving breaches of national security, such as espionage and munitions smuggling cases. In addition, we are responsible for the operation of the Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council, as well administering the Critical Incident Response Plan and the National Security and International Affairs program.
Violent Crimes: This office also prosecutes crimes such as bank robbery, car jacking, kidnapping, civil rights and hate crimes violations, and immigration offenses. We also handle a large number of cases and matters involving federal firearms violations and gangs.
CIVIL DIVISION:
The Civil Division represents the United States and its departments, agencies, and employees at both the trial and appellate levels in civil actions filed in Maine. The Civil Division handles defensive litigation, Affirmative Civil Enforcement, and financial litigation.
Defensive Litigation: This office represents the government in suits filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act. In addition, our office defends federal agencies against allegations of discrimination in federal employment. Other cases include challenges to agency actions and government procurement under the Administrative procedures Act, appeals under the Social Security Act, suits seeking the release of records under the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts and the defense of government officials sued in their individual capacity.
Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE): We also file civil actions to recover damages for fraud and other offenses against the United States and its agencies; impose civil penalties for violations of the nation’s health, safety and economic welfare laws; and to enjoin ongoing mail, wire or bank frauds and to freeze ill-gotten gains derived from those frauds under the Fraud Injunction Statute. The majority of ACE cases are brought to enforce the federal False Claims Act, with a significant portion of this work devoted to pursuing health care fraud recoveries. ACE cases also include filing suits for fraud in government procurement and to enforce environmental and civil rights laws.
Financial Litigation: The Financial Litigation Unit (FLU) litigates debt collection issues and collects criminal and civil debts owed to the government because of breach of contract, defaulted loans, and failure to pay administrative and criminal fines and penalties. Recoveries are sought from corporate or individual debtors who have obtained loans through federal programs such as student and Small Business Administration loan programs.
APPELLATE DIVISION:
The Appellate Division is responsible for writing appellate briefs and presenting oral argument before the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Other responsibilities include keeping AUSAs informed of changes and developments in the law, providing legal advice to Civil and Criminal Division AUSAs and to the United States Attorney, determining whether to file government appeals, reviewing district court filings on signification points of law, and participating in the formulation of policy.
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION:
The purpose of the Administrative Division is to provide consistent and effective administrative services and support to the employees and programs of our office as well as to advise and assist the United States Attorney and management officials on all administrative matters including personnel, financial, and information technology management, and other office services. The Division is managed by the Administrative Officer who is the principal advisor to the United States Attorney and the District on administrative policies, procedures and practices.