Alabama Civil Rights News

Birmingham Criminal Defense Lawyer Defends The United States Government's Interest In Civil Actions

The Northern District of Alabama includes 31 of the state's 67 counties, with a population of 2,602,599, or 59 % of the total state population. The district contains numerous federal agencies including the U.S. Army Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal; NASA's Marshal Space Flight Center; FBI Hazardous Device School; Fox Army Community Hospital, Redstone Arsenal; Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA); Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Detention Facility, Gadsden; U.S. DOJ Center for Domestic Preparedness, Anniston; Anniston Army Depot; VA Hospitals in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa; Social Security Administration Southeast Regional Center in Birmingham; Federal Prison and Camp in Talladega; Natchez Trace Parkway; Little River National Preserve; Bankhead National Forest; and the Wheeler Wildlife National Preserve.

The United States Attorney is Alice H. Martin. Herbert J. Lewis III is the FAUSA. The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Alabama has 44 lawyers based in Birmingham and Huntsville. The office has three divisions - Criminal, Civil and Appellate - and a non-lawyer Administrative Division.

The Criminal Division is the largest division in the office. Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) investigate and prosecute cases arising from a vast array of criminal activity. The Criminal Division has assumed new responsibilities due to the fight against terrorism. In this area, the mandate is to prevent injuries, death and destruction first and to prosecute second. The Criminal Division is divided into several sections.

Violent Crimes Section

This section prosecutes crimes such as bank robbery, car jacking, kidnapping, civil rights and hate crimes violations, and immigration offenses. The section handles a large number of cases and matters involving federal firearms violations. Assistants in this section prosecute offenses such as felon in possession of firearms, illegal aliens in possession of firearms, arson, illegal trafficking in firearms, and offenses involving possession of other illegal weapons and explosives. The AUSAs in this section also serve as the leadership for Project Safe Neighborhoods and the initiatives under its umbrella.

White Collar Section - Public Corruption and Government Fraud

This section is responsible for prosecuting a wide range of complex cases, including public corruption, health care fraud, bankruptcy fraud, and mail and wire fraud. Public corruption is one of the district's highest priorities. The United States Attorney must contribute to the district's stability by rigorously prosecuting fraud and public corruption so that innocent persons do not suffer devastating financial losses and so that public confidence in financial institutions and in government is maintained and justified. This section is also charged with the expanding prosecution of computer crimes, particularly those involving child pornography. This district has also placed a high priority on computer crimes, especially any threatening electrical power systems, emergency services, telecommunications, gas/oil storage and transportation, the continuity of government services, the continuity and integrity of financial institutions, and the water supply. In addition to computer crime, this section prosecutes a variety of other federal violations including mail and wire fraud, theft, passport or other document fraud, postal crimes, social security fraud, telemarketing fraud, check fraud, commercial loan fraud, counterfeit negotiable instruments, mortgage fraud, and check kiting. In the area of mortgage fraud, the district has successfully prosecuted many complex, sophisticated schemes and has obtained a substantial number of guilty pleas and convictions.

Contact a Alabama civil rights lawyer today and get a free consultation!

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