Legal Definitions - United States Attorney’s Office (USAO)

The United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) is a crucial part of the federal justice system, acting as the primary legal representative for the U.S. government in federal courts within a specific geographic area.

Think of the USAO as the federal government's law firm for a particular region. Each of the 94 federal judicial districts across the country has its own USAO. These offices are led by a United States Attorney, who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Working under the U.S. Attorney are numerous Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs), who handle the day-to-day legal work.

The main responsibilities of the USAO include:

• Prosecuting Federal Crimes: Investigating and bringing charges against individuals or organizations that violate federal laws. This is the most significant part of their work.
• Representing the United States in Civil Actions: Acting as the government's lawyer in non-criminal lawsuits, both when the government is suing someone and when it is being sued.
• Collecting Debts: Pursuing legal action to recover money owed to the federal government that could not be collected through administrative means.

AUSAs frequently appear in federal district courts and federal courts of appeal, often collaborating closely with federal investigative agencies like the FBI or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to build their cases.

Here are some examples illustrating the work of a United States Attorney’s Office:

• Prosecuting Federal Crimes: Imagine a sophisticated ring of cybercriminals based in one state that hacks into the computer systems of a major financial institution located in another state, stealing sensitive customer data. Because this crime involves interstate commerce and violates federal computer fraud statutes, the local United States Attorney's Office in the district where the financial institution is located (or where the criminals operated) would lead the investigation and prosecution. The AUSAs would work with federal agencies like the FBI to gather evidence, present the case to a grand jury for indictment, and then prosecute the individuals in federal court.

  This example illustrates the USAO's role in prosecuting federal crimes, specifically cybercrime that crosses state lines and impacts federal interests, which falls under federal jurisdiction.

• Representing the United States in Civil Actions: Suppose a large manufacturing company is accused by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of illegally dumping hazardous waste into a federally protected river. The EPA might refer the case to the United States Attorney's Office to file a civil lawsuit against the company. The USAO would then represent the federal government in court, seeking penalties, an injunction to stop the pollution, and funds for environmental cleanup.

  This example demonstrates the USAO's function in representing the United States in civil actions, specifically when a federal agency seeks to enforce regulations and recover damages or impose penalties against a private entity.

• Collecting Debts: Consider a situation where a former federal employee was overpaid a substantial amount in salary and benefits due to an administrative error. After the employing federal agency has made repeated attempts to recover the funds through standard administrative procedures without success, they might refer the uncollected debt to the local United States Attorney's Office. The USAO would then initiate legal proceedings, such as filing a lawsuit in federal court, to compel the former employee to repay the money owed to the federal government.

  This example highlights the USAO's responsibility to collect debts owed to the federal government when administrative efforts have failed, ensuring that public funds are recovered through legal means.