Former U.S. Attorney Bill Powell

Former U.S. Attorney William J. Powell

William J. Powell was nominated by President Donald J. Trump to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia on August 3, 2017. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 3, 2017. On October 13, 2017, Chief United States District Judge Gina M. Groh administered the oath of office to the U.S. Attorney Powell, making him the 28th person to serve in this position. Mr. Powell resigned from his position effective February 28, 2021.

As United States Attorney, Powell is the top-ranking federal law enforcement officer in the Northern District of West Virginia, which includes offices in Wheeling, Martinsburg, Clarksburg, and Elkins. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms, and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.

At the time of his appointment, Mr. Powell was serving as the Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Jefferson County, West Virginia. Powell, a Martinsburg resident, was born in Manhasset, New York in 1960. He has also held positions as a Member of Jackson Kelly, PLLC, and as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

He received his J.D. in 1985 from the West Virginia University College of Law and his B.A. in 1982 from Salem College. He is a past President of the West Virginia Bar Association, past Member of the Board of Governors for the West Virginia State Bar, a Fellow at the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow at the American Bar Association Foundation, a Fellow of the West Virginia Bar Foundation, and has been a leader in numerous community and professional organizations.
 

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