FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 2, 2007

U.S. ATTORNEY TROY EID ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF THIRD FEDERAL PROSECUTOR FOR DURANGO BRANCH OFFICE

Troy A. Eid, United States Attorney for the District of Colorado, announces that the District has been awarded another federal prosecutor by the Department of Justice for the leadership U.S. Attorney Eid and the District has demonstrated on Indian Country issues and in Southwestern Colorado. Consistent with U.S. Attorney Eid's priorities, he has assigned the new prosecutor to the U.S. Attorney's branch office in Durango.

The new prosecutor will bring the total number of federal prosecutors who will be assigned to Southwestern Colorado to three. The area includes two Indian reservations in Colorado, the Southern Ute and the Ute Mountain Ute reservations. The three federal prosecutors are also responsible for handling federal crimes which occur in Southwestern Colorado, including the cities of Durango and Cortez.

U.S. Attorney Troy Eid said, “Strengthening federal law enforcement and prosecution statewide - especially in under-served areas such as the Western Slope - will continue to be one of my top priorities as United States Attorney.”

The new prosecutor will be supervised by Assistant US Attorney James Candelaria, the Branch Office Manager. Assistant US Attorney Wallace Kleindienst is also assigned to the branch office.
The Durango Branch Office exclusively handles all felony crimes which occur on both reservations.

Part of U.S. Attorney Troy Eid's plan includes training, in partnership with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, local and state law enforcement officers to respond to emergencies on both reservations in Colorado. The officers will now also be authorized to issue federal citations on Indian Country. To date, the program has cross-deputized over 84 officers. The cross deputizing training program was so well received it is now being used nationally as a model, where other federal judicial Districts will be able to take advantage of the innovated training established in Colorado by U.S. Attorney Eid.

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