Springfield, Ill. – James A. Lewis issued the following statement upon his confirmation by the U.S. Senate today, June 22, 2010, to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois:

“I am extremely grateful to Senator Richard J. Durbin and to everyone else who supported me during my nomination and confirmation. I am honored to have this opportunity to serve. I look forward to the privilege of working with the wonderful people in this office, with our local, state, and federal partners in law enforcement, and with the good people of central Illinois.”

The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois is responsible for prosecution of federal crimes committed in any of the district’s 46 counties. The office has its headquarters in Springfield with staffed branch offices in Urbana, Peoria, and Rock Island, and is responsible for prosecuting a broad range of federal crimes, including terrorism, violent crime, public corruption, tax evasion, drug trafficking, child pornography, and civil rights offenses. The office also represents the United States, its agencies and employees, in civil suits brought against or on behalf of the United States in the Central District.