Veteran Mecklenburg County prosecutor cross-designated as Federal prosecutor to target violent crime Charlotte, N.C.

VETERAN MECKLENBURG COUNTY PROSECUTOR CROSS-DESIGNATED AS FEDERAL PROSECUTOR TO TARGET VIOLENT CRIME CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Anne M. Tompkins, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, R. Andrew Murray, District Attorney for Mecklenburg County, and Rodney D. Monroe, Chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department announced today during a press conference the appointment of a Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) who will prosecute state gang, violent crime and high level drug trafficking cases in federal court.

Beth Greene, a veteran prosecutor with the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office, was sworn in today as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Mrs. Greene has been a state prosecutor with the District Attorney’s Office for the past 10 years. As an Assistant District Attorney in Mecklenburg County, she has been a member of the Drug Prosecution Team, the Crimes Against Persons Team, and is currently the senior member of the Homicide Prosecution Team on which she has served for the past seven years. Mrs. Greene has prosecuted hundreds of murder cases and was a member of the prosecution team that successfully convicted Demeatrius Montgomery for the 2007 murders of Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Officers Jeff Shelton and Sean Clark. In the past year, she was lead counsel in the trial of Gary Daniels for murdering Olympic High School cheerleader Charney Watt. She was also lead counsel in the trial of Montrez Williams for the murders of two brothers, Josh Davis and Terry Long. Each of those defendants was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

State and federal authorities share concurrent jurisdiction over many drug and violent crimes. Concurrent jurisdiction allows for prosecution in either state or federal court. To ensure that the appropriate and best choice of venue for prosecution is made, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office have established this formal partnership. As a SAUSA, Mrs. Greene will focus on violent crime, crime associated with gangs, high-level drug trafficking crimes, and will collaborate with state, local and federal agencies in determining which cases should be indicted and prosecuted federally. Having a dually-sworn state/federal prosecutor will allow the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to more effectively and aggressively prosecute violent criminals and drug traffickers. The goal of this partnership is to make Mecklenburg County safer through a coordinated enforcement effort.

Mrs. Greene will identify and prioritize cases originating in state court for federal indictment, and then prosecute these cases in federal court. Mrs. Greene’s duties as a SAUSA will also include the review of case reports, and consultation with local and federal case agents, U.S. Attorney’s Office staff, and state prosecutors. Even though she will remain on the staff of the District Attorney’s Office, she will serve in all respects as an Assistant U.S. Attorney including drafting charges, search and arrest warrants, complaints, motions and responses; presenting matters before the grand jury; representing the United States before all federal courts in the Western District of North Carolina; and other such duties necessary for the successful prosecution of these cases.

Today, Mecklenburg County District Attorney Andrew Murray stated, “Violent crime and drug trafficking crimes are a scourge to our community and need to be collaboratively handled with all available resources. Embedding one of my most experienced and battle-tested prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office will undoubtedly result in the enhanced protection of the community from the most heinous criminals. I am thankful to the Governor’s Crime Commission and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for this unique opportunity to work together towards our shared goal of a safer community.”

In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney Tompkins stated, “Tackling violent crimes and drug trafficking in Mecklenburg County requires the coordination of all available resources, both state and federal. The cross-designation of an experienced and well-respected local prosecutor as a SAUSA with this office is a powerful weapon against crime in Mecklenburg County. It allows the District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to maximize our options in making prosecutorial decisions that will, in turn, make our communities safer. I am pleased to be a partner in this collaborative law enforcement initiative and thankful to District Attorney Murray for this investment in the safety of our citizens.” “Mrs. Greene brings a tremendous amount of expertise and professionalism to this important position,” said Chief Rodney Monroe. “We are fortunate to have someone of her high caliber who has a thorough understanding of the judicial system on both a state and federal level.” “We are pleased to be a partner in funding this position,” said Gwendolyn Burrell, Executive Director of the Governor’s Crime Commission. “The joint efforts of the Western District U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Mecklenburg District Attorney’s Office in prosecuting these cases will ensure criminals are expeditiously prosecuted for the crimes committed.”

The SAUSA position is funded through a grant awarded by the Governor’s Crime Commission (GCC). The GCC serves as the chief advisory body to the Governor and the Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety on crime and justice issues. The GCC has 44 members, including heads of statewide criminal justice and human service agencies, representatives from the courts, law enforcement, local government, the General Assembly, and private citizens. The GCC sets program priorities, reviews applications and makes recommendations to the Governor for the state’s criminal justice and juvenile justice federal block grants. Federal block grants are awarded each year to government, education and social service agencies to start new and innovative programs. In March, the GCC approved a grant to fund the special prosecutor position, which is duly sworn in both state and federal courts. The Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office requested the funding. GCC has funded 10 such prosecutors across the state this fiscal year.