Assistant U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans Appointed As Interim United States Attorney

NEW ORLEANS –Assistant U.S (AUSA). Attorney Duane A. Evans will serve as Interim United States Attorney pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 546, which provides that “the Attorney General may appoint a United States Attorney for the district in which the office of United States Attorney is vacant.”  This appointment will take effect on March 1, 2021.

“I am grateful to the Department of Justice for the opportunity to once again serve the citizens of the Eastern District of Louisiana,” stated Assistant U.S. Attorney Evans.  “I am looking forward to once again working closely with the wonderful and dedicated people of our office and together, we will tackle any challenges that lie ahead.”  “I also would like to assure our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners that our working relationships and communication bonds will remain strong.”

Duane A. Evans’ first tenure as Acting/Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana began on March 11, 2017.  Since September 2018, AUSA Evans was assigned to the Executive Unit.  The Executive Unit is comprised of senior attorneys who investigate and prosecute a wide variety of offenses. Prosecutors assigned to the Unit prosecute violent crime and drug trafficking offenses, white-collar financial crimes, public corruption cases, complex health-care fraud schemes, and capital crimes.  Executive Unit attorneys also participate as mentors in criminal investigations and trials conducted by more junior attorneys.  Previously, AUSA Evans served as the First Assistant United States Attorney and assisted with management of the daily operations of the office. Prior to becoming First Assistant, Mr. Evans served as a Senior Litigation Counsel and later, Chief of the Criminal Division. Mr. Evans first joined the United States Attorney’s Office in August 2000. His first assignment was to the Violent Crimes Unit where he later became the Unit’s Chief. In 2010, he became Chief of the Strike Force and Anti-Gang Unit. During his time at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Evans successfully prosecuted matters related to firearms, public corruption, violent crime, illegal narcotics trafficking, access device fraud, government theft, and the Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization Act (RICO).

Mr. Evans is a 2006 recipient of the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys Director’s Award for Superior Performance by a Litigative Team.

Mr. Evans received his juris doctorate degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 1995 and received a B.S.E.E. from Tulane University School of Engineering in 1990. Mr. Evans clerked for Virgin Islands Superior Court Judge Ishmael A. Meyers (deceased). He later served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office from 1998 to 2000. He is a native of St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands.

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