U.S. Attorney Adds Four Federal Prosecutors To Orlando Office

Orlando, FL - U.S. Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announced today that his office has added four new attorneys to its Orlando office. With cumulative responsibilities for federal criminal prosecutions, affirmative and civil defense, appellate, and forfeiture proceedings, the Middle District of Florida includes a geographical area encompassing thirty-five of Florida’s sixty-seven counties. Until recently, approximately 114 attorneys and 129 support staff occupied five offices (Tampa, Orlando, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, and Ocala) covering approximately one-half of the state’s population. Still, the MDFL has kept pace with similarly busy districts for the past several years, with fewer attorneys than some of its respective counterparts.

The Middle District of Florida is one of 94 federal districts across the country. The MDFL (second in population only to the Central District of California) and is one of the busiest districts in the country, consistently ranking within the top three categories for the number of civil case filings and prosecutions involving the exploitation of children (Project Safe Childhood). Impacted by a nationwide hiring freeze and normal attrition, the office has had to do more with less. Finally, to restore the district’s staffing deficit, a Department of Justice waiver allowed for the hiring of additional personnel in FY 2013.

“The caseload doesn’t stop,” said U.S. Attorney Robert O’Neill. “We have had to make some internal adjustments in order to keep pace with the increasing flow of work. During that time, our staff really stepped up to make sure that the public continued to be served. Our district is very diverse in the types of cases that we litigate. Now, with the addition of new personnel, we will be able to continue the great work throughout the district and address those cases more aggressively and effectively.”

On February 11, 2013, U.S. Chief District Judge Anne C. Conway administered the oath of office in Orlando to Shawn P. Napier, Joseph M. Schuster, Andrew C. Searle, and James D. Mandolfo.

Shawn P. Napier is assigned to the Criminal Division. Prior to joining the office, he served as a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Ohio Attorney General. Mr. Napier graduated magna cum laude from Capital University Law School, in Columbus, Ohio, where he obtained his Juris Doctorate.  He is a graduate of the University of Central Florida where he obtained Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

Joseph M. Schuster - He is assigned to the Criminal Division. Prior to becoming an Assistant United States Attorney, Mr. Schuster practiced as an associate with the law firm of Dechert LLP, in New York City, specializing in White Collar and Securities Litigation. He graduated with honors from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in fine Arts Dramatic Writing. He obtained a Master of Arts Degree, with honors, in History of International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Thereafter, he obtained his Juris Doctorate from the Georgetown University Law Center, in Washington, DC, as a Dean’s Scholar.

Andrew C. Searle is assigned to the Criminal Division. Mr. Searle served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Trial Division of the New York County District Attorney’s Office in New York, prior to joining the office. He graduated from the University of Florida, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in Finance.  He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Temple University, Beasley School of Law, in Philadelphia.

James D. Mandolfo is assigned to the Criminal Division.  Before joining the office, Mr. Mandolfo practiced law with the firm of Hunton & Williams LLP, in Miami, where he represented clients in a wide array of complex securities and commercial litigation. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law, New York, NY and is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, where he graduated with Highest Distinction and ranked first in the Political Science Department.