U.S. Department
of Justice
Divisions
Criminal Division
The Criminal Division enforces federal criminal laws throughout the District of Oregon and is comprised of several units, including: the Asset Forfeiture Unit, the Criminal Appellate Unit, the Narcotics & Criminal Enterprises Unit, the National Security & Economic Crimes Unit, and the Violent Crime & Immigration Unit.
Asset Forfeiture Unit
The Asset Forfeiture Unit ensures that criminals do not profit from their illegal activities and that victims receive as much restitution as possible. The unit leads efforts to investigate, identify, seize, and forfeit criminal proceeds and the tools used to commit crimes. It also works to collect funds from convicted offenders to satisfy restitution orders owed to victims. In addition, the unit targets individuals who launder illicit proceeds. Through criminal prosecutions, forfeiture actions, and restitution enforcement, the Asset Forfeiture Unit makes certain that crime never pays.
Criminal Appellate Unit
The Criminal Appellate Unit serves as a resource for legal analysis, litigation strategy, and appellate advocacy. The unit handles all criminal appeals before the Ninth Circuit, ensuring that the district’s convictions and sentences are defended and upheld. In addition to direct appeals, the unit supports the Criminal Division’s work on dispositive motions, discovery challenges, trial litigation, and legal issues arising at all stages from indictment through sentencing and post-conviction litigation. The unit also provides office-wide training and develops legal reference materials.
Narcotics & Criminal Enterprises Unit
The Narcotics and Criminal Enterprises Unit prioritizes investigations and prosecutions of transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), drug trafficking organizations (DTOs), and violent criminal enterprises. For cases involving TCOs, the unit primarily focuses on investigating and prosecuting complex drug trafficking conspiracies by designated Foreign Terrorist Organizatons under the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF). The unit also works to disrupt and dismantle regional drug trafficking networks in partnership with the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program (HIDTA). The unit combats gun violence in the region through focused enforcement against: (1) violent street gangs through the application of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO); and (2) high-risk individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law through the Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) program.
Violent Crime & Immigration Unit
The Violent Crime and Immigration Unit focuses on a variety of criminal activity from reactive bank robbery, narcotics and gun offenses to crimes involving the most vulnerable victims in our district, including the Project Safe Childhood program. The unit partners with federal and local law enforcement agencies in prosecuting child exploitation and human trafficking cases as well as violent crime in Oregon’s tribal communities. Federal immigration crimes, including illegal reentry and aliens in possession of firearms, are also prosecuted by this unit.
National Security & Economic Crimes Unit
The National Security and Economic Crimes Unit prosecutes national security offenses, such as counterterrorism, counterespionage, and export control, as well as cyber, financial fraud offenses involving investment and corporate fraud, benefits and healthcare fraud, public corruption, environmental crime, and criminal tax violations.
Civil Division
The Civil Division represents the United States in defensive and affirmative litigation at the trial and appellate levels. In defensive litigation, the Civil Division represents the United States, its agencies, and its employees in a variety of litigation, including employment cases and tort cases under the Federal Tort Claims Act and claims under the Administrative Procedures Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Freedom of Information Act.
In affirmative civil litigation, the Civil Division brings actions to protect federal property and enforce federal laws. It investigates and litigates civil False Claims Act violations involving fraud on the United States and civil penalty cases involving a broad variety of government programs including health care fraud, financial fraud, and procurement fraud.
The Civil Division enforces federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination, protect constitutional rights, and ensure equal opportunity. Cases focus on the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, among other federal anti-discrimination statutes enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The Civil Division also represents the United States and federal agencies in cases in federal court, bankruptcy court, and state court involving the collection of delinquent tax liabilities, the foreclosure of federal tax liens (including fraudulent conveyance actions), the attempt to discharge federal tax claims in bankruptcy proceedings, and the enforcement of IRS summonses.
Administrative Division
The mission of the Administrative Division is to provide comprehensive administrative support to the employees and programs of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon. Led by the Administrative Officer, division staff are responsible for planning and executing a wide range of mission support services. These include financial management, contracting and procurement, human resources management, information systems and records management, case management and docketing, automated litigation support, facilities and security management, emergency preparedness, and other essential operational functions.