Brooklyn Life

Fighting Corruption and Crime: All About the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District

Last week, the White House nominated Brooklyn federal prosecutor Robert L. Capers to fill the role of U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Here’s what it means for Brooklyn. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys in the country, all tasked with upholding federal laws and constitutional rights in their region. U.S. Attorneys are the…

by Barbara Eldredge

10/15/2015 4 minute 0

Last week, the White House nominated Brooklyn federal prosecutor Robert L. Capers to fill the role of U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Here’s what it means for Brooklyn.

There are 93 U.S. Attorneys in the country, all tasked with upholding federal laws and constitutional rights in their region. U.S. Attorneys are the chief enforcers of these laws — prosecuting everyone from terrorists to white collar criminals.

The Eastern District Attorney’s post was made vacant in April when Loretta Lynch left it to become the U.S. Attorney General in D.C. Her replacement has some big shoes to fill.

A Team of Hundreds
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District is the head honcho of a team of roughly 170 top attorneys representing the U.S. government in legal cases in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Terrorist plot foiled at JFK airport? The U.S. Attorney’s Office is on it — prosecuting the alleged culprits in court. Is a corrupt international soccer organization accepting bribes via U.S. wire transfers? The U.S. Attorney’s Office gives ’em the red card in the courtroom. The 2014 death of Eric Garner? It’s the U.S. Attorney’s Office that’s investigating the case.

In addition to leading all those other attorneys, the Eastern District Attorney also oversees a staff of roughly 130 support personnel.

The Action Takes Place in Downtown Brooklyn
The main Attorney’s Office is in the French limestone castle at 271 Cadman Plaza East — arguably the most beautiful post office (and federal building) in the borough. Designed by Mifflin E. Bell and built in 1885-91, the Romanesque Revival building got an addition in the 1930s and was renovated again in 1999 to accommodate the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Photo of Robert Capers via the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York

Why was Robert Capers nominated for the job?
Like all U.S. Attorneys, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District is appointed by the President of the United States, and subject to confirmation by the Senate. Capers has the requisite experience: He’s worked as a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office since 2003, mostly on corruption cases. But he’s been in the biz of putting bad guys away for over two decades.

Photo of William Boylad Jr. by Ben Fractenberg for the Daily News

Capers also recently got props for winning a corruption case against former Brownsville State Assemblyman William F. Boyland Jr. A member of a Brooklyn political family dynasty, he was convicted of accepting bribes in exchange for awarding real estate development contracts.

Another big factor in Capers’ nomination? He was recommended for the role by Senator Chuck Schumer. Because nominees are subject to Senate approval, Schumer’s endorsement would mean a lot to the White House.

“Robert Capers knows from his 22-years’ experience as a prosecutor the value of locking up violent criminals and drug kingpins who tear at the fabric of our neighborhoods,” Schumer is quoted as saying in the Daily News.