| U.S. Attorney resigns | | | United States Attorney David Kustoff announced his resignation today effective
May 16, 2008. After his resignation, Kustoff will rejoin his prior law firm, Kustoff & Strickland, PLLC.
Mr. Kustoff was appointed by President George W. Bush and was sworn in as United States
Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee on March 27, 2006 subsequent to confirmation of his
Presidential nomination by the United States Senate. Mr. Kustoff was selected to serve on the U.S.
Attorney General’s Advisory Council Violent and Organized Crime Subcommittee, the Terrorism and
National Security Subcommittee, and the White Collar Crimes Subcommittee. Each committee advises
the Attorney General as to the impact of these crimes in each district and also advises as to the
prosecution efforts in the U. S. Attorney’s Office.
As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Kustoff has promoted the initiatives of the U. S. Attorney General and the
Department of Justice in the Western District of Tennessee. The priorities include Anti-Terrorism,
Project Safe Neighborhoods, Anti-Gang, Organized and Violent Crime/Drug Trafficking, and Public
Corruption.
During his tenure as U. S. Attorney, Mr. Kustoff has been instrumental in the development of
the Memphis and Shelby County Crime Summit and Plan, known as Operation Safe Community, which is
a landmark and innovative plan to reduce crime in Memphis and Shelby County by bringing Public
Service, Law Enforcement, Social Services, Education, and the Business Community together in a
partnership to make Memphis and Shelby County a safer place for its citizens. Mr. Kustoff currently
serves on the Board for the Memphis/Shelby Crime Commission which is a non-governmental
organization that offers advocacy and facilitation to the community and criminal justice system to
implement model crime reduction strategies.
Mr. Kustoff also co-chairs the West Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force which consists of
federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who have collaborated to combat the illegal
production and trafficking of methamphetamine in the Western District of Tennessee. Through his
association with the West Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force, Mr. Kustoff became a charter
member of the statewide Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force which includes law enforcement from across the state. He has also been instrumental in the successful partnership of federal, state and
local law enforcement in West Tennessee in many priorities of the Department of Justice such as
Project Safe Neighborhoods, the aggressive prosecution of convicted felons in possession of firearms,
and Project Safe Childhood which combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation
crimes against children.
During his tenure as U.S. Attorney, Mr. Kustoff has overseen numerous public corruption
investigations and prosecutions, including Tennessee Waltz and Mainstreet Sweeper. In addition, Mr.
Kustoff has overseen Operation Tarnished Blue, a joint local and federal investigation of police officers
and sheriff’s deputies who have sold drugs, laundered money and committed other criminal acts in their
official capacity as well as off duty.
Upon submitting his resignation as U.S. Attorney, Mr. Kustoff makes the following statement:
“Recently, I made the decision that I would not seek or accept another term next year as the
United States Attorney. It has truly been an honor to serve the people of West Tennessee as the
United States Attorney. However, both personally and professionally, the timing is right for me to
return to the private practice of law.
Therefore, I am resigning as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee
effective May 16, 2008 at 11:59pm.
I greatly appreciate the confidence that President Bush gave me in my appointment as United
States Attorney. I am also thankful to former United States Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and
Senator Lamar Alexander for all of their help and support of my nomination as United States Attorney.
It has been an honor to serve in the Department of Justice.
The people of Shelby County and West Tennessee should know that they have the most
dedicated and devoted public servants working in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. My opinion is that this U.S.
Attorney’s Office is the finest in the nation, and I could not be more proud of all our attorneys and staff.
In addition, there is a special and unique working relationship among federal, state and local law
enforcement in West Tennessee. These brave men and women literally risk their lives for all of us each
and every day that they report for duty. Their hard work makes it possible for this office to effectively
and successfully handle our cases, and for that I am most appreciative.
I am also very proud of the attorneys and staff on the civil side of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
These men and women work diligently to defend the interests of the United States, as well as bringing
actions to enforce penalties against those who violate laws, rules and regulations.
As I conclude my tenure as U.S. Attorney, I will continue to work hard for the people of West
Tennessee. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to serve as U.S. Attorney.”
Posted 3.11.08 | | | | |
