Senior Assistant Attorney General, Organized Crime Unit, Criminal Division

Description

The Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Maryland. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has the general charge, supervision, and direction of the State’s legal business, acting as legal advisors and representatives of the major agencies, various boards, commissions, officials, and institutions of State Government. The OAG also protects the public by civil enforcement of antitrust, civil rights, consumer protection, and securities laws and regulations and by the prosecution of organized crime, Medicaid fraud, environmental crimes, insurance fraud, state tax evasion, and other ​​statutorily assigned matters. As Maryland’s 47th Attorney General, Anthony G. Brown leads the Office with a critical focus on equity, justice, and fairness.

The OAG's Criminal Division is seeking applicants for between one and two contractual, grant-funded senior assistant attorneys general in its Organized Crime Unit (OCU) to focus on Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS) investigations and prosecutions in Baltimore City. This is a supervisor position, and the attorney will supervise other attorneys and help oversee the implementation of the grant, including assisting in tracking performance measures and drafting progress updates on the implementation of the grant project. The OAG is a formal partner, along with the City of Baltimore and the Baltimore Police Department, in this proven strategy to address the norms perpetuating violence in Baltimore.  The strategy focuses resources on individuals identified as being at the highest acute risk of involvement in gun violence and is a nationally recognized approach that has the strongest formal evaluation record of any violence prevention initiative designed to reduce homicides and non-fatal shootings.

We are looking for someone who enjoys working in a team environment, is attentive to detail, organized, creative, and will take initiative. The ideal candidate will have extensive criminal prosecution experience as well as experience supervising other attorneys and leading criminal investigations, especially with regard to wiretap investigations, multi-defendant prosecutions, and Maryland’s organized crime/RICO statute.

Attorney General Brown is deeply committed to ensuring public safety, making it one of his top priorities. The Criminal Division is comprised of over 50 team members, including around 30 attorneys as well as investigators, analysts, investigative auditors, and support staff. The team is extremely cohesive, and everyone works closely and collaboratively with one another, supporting each other's investigations and prosecutions. The team also works closely with local, State, and federal partners to tackle critical issues such as violence, human trafficking, the opioid epidemic, fraud, corruption, environmental hazards, and natural resources crimes, all while safeguarding Marylanders.

The Division is comprised of 3 prosecution units - the Environmental and Natural Resources Crimes Unit (ENRCU), the Fraud and Corruption Unit (FCU), and the Organized Crime Unit (OCU) - as well as a newly created Investigations and Prosecutions Support Unit (IPSU). Brief descriptions of each unit are below:

• The ENRCU handles investigations and prosecutions of a wide range of environmental and natural resources crimes throughout Maryland, including individual and corporate defendants in situations where deceptive and willful action or inaction caused or could have caused significant environmental harm, the destruction of natural resources, or a substantial risk to public health.
• The FCU handles investigation and prosecutions involving fraud and public corruption in Maryland, including bribery, fraud against the state, state employee misconduct, securities fraud, insurance fraud, tax fraud, theft by deception, crimes of exploitation against vulnerable victims, and other criminal violations relating to the integrity of state government and economic justice in courts across Maryland.
• The OCU handles complex investigations and prosecutions of criminal gang activities, firearms and narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, prison corruption, violent felonies including serial robberies and home invasions, homicides, and more.
• The IPSU is comprised of the Division's non-attorney staff, including investigators, analysts, investigative auditors, and law clerks. IPSU supports the investigations and prosecutions handled by the Division and also handles special investigations such as prison corruption and wiretaps, among other things.

This position is funded by a grant that the OAG receives from the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP), called the "OAG GVRS Prosecutor Program,” which was developed to help support GVRS in Baltimore City and surrounding areas affected by violence by providing additional resources dedicated to investigating and prosecuting criminal cases related to GVRS’s mission. Pursuant to the scope of the grant, the attorney in this position will handle investigations and prosecutions into group violence, as well as other cases related to firearms, drugs, and violence. The attorney will work directly with local, State, and federal law enforcement agencies, including the Baltimore Police Department, ATF, DEA, HSI, and FBI, among others, to combat violence. The attorney will lead investigations and prosecutions of complex and serious cases related to group violence, gangs, and organized crime throughout Baltimore City and the surrounding area. A wide range of investigative tools will be deployed, including, but not limited to, undercover operations, wiretaps, and grand jury investigations. The attorney will, among other things, assist investigators and detectives with open investigations; lead and conduct complex investigations; collaborate and coordinate with law enforcement and prosecutorial partner agencies; draft and present criminal charging documents; and represent the State of Maryland in the handling of all stages of prosecution. This position will also supervise other attorneys who are working on GVRS cases and assist in overseeing GVRS investigations, implementing the strategy by attending information sharing and collaboration meetings, tracking performance measures, and drafting progress reports.

Classification: Assistant Attorney General IV

Experience: The ideal candidate will have at least six (6) years of legal experience along with exceptional analytical, research, and communication skills (written and verbal).  We are looking for candidates with broad criminal prosecution experience and specific experience with leading criminal investigations. Candidates should be highly motivated, organized, and able to handle multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Prior experience with supervising attorneys is preferred.

Pro Bono Commitment: The Office of the Attorney General expects its attorneys to demonstrate a sustained commitment to pro bono service. Applicants should have a demonstrated record of meaningful pro bono engagement or a sincere interest in pro bono work as a professional obligation. Once hired, Assistant Attorneys General are expected to fulfill that commitment throughout their employment with the Office through active participation in OAG’s Stephen H. Sachs Pro Bono Program or other qualified opportunities. The OAG supports attorneys in meeting the goal set by the Maryland Supreme Court, MD Atty Rules § 19-306.1(b), by allowing up to 50 hours work-time to be used for approved pro bono activities.

Submission: Applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and a list of three professional references, including at least one current or former supervisor.

Telework: Hybrid Work – Three in-office days weekly.

Employment Benefits: Contractual employees working for an agency covered under the State Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program, with a current employment contract and a schedule of 30 or more hours per week (or an average of 130 hours per month), may be eligible for subsidized health benefits for themselves and their dependents. As a contractual employee, you will pay 25% of the premiums for medical and prescription coverage, including enrolled dependents, while the State of Maryland subsidizes the remaining 75%. You may also elect dental coverage, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and life insurance at full cost. Additionally, contractual employees who have worked 120 days within a 12-month period may be granted leave, accruing at one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 40 hours per calendar year. The State also offers a free mass transit benefit for local bus and express bus services.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging: The Office of the Attorney General views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving professional excellence and fostering and maintaining a culture where every employee can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the best pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values. We honor, respect, and celebrate all differences, both visible and invisible, and are committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting individuals who have historically been underrepresented in the practice of law and professional careers.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The OAG is an equal opportunity employer that encourages all interested persons to apply regardless of race, color, religion or belief, ancestry, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, pregnancy, family or parental status, veteran status, genetic information, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.