Closing Date: 19th July, 2024
Description:
Summary:The Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) leads the Department's anti-money laundering enforcement and asset forfeiture efforts. This posting is for a Trial Attorney in the International Unit (IU).
Duties:
MLARS seeks a qualified prosecutor and litigator for the Department of Justice's anti-corruption initiative. The Department's Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative is aimed at combating large scale international corruption, preventing international criminal networks from corrupting the U.S. financial system, and recovering the proceeds of foreign official corruption. The mission includes returning recovered assets for the benefit of people harmed by the corruption in appropriate circumstances. To date, MLARS prosecutors have initiated criminal and civil actions throughout the United States in cases alleging the misappropriation of billions of dollars in funds from various governments or stateowned institutions, as well as major international bribery and kickback schemes. Examples include the $4.5 billion dollar theft embezzlement and kickback scheme involving 1MDB, the sovereign wealth fund of Malaysia; an $18 million bribery scheme involving the President of Panama and his sons that were paid by a major Brazilian company, Odebrecht; a case against foreign bankers who laundered funds for Odebrecht as part of its illegal schemes including using the US financial system; as well as millions of dollars in embezzlement and bribery proceeds involving corruption in countries including Nigeria, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Panama, Ukraine and Honduras, among others. IU trial attorneys are also investigating and prosecuting cases as part of the Department's Task Force KleptoCapture established in February 2022, involving evasion of sanctions relating to Russian aggression against Ukraine and other offenses. To date, in publicly filed cases, IU trial attorneys working with their FBI, HSI, Customs and National Security Division and AUSA partners have seized a $300 million yacht, obtained seizure warrants against two Boeing jets, and convicted three individuals. We are currently seeking federal prosecutors with criminal prosecution and forfeiture experience in complex money laundering cases.
The successful candidate's responsibilities will include:
- Instituting complex, sensitive, and high profile criminal and civil investigations and cases targeting high level foreign corruption and international money laundering schemes aimed at laundering the proceeds of foreign corruption through the U.S. financial system.
- Collaborating on a frequent basis with foreign prosecutors and foreign law enforcement officers and working closely with federal law enforcement agencies, U.S. Attorneys' Offices and other Sections within the Criminal Division, including the Office of International Affairs and the Fraud Section, as well as Trial Attorneys in the National Security Division.
- Recommending charging decisions and proposing dispositions in accordance with Department, Division, and Section policies and practices.
- Conducting criminal and civil discovery, preparing for trial, and trying cases in federal courts throughout the United States.
- Developing and strengthening strategic international partnerships and treaty relationships with foreign authorities; and
- Handling the repatriation of funds to states harmed by the corruption utilizing various authorities.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to qualify for this position.
- You must undergo a pre-employment security investigation.
- All male applicants born after 12/31/1959 must have registered for the selective service. If selected, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.
- DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
- You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications: Interested applicants must possess a J.D., or equivalent, degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and be an active member of the bar in good standing. To qualify at the GS-15 grade level, applicants must have at least four (4) years post J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-14 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: independently performing legal analysis; composing pleadings, briefs and other court documents involving unique and/or difficult legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; conducting highly complex civil or criminal litigation; and leading paralegals and support staff.
Preferred Qualifications:
Your qualifications will be further evaluated based upon the following competencies:
- Ability to plan and carry out complex investigations and litigation involving violations of federal statutes.
- Substantial federal criminal prosecution experience in complex cases.
- Effective legal advocacy and attention to detail, including significant writing, research, and analytical abilities in complex cases.
- Ability to supervise agents, investigators, and legal support staff.
- Fluency in one or more foreign languages is desired, but not required.
Education:
A J.D., or equivalent, degree.
Applicants who possess an equivalent degree rather than a J.D. may be subject to additional review by the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management.
