Prosecutor makes violent crime priority

BALTIMORE (AP) — Maryland’s top federal prosecutor is recommitting his office to fighting violent crime, and he plans to expand the office and reorganize his staff.

U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein said he would start this month by restructuring his criminal division as part of an effort to coordinate better with local and federal law-enforcement agents.

“It’s a question of accountability,” Mr. Rosenstein told the Baltimore Sun.

The prosecutor said he has no intention of scaling back the office’s efforts to root out corruption in public life, which was the top priority of his predecessor, Thomas DiBiagio.

But he added: “Violent crime remains one of my top priorities.”

Starting this year, federal prosecutors handling criminal cases in Baltimore will be required to focus on either terrorism and national security, fraud and public corruption, violent crime, drugs or major crimes — a catchall designation including civil rights violations and child pornography.

They will be expected to stay in their respective areas for at least two years, Mr. Rosenstein said.

The division’s managers all have been asked to reapply for their jobs.

Mr. Rosenstein said he expected to have four new federal prosecutors working in the office by early this year. During the last fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, there were 565 criminal cases, up from 490 cases the previous year.

Other new staff members include an investigator for financial crimes and a specialist in asset forfeiture.

The moves come five months into Mr. Rosenstein’s tenure. His staff describes him as a genial and intense leader known for his thoroughness and prolific e-mail.

“He’s a very proactive person, wanting to know how things work here and what he needs to do,” Clerk of the Court Felicia C. Cannon said. “He’s just a good guy.”

The office has scored several high-profile indictments and convictions under Mr. Rosenstein.

Thomas Bromwell, a Democratic former state senator from Baltimore County, has been charged with accepting bribes from a construction company president vying for millions of dollars worth of state contracts.

Prosecutors also targeted Mr. Bromwell’s wife, Mary Pat, and former Poole and Kent Co. President W. David Stoffregen.

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