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U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery Resigns
New Haven, CT – In a shocking move, U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery announced her resignation from the Office effective at 11:59 p.m. on January 17, 2024.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as United States Attorney, and I am profoundly appreciative of President Biden for trusting me to serve our nation and the people of Connecticut in this position,” said Ms. Avery. “I have been especially honored to lead an office of extremely talented public servants who are dedicated to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism and committed to the cause of justice. Together, we have employed collaborative, data and intelligence-driven strategies to make our communities safer and ensure justice for all who live in our state. We have done the hard work of engaging the community alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, contributing to declining violent crime rates and opioid overdose deaths. I am confident that this Office will continue to make Connecticut a safe place to live, and have a positive impact in our communities.”
Marc H. Silverman, who has served as First Assistant U.S. Attorney since May 2024, will serve as Acting U.S. Attorney upon Ms. Avery’s departure. Mr. Silverman joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2010. From 2014 to 2022, he served as Deputy Chief of the Office’s Appellate Division, and has been a key figure in the Office’s efforts to combat gun violence, narcotics trafficking, and human trafficking.
Under Ms. Avery’s leadership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office prioritized the prosecution of crimes related to gun violence, gang violence, firearms trafficking, narcotics trafficking, counterfeit opioid pill trafficking, child exploitation, human trafficking and smuggling, financial frauds, public corruption, cybercrime, and national security issues. In addition, the Office’s Civil Division has aggressively pursued health care fraud violators, achieved numerous disability rights settlements, and recovered millions of dollars through forfeiture actions.
In Fiscal Year 2023, the Office recovered more than $233 million in criminal and civil actions, which ranked third in the nation among all U.S. Attorney’s Offices.
As U.S. Attorney, Ms. Avery has stressed the Office’s community engagement, particularly through its HEAT and Fed-Up programs, as a critical component to reducing drug addiction, overdose deaths, and violent criminal behavior. In addition, she has spearheaded civil rights and hate crimes prevention through United Against Hate presentations across Connecticut.
Ms. Avery was appointed by President Biden after confirmation by the United States Senate and sworn in as the 54th U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut on May 9, 2022. Prior to her appointment as U.S. Attorney, Ms. Avery served as the Associate Attorney General and Chief of the Division of Enforcement and Public Protection at the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General.
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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