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Vermont US Attorney Tristram Coffin Resigns Amidst Opiate Crisis
US Attorney Tristram J. Coffin has submitted his letter of resignation to President Obama, effective January 12, 2015. Coffin, who was among the first US Attorneys appointed by President Obama in August 2009, cited his gratitude to President Obama and his pride in the accomplishments and transition made under Attorney General Eric Holder.
“It has been the highest honor of my professional career to serve the people of Vermont and the United States seeking justice under the leadership of Attorney General Holder and President Obama,” Coffin said. “I am also so grateful for the trust Senator Leahy placed in me by recommending me for this position, and by his support for our efforts throughout my time in the job.”
During his tenure, Coffin prioritized combatting Vermont’s expanding opiate problem using a multi-faceted approach that combined aggressive law enforcement with greater emphasis on treatment and prevention. He convened a statewide conference of law enforcement, treatment and prevention experts in Montpelier in September 2010, keynoted by Attorney General Holder and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Leahy.
Coffin also worked with Skip Gates, the father of a fatal heroin overdose victim, to produce the award-winning film “The Opiate Effect.” Together they spoke at scores of Vermont high schools, middle schools and parent groups about the risks of opiate use and other high risk behaviors.
On the enforcement side, Coffin advocated expanding heroin investigations and prosecutions to areas outside of Chittenden County newly afflicted by heroin trafficking, emphasizing the importance of federal collaboration with partners from state and local law enforcement throughout the state. The United States Attorney’s Office is currently developing a plan to dedicate four of its strongest narcotics prosecutors specifically to combatting heroin trafficking.
Coffin also commended his colleagues at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where he served as a line prosecutor for twelve years prior to his appointment. “The prosecutors and staff of this office are second-to-none in the country,” Coffin said. “Leaving such a dedicated and talented team of colleagues and friends is definitely bitter-sweet.”
Throughout his tenure, Coffin emphasized prosecution of financial crimes, child exploitation cases and serious violent crimes. On the civil litigation side, Coffin worked to expand litigation to recover money for taxpayers from government contractors and the recipients of federal funds, and to expand federal civil rights work in Vermont. “I am particularly proud of the work our office has done on increasing access for Americans with disabilities through our accommodations work and our interventions in cases such as the Deanna Jones case,” Coffin said.
Coffin co-chaired the Criminal Practice Subcommittee of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee from the earliest days of the administration up to the present day. He expressed gratitude to his partners from state and local law enforcement, as well as community groups from outside of law enforcement, who provided pivotal assistance to the efforts of the United States Attorney’s Office.
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Key Facts
- State: Vermont
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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