Judges appoint Nocella as U.S. attorney for Eastern District of New York
Joseph Nocella, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District, at a news conference Monday in Brooklyn. Credit: AP/Richard Drew
Joseph Nocella Jr. on Tuesday was appointed head of the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York, marking the second time in recent days that one of President Donald Trump’s nominees for a top prosecutor position in New York City got the job.
A panel of judges appointed Nocella, who had been interim U.S. attorney for the district, which includes Long Island, Brooklyn and Staten Island. It is considered one of the top federal prosecutor offices in the country, having regularly won convictions against cartel kingpins, sex traffickers and organized crime bosses.
Nocella, who was a prosecutor in the office earlier in his career, was a family court judge on Long Island before being selected by Trump in May to be interim U.S. attorney for the district. He also held several local government positions on Long Island during his career and worked in a private law practice.
Senate confirmation proceedings for Nocella and Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton were aborted in April after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) vowed to block votes from taking place. Schumer said he was protesting Trump imposing political control on the Justice Department.
Attorney General Pam Bondi made Nocella and Clayton interim U.S. attorneys. Judges in their respective jurisdictions have the authority to fill a vacant spot after an interim U.S. attorney’s four-month term expires. Clayton, a former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, on Aug. 18 was appointed by judges as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Bondi was at the Eastern District on Monday alongside Nocella and other Justice Department officials to announce the guilty plea of former Sinaloa cartel boss Ismael Zambada García, also known as “El Mayo.” He said the cartel had been “decapitated” by the leader’s plea. Zambada cofounded the Sinaloa cartel along with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is serving a life sentence after his own Eastern District conviction in 2019.
Sarra Sounds Off Ep 36: Champs crowned in lax and flag football On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Gregg talks with Michael Sicoli and Tess Ferguson about county champs crowned in boys and girls lacrosse, and Jared Valuzzi reports on the Long Island flag football championship.
Sarra Sounds Off Ep 36: Champs crowned in lax and flag football On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Gregg talks with Michael Sicoli and Tess Ferguson about county champs crowned in boys and girls lacrosse, and Jared Valuzzi reports on the Long Island flag football championship.
