James Miskiewicz, a top federal prosecutor, heading to LIPA as ethics officer

A top federal prosecutor from the Long Island area is headed to LIPA as an ethics officer.

James Miskiewicz, who is the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District’s deputy chief of the Long Island criminal division, will be named special counsel for ethics and risk, starting in January, according to Long Island Power Authority spokesman Sid Nathan. The position is one Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has required of numerous state agencies, including the New York Power Authority.

Miskiewicz, who is a leading prosecutor on the federal case against former Suffolk Police Chief James Burke, will report to LIPA chief of staff Tom Falcone and work on other legal issues at LIPA. He also will report to the state’s chief risk officer, LIPA said.

He will earn a LIPA-funded salary of $170,000.

Miskiewicz previously served as a trial attorney in the Environmental Crimes Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, and as a law clerk for Chief U.S. District Jude G. Thomas Eisele of the Eastern District of Arkansas. He received his bachelor’s degree from the City College of New York, and his law degree from the City University of New York School of Law.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office didn’t immediately comment, and Miskiewicz didn’t return a call seeking comment.

By Mark Harrington

mark.harrington@newsday.comMHarringtonNews

Mark Harrington, a Newsday reporter since 1999, covers energy, wineries, Indian affairs and fisheries.