Sellinger Resignation Announcement – Insider NJ
Philip Sellinger, the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, has announced his resignation, effective on January 8, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. In a statement, Mr. Sellinger expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as the temporary steward of the U.S. Attorney’s Office after being appointed by President Biden. He shared his confidence that the Office’s dedicated career Assistant U.S. Attorneys and staff will continue the storied traditions of the institution.
During his tenure, one of the key areas of focus for the Office was addressing violent crime in New Jersey. The Violent Crime Initiatives (VCIs) based in Newark, Jersey City, Camden, and Paterson aimed to collaborate with federal and local law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals involved in shootings and the drug trade. By implementing a targeted approach rather than broad mandatory minimum sentencing, the Office saw a significant decrease in shootings and murders in the state from 2021 to 2023, with a continued decline in 2024.
Another important area of emphasis for Mr. Sellinger was civil rights. Under his leadership, the first standalone Civil Rights Division was established at any U.S. Attorney’s Office to combat hate crimes and protect civil rights, focusing on issues affecting Black, Jewish, and Muslim communities. Notable accomplishments in this realm included hate crime convictions related to violent assaults on members of the Orthodox Jewish community and threats against synagogues and mosques.
Economic crimes and government fraud were also priorities for Mr. Sellinger. Through investigations, prosecutions, and convictions, his Office addressed instances of money laundering, Ponzi schemes, fraud against Gold Star families, securities fraud, insider trading, and market manipulation.
In the realm of cybercrime, the Cybercrime Unit under Mr. Sellinger’s administration garnered international recognition for its work investigating ransomware groups. Notably, they led the investigation into LockBit, which had caused significant financial losses worldwide before being disrupted by the Office and its international partners.
Finally, the National Security Unit collaborated with the FBI and other partners to protect New Jersey from domestic and international threats. Cases included charges against individuals for making threats of mass shootings, concealing support for terrorist organizations, and acting as agents of a foreign government.
Philip Sellinger’s announcement of his resignation marks the end of a tenure filled with significant achievements and a steadfast commitment to upholding the law and serving the people of New Jersey.
