U.S. Attorney Brownlee to resign

ROANOKE — U.S. Attorney John Brownlee announced Thursday that he will resign his post in charge of federal prosecutions for the Western District of Virginia, effective May 16.

President Bush appointed Brownlee, 43, in August 2001.

Brownlee’s cases have included successful prosecution of the maker of the painkiller OxyContin on charges of misleading the public about its risk of addiction, and of ITT for illegally sending overseas classified night-vision technology used by the U.S. military.

He also prosecuted corruption cases involving the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, former Lynchburg Mayor Carl Hutcherson and government contracts in Buchanan County. Other cases involved drug trafficking, illegal immigration and capital murder.

“Serving as United States attorney has been the professional honor of my life,“ Brownlee said in a statement.

Last year, the Justice Department investigated a charge of prosecutorial misconduct against Brownlee in his unsuccessful prosecution of the former head of the National D-Day Memorial Foundation on fraud charges. The department found the charge was not substantiated.

Brownlee, a graduate of Washington and Lee University and the College of William and Mary’s law school, previously was an assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office released the following announcement, presented here unedited:

Roanoke, Virginia – United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced today that he will be resigning his position as U.S. Attorney effective May 16, 2008. Brownlee, 43, was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001, and has served for the past seven years as the top federal law enforcement official for the 2.2 million citizens residing in Virginia’s 52 western counties. As United States Attorney, Mr. Brownlee has successfully prosecuted some of our nation’s most dangerous criminals and corrupt corporations.

“Serving as United States Attorney has been the professional honor of my life,” said U.S. Attorney John Brownlee. “I want to thank President Bush, Senators Warner and Allen, Attorney General Mukasey, the members of my office, and Virginia’s law enforcement community for their support and confidence. I am grateful for all they have done for me and my family.”

Mr. Brownlee began his service as U.S. Attorney on August 30, 2001, just 10 days before the terrorists attacks on September 11, 2001. During the last seven years, Brownlee and his office have played a major role in fighting violent crime, drug trafficking, illegal immigration, public corruption, civil rights violations, crimes against our environment, and corporate fraud.

Mr. Brownlee also successfully prosecuted one of the most significant national security cases in 2007 and two capital murder cases.

Brownlee, a graduate of Washington and Lee University and The College of William and Mary School of Law, previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, an attorney in private practice, and a federal judicial law clerk. Prior to entering law school, Mr. Brownlee served as an Infantry officer in the U.S. Army and successfully completed the Army’s Airborne and Ranger programs. John and his wife Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee have two daughters and reside in Roanoke, Virginia.