The
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York is the chief federal law enforcement officer in eight
New York counties: New York (
Manhattan),
Bronx,
Westchester,
Putnam,
Rockland,
Orange,
Dutchess, and
Sullivan.
Preet Bharara, who was appointed by
Barack Obama in 2009 is the
U.S. Attorney for the District. Bharara took over the post from
Lev L. Dassin, who was acting as the interim U.S. Attorney after
Michael J. Garcia, appointed by President
George W. Bush in 2005, stepped down in December 2008 to join the partnership of New York law firm
Kirkland & Ellis. The
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has jurisdiction over all cases prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney.