CONCORD, NH – John P. Kacavas announced April 9 that he is resigning as United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire, effective April 17, 2015, ending nearly six years of service as the State’s top federal prosecutor.
“For nearly six years as United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire, John Kacavas’ impressive record of public service has reflected his dynamic leadership, his consummate skill, and his unshakeable devotion to justice in the face of pressing concerns and daunting challenges, ” said U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on Thursday.
“Through his outstanding efforts, he has safeguarded the people of New Hampshire and left an indelible mark on the nation. As Chairman of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee’s Forensic Science Working Group, John has been an indispensable advisor to me, guiding the Justice Department’s use of forensic science to ensure that we rely on it knowledgeably, responsibly, and effectively.
“Through his critical work as part of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Working Group, John has helped uphold the Department’s promise to protect and defend the most vulnerable members of our society. In every case and every circumstance, John has demonstrated his unwavering commitment to public service, to professional integrity, and to the cause of justice. I thank John for his exemplary service, I wish him the best of luck, and I look forward to all that he will continue to achieve,” Holder said.
Kacavas said he felt “no small measure of sadness” in tendering his resignation.
“It has been my profound honor and privilege to serve in this role and to work with the many dedicated federal, state, and local law enforcement agents and officers who help to make New Hampshire’s quality of life second to none. I remain deeply humbled by, and grateful for, the confidence placed in me by the President, the Attorney General, and Senator Shaheen. I leave this office secure in the knowledge that its attorneys and staff will continue to seek justice for offenders, vindicate the rights of victims, and protect the citizens of New Hampshire,” Kacavas said.
Following his nomination by President Obama and unanimous Senate confirmation, Mr. Kacavas was sworn in as United States Attorney on August 13, 2009. During his tenure, U.S. Attorney Kacavas served as Chairman of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee Forensic Science Working Group, and he was one of 30 commissioners on the National Commission on Forensic Science.
He also served on the Legal Resources Committee of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He was a member of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee Child Exploitation and Obscenity Working Group, and he served on the New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Executive Board.
During his tenure, U.S. Attorney Kacavas targeted internet crimes against children and child predators as top priorities, personally prosecuting and obtaining convictions of high-profile offenders, including John Allen Wright – a school bus driver who videotaped himself sexually assaulting several young, non-verbal autistic boys for which he received a federal prison sentence of 160 years – and Lisa Biron – a Manchester attorney who transported a minor female to Canada for the purpose of manufacturing images of child sexual exploitation for which she received a federal prison sentence of 40 years.
U.S. Attorney Kacavas targeted cybercrime as a top priority as well. During his tenure, the office prosecuted a number of cybercriminals, including three Romanian citizens who remotely hacked into several hundred U.S. merchants’ point of sale systems, including 250 Subway restaurant franchises, and stole payment card data belonging to more than 100,000 cardholders and causing losses of more than $17.5 million. U.S. Attorney Kacavas also oversaw the investigation and prosecution of serial infector David Kwiatkowski, an Exeter Hospital radiologic technician who infected 45 patients in multiple states with Hepatitis C, for which he received a federal prison sentence of 39 years.
During his tenure, U.S. Attorney Kacavas also targeted major domestic and international drug trafficking organizations, including the infamous Sinaloa cartel of Mexico, led by the notorious drug kingpin, “Chapo” Guzman. Five members of the cartel were convicted for their roles in a conspiracy to deliver thousands of pounds of cocaine by containerized cargo vessels to various ports on the northeastern seaboard of the United States and to Europe.
There was no immediate word on Kacavas’ future plans.
