ST. THOMAS — Attorney General Jeff Sessions today announced the appointment of Gretchen C.F. Shappert as Interim United States Attorney pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 546, which provides that “the Attorney General may appoint a United States Attorney for the district in which the office of United States Attorney is vacant.” The appointment will take effect on January 5.
“Gretchen Shappert has served this Department well for more than 25 years,” Mr. Sessions said.
“For five of those years, she led federal prosecutions in Western North Carolina as United States Attorney. I am confident that, with this extensive experience, she will be an excellent leader as Interim U.S. Attorney for the Virgin Islands.”
Gretchen C.F. Shappert
Ms. Shappert has served as the Assistant Director for the Indian, Violent and Cyber Crime Staff in the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA), since 2010. Prior to joining EOUSA, Ms. Shappert served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina from 2004-2009 and as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) from 1990-2004.
As the United States Attorney and as an AUSA, Ms. Shappert prosecuted a wide range of criminal defendants including outlaw motorcycle gangs and violent drug organizations. While in office, she stressed tough prosecution of drug offenders. Ms. Shappert also served as an Assistant District Attorney, an Assistant Public Defender, and in private practice prior to her federal service. She received her B.A. from Duke University in 1977 and her J.D. from Washington & Lee University School of Law in 1980.
Mr. Sessions thanked Joycelyn Hewlett for stepping up to lead the office as Acting United States Attorney. Hewlett will now resume her role as First Assistant United States Attorney.
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