Peter F. Neronha was appointed by President Barack Obama as the United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island on September 16, 2009. In his capacity as chief federal law enforcement officer for Rhode Island, Mr. Neronha supervises the prosecution of federal crimes and the litigation of civil matters in which the federal government has an interest either as a plaintiff or defendant.
A fourth generation native of Jamestown, Rhode Island, and a proud graduate of North Kingstown High School, Mr. Neronha graduated in 1985 summa cum laude from Boston College. In 1989, Mr. Neronha graduated magna cum laude from Boston College Law School, where he was a member of the Boston College Law Review. Upon graduation, Mr. Neronha joined the Boston, Massachusetts law firm Goodwin Procter, LLP. He remained with the Boston law firm for seven years.
Mr. Neronha began a career of public service in 1996 when he was appointed a Special Assistant Attorney General of the Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General. Mr. Neronha was appointed an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Rhode Island in 2001. During his tenure with the Department of the Attorney General, Mr. Neronha prosecuted a variety of jury and non-jury criminal matters including public corruption, white collar crime, environmental, and healthcare fraud.
In 2002, Mr. Neronha joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island. As an Assistant United States Attorney, Mr. Neronha prosecuted criminal cases involving political corruption, white collar crime, drug and firearm offenses. When he joined the United States Attorney’s Office, Mr. Neronha was named coordinator of the District’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice initiative against gun crimes. Prior to being named United States Attorney, Mr. Neronha was Chief of the District’s Organized Crime Strike Force.
Shortly after being sworn in as United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island, Mr. Neronha was appointed to serve a two-year term on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) of United States Attorneys by United States Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. The Committee represents the voice of all ninety-three United States Attorneys and provides advice and counsel to the Attorney General on issues of importance which impact all United States Attorneys’ Offices nationwide.
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "Meet the US Attorney: Peter F. Neronha, Department of Justice".