PROVIDENCE, RI – Today, after the White House announced President Obama’s intent to nominate Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha to be the next U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island, United States Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, who recommended Mr. Neronha for the job back in May, issued the following statement:
“We applaud President Obama for picking a distinguished, independent prosecutor. Mr. Neronha’s years of exemplary service in the Attorney General’s office and the U.S. Attorney’s office have earned him respect throughout Rhode Island’s law enforcement and legal communities. We are confident he will do an outstanding job of serving and protecting the people of Rhode Island,” said Reed and Whitehouse.
The U.S. Attorney serves as the state’s top federal law enforcement official. Nominees must be approved by the U.S. Senate to serve a four-year term of service.
A Rhode Island native, Mr. Neronha has served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island since 2002. He currently works in the criminal division prosecuting drug, organized crime, and public corruption cases. Mr. Neronha also heads the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative, which helps bolster law enforcement initiatives against gun crimes and prevents young people from turning to a life of violence.
Prior to becoming a federal prosecutor, Mr. Neronha served from 1996 to 2002 as the Assistant Attorney General of Rhode Island where he also worked in the criminal division. He practiced law as a civil litigator at Goodwin Procter, LLP from 1989 to 1996. He graduated in the top 10 of his class from Boston College and also graduated Magna Cum Laude from Boston College Law School. He is a fourth-generation resident of Jamestown.
Now that Mr. Neronha has been nominated by the President, he must be approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and then confirmed by the full Senate.
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