U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary has announced his resignation from the Middle District of Georgia, effective January 11, 2025. Leary will be joining a law firm based in Atlanta after serving as the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the district since his appointment.
Reflecting on his tenure, Leary stated, “I am honored to have served as the U.S. Attorney for the community that raised me, alongside some of the finest public servants in the country.” He highlighted the collaborative efforts with federal, state, and local law enforcement to enhance safety and justice.
During his leadership, Leary's office achieved significant convictions against transnational criminal organizations and armed fentanyl traffickers. The office also prioritized investigations into child sexual abuse material and child exploitation cases.
Leary oversaw high-profile cases including a Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering prosecution involving murders in Athens, Georgia; actions against a Columbus-based criminal street gang; and initiatives to remove fentanyl and firearms from Albany. His commitment extended beyond prosecutions as he supported community initiatives like Macon Violence Prevention (MVP), which contributed to a notable decrease in homicides.
The Civil Division under Leary expanded significantly, adding resources such as a healthcare fraud investigator and an Affirmative Civil Enforcement auditor. This growth enabled successful civil rights investigations, including one into the Georgia Department of Corrections for prisoner rights violations.
Leary emphasized resource allocation for justice pursuits: “Providing the necessary resources so talented prosecutors, investigators and support staff can pursue justice – in both a civil and criminal context – is paramount.”
His contributions included roles on national committees addressing cybercrime and intellectual property issues. Leary remarked on these efforts: “Combating the cybercrime targeting our country is a constantly evolving challenge.”
Under his guidance, several historic firsts were achieved within the office’s leadership structure regarding diversity among attorneys.
Raised in Watkinsville, Georgia, Leary attended Athens Academy before earning degrees from the University of Virginia. He clerked for U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson before joining the DOJ through its Honors Program.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker will succeed him as Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.
The Middle District covers 70 counties with over two million residents and handles federal crimes related to terrorism, corruption, child exploitation, frauds involving firearms or gangs, narcotics offenses while defending civil cases involving debts owed to the United States.