U.S. Attorneys Office SDNY – New York, NY

United States Attorney’s Office – Southern District of New York

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) is headquartered at 1 Saint Andrews Plaza in Lower Manhattan. Often referred to as the ‘Sovereign District of New York’ due to its non-partisan tradition and aggressive pursuit of justice, this is widely considered one of the premier federal prosecutor’s offices in the nation. The SDNY handles the prosecution of all federal crimes occurring within Manhattan, the Bronx, and six northern counties (Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, and Sullivan). It also represents the United States government in civil litigation. The office is known for handling high-profile cases involving terrorism, white-collar financial fraud, public corruption, organized crime, and civil rights violations.

Divisions and Functions

• Criminal Division: Prosecutes violations of federal law, including securities fraud, cybercrime, narcotics trafficking, and national security offenses.
• Civil Division: Defends the U.S. in lawsuits and brings affirmative civil enforcement actions (e.g., environmental regulations, healthcare fraud recovery).
• Victim-Witness Services: Provides support, notification, and assistance to victims of federal crimes prosecuted by the office.

Security and Visiting

1 Saint Andrews Plaza is a high-security federal facility located directly behind the Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse. Public access is extremely restricted. Unlike a courthouse, this is a law enforcement office; general public visits are not permitted without a specific appointment (e.g., meeting with a prosecutor or investigator). Press and attorneys with business in the building must undergo rigorous security screening. Electronics are typically prohibited for visitors.

Jurisdiction

The office operates under the Department of Justice (DOJ) and works closely with the FBI, DEA, NYPD, and other agencies to ensure public safety and the rule of law across the Southern District.