Joseph Nocella Jr.
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York
Joseph Nocella Jr. serves as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY), leading federal prosecutions and civil litigation across Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Long Island. His portfolio includes significant enforcement actions against illegal gambling operations, insider betting, and organized crime-linked gambling rings. He was sworn in on September 2, 2025, after serving as interim U.S. Attorney from May 2025.
Prior to his federal appointment, Nocella spent years on the bench in Nassau County, serving as both a District Judge and a Family Court Judge. His earlier career included a stint as a federal prosecutor in the Criminal Division of the EDNY from 1991 to 1995, where he handled narcotics, organized crime, money laundering, fraud, and gambling cases, including the prosecution of the Luchese Crime Family boss.
After his initial federal service, Nocella practiced law at White & Case LLP and Dewey Ballantine LLP, focusing on complex commercial litigation, securities, antitrust, bankruptcy, and internal corporate investigations. He also held roles as chief legal officer for several municipalities. He graduated from Chaminade High School (1982), earned a B.A. from Fordham University (1986), and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law (1989).