Utah U.S. Attorney Carlie Christensen announced staff promotions via news release on Monday.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Bearnson was appointed senior litigation counsel and will serve as Acting First Assistant U.S. Attorney. Christensen also appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney Felice Viti to head the criminal division. He will supervise the violent crime, narcotics, white collar, national security and appellate sections. Viti, who previously worked as a local prosecutor in New York and as a special agent with the FBI, also served as prosecutor in the Elizabeth Smart trial.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Veda Travis will function as acting chief of the narcotics section, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Lund is on active duty in the military for six months. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlos Esqueda shifts his role to include civil rights and public corruption, two major concerns for the Department of Justice. He will focus on civil rights outreach efforts, including coordinating training for law enforcement officers, and work with the FBI in the investigation and prosecution of public corruption cases.
“These changes involve very experienced attorneys who have the judgment, administrative skills, and in-depth knowledge to handle increased responsibilities in our office,” Christensen said in the statement. “I am confident these changes will help us meet our responsibilities to law enforcement and client agencies and, most importantly, in serving the residents of Utah.”
