Roger Handberg, who has been the top federal prosecutor in the area, including Tampa Bay, since 2021, announced Tuesday by the U.S. Lawyer’s Office.
The announcement came suddenly, but was expected. Handberg was appointed US lawyer during his term as former President Joe Biden. Since President Donald Trump was re-elected in November, it has been uncertain whether he will continue in that role.
It was unclear whether Handberg resigned on Tuesday or if he was let go. The US lawyers are elected by the president.
Handberg did not immediately return a voicemail from the Tampa Bay Times for comment. In an interview later last year, he sidelined questions about his future, but promoted the success of his office.
“As someone born and raised in this district, you can think of it as no higher honor than getting the chance to first get a chance at this office as a federal prosecutor and as a US lawyer,” Handberg, 54, Tuesday. said in a statement released by his office.
He praised the work of his colleagues and law enforcement officers.
“It was a privilege to be a federal prosecutor in my hometown and work alongside my law enforcement partner for the past 22 years,” he said.
Sarah C. Sweeney, the firm’s first assistant, plays a US lawyer until Trump appointed a permanent replacement, until he needs to be confirmed by a US senator.
As a US attorney for the Central District of Florida, Handberg oversaw federal crime prosecutions in the 35 county area spanning Jacksonville and Naples. He was one of 93 US lawyers nationwide.
US lawyers are nonpartisan and their tenure has historically been president, but it has become a habit these days for them to resign after the new administration took office.
Handberg replaced Maria Chaparopes, a US lawyer during Trump’s first term as president.
He has been a federal prosecutor since 2002. For most of the 20 years he was based in Orlando. He held numerous management positions at the US Lawyer’s office before taking the top job in December 2021. Biden officially appointed Handberg as a US lawyer the following year, and was confirmed by the US Senate.
Prior to his appointment, Handberg was probably best known for leading fraud prosecutions against former Backstreet boy and NSYNC manager Lou Perlman. He also led sex trafficking and fraud cases against former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg.
Announcing Handberg’s departure, the news release highlighted the numerous data points and successes the office saw during his tenure. They have seen a 60% increase in the total number of criminal cases indicted.
