Recently appointed as the interim Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official for the District of Rhode Island, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard B. Myrus holds the highest position in the Office for the second time. Pursuant to the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, Myrus will temporarily replace the departing U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, who has stepped down from the highest position in the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island, in line with the request of President-elect Joe Biden for the remaining 55 Trump-appointed U.S. Attorneys to vacate their posts and allow the appointment of new Top Federal Prosecutors for the different districts in the United States. The request was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney General Robert M. “Monty” Wilkinson last February 9, 2021, to which U.S. Attorney Weisman responded by tendering his letter of resignation on February 26, 2021. As a result, Richard B. Myrus is set to take over in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island as Acting U.S. Attorney on March 1, 2021. The appointment of interim Top Federal Prosecutor Richard Myrus will remain in effect for the next 300 days, or until President-elect has nominated a new U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island, whom the Senate has then confirmed.
Table of Contents
- Appointment
- Educational Background
- Military Service
- Legal Career – Clerkship and Private Practice
- Legal Career – Government Service
- Office Jurisdiction
- Contact Details
- Rhode Island District Office
- Public Information Officer
- Victim Assistance Coordinator
- Witness Coordinator
- Social Media Profiles of Richard Myrus
Appointment
United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island greets newly appointed interim Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official Richard B. Myrus – First Assistant U.S. Attorney and temporary successor to the outgoing U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Weisman. Listed among the remaining 55 Trump-appointed U.S. Attorneys who have yet to vacate their posts, Weisman has been requested to submit his resignation to President-elect Joe Biden by the end of February, during an all-U.S. Attorney call with Acting U.S. Attorney General Robert M. “Monty” Wilkinson last February 9, 2021. Outgoing U.S. Attorney Weisman announced that his resignation would be effective February 28, 2021. Accordingly, by virtue of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard B. Myrus will takeover in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island. Starting March 1, 2021, Richard B. Myrus will lead the Office as Acting U.S. Attorney. They shall keep doing so for the next 300 days or until the Biden Administration has nominated and confirmed a new Top Federal Prosecutor for the District of Rhode Island.
Educational Background
A graduate of the Columbia University, U.S. Attorney Myrus gained his Bachelor’s Degree in 1984. Seven years later, he decided to pursue graduate studies and received his Master of Arts degree in United States History from the University of California, San Diego, in 1992. Acting U.S. Attorney Richard B. Myrus attended law school and earned his Juris Doctorate from the Fordham University Law School in 1995.
Military Service
In between his undergraduate and graduate studies, U.S. Attorney Richard Myrus served in the United States Navy as an Officer, a Helicopter Aircraft Commander, and a Flight Instructor in HSL-37, Barbers Point, HI from 1987 to 1990, and in HSL-31, San Diego, CA from 1990 to 1992. Acting U.S. Attorney Myrus is a veteran with six years of active duty in the U.S. Navy.
Legal Career – Clerkship and Private Practice
Following his graduation from law school, Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Myrus took on a legal clerkship in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Two years later, he became an Attorney at the Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP – a commercial law firm based in Boston that offered legal services catering to fund formation and private equity cases. He worked in this law firm for about seven years, from 1997 to 2004, prior to becoming a Partner at the Goodwin Procter, LLP. United States Attorney Myrus remained in the private sector for another three years, from 2004 to 2007, focusing on litigations involving financial, life sciences, private equity, real estate, and technology industries. Within his decade of service in private practice, U.S. Attorney Myrus has developed expertise in patent litigation.
Legal Career – Government Service
Eventually shifting to government service, Acting U.S. Attorney Myrus became a part of the United States Department of Justice in May of 2007 and has since worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island. He was once designated in the Civil Division of the Office and has later expanded to the Criminal Division, prosecuting federal criminal cases involving drugs, illegal firearms, and white-collar crimes. In February of 2014, U.S. Attorney was named Chief of the Civil Division.
Throughout his almost 14 years of performing duties in the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island, Richard Myrus has held two of the highest positions in the Office twice. In January of 2018, he was appointed as the First Assistant United States Attorney to former U.S. Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch. He was later named Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith upon the departure of former U.S. Attorney Dambruch. Myrus was first-in-command in the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island for several weeks, prior to being reinstated as second-in-command in the Office and serving as First Assistant U.S. Attorney to former U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Weisman upon his appointment as Top Federal Prosecutor in January of 2019.
Office Jurisdiction
In his capacity as interim Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official for the District of Rhode Island, Richard B. Myrus leads a staff of approximately 49 individuals, comprised of 23 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 26 support personnel. On top of that, as Acting U.S. Attorney, Richard Myrus bears the responsibility of prosecuting criminal cases, including caseloads involving complex financial institution fraud, complex drug, and money laundering activities, computer fraud, environmental crime, financial crimes, healthcare fraud, organized crimes, public corruption, and violent crimes. The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island shall also work on the initiation of civil actions or affirmative litigation, which shall assert and protect the United States’ interest.
Contact Details
Full Name: Richard B. Myrus
District/State: Rhode Island
Public email ID: Richard.myrus@usdoj.gov
Rhode Island District Office
United States Attorney’s Office – District of Rhode Island
50 Kennedy Plaza
8th Floor
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 709-5000
Main
(401) 709-5001
Fax
(401) 751-4742
TTY
Public Information Officer
Jim Martin
(401) 709-5357
Main
usari.media@usdoj.gov
E-mail Address
Victim Assistance Coordinator
Tara Moniz
(401) 709-5023
Main
tara.moniz@usdoj.gov
E-mail Address
Witness Coordinator
Jan Schusswohl
(401) 709-5028
Main
Jan.Schusswohl@usdoj.gov
E-mail address
Social Media Profiles of Richard Myrus
Username: Richard B Myrus “Richard”
URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-myrus-79b7aa25/
Username: N/A
URL: N/A
YouTube
Username: United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island
URL: https://www.youtube.com/usaori
Username: US Attorney RI
Tag: @USAO_RI
URL: https://twitter.com/USAO_RI
Updated: June 21, 2021
Zachary A. Cunha is the next State’s Attorney for the District of Rhode Island.
Updated: May 8, 2023