U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani is set to step down from his position as the chief law enforcement officer for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX). His resignation is effective at midnight on January 19, according to a statement from the Department of Justice. Hamdani served in the role for over two years, overseeing an extensive jurisdiction that covers 44,000 square miles and represents over nine million people.
During his tenure, Hamdani led over 400 employees, including about 200 Assistant U.S. Attorneys, who successfully managed to prosecute more than 10,000 criminal cases against over 12,000 defendants, maintaining an average 95% conviction rate. Despite the sizable scope of his duties, Hamdani managed to effectively put forward a significant number of initiatives, ranging from fighting violent crime, which was at record levels when he took office, "to ensure justice was served every day and the SDTX was a safe place to live," as per Department of Justice.
Hamdani's office was also at the forefront of a historic $85 million settlement against a cardiac imaging company in the fight against healthcare fraud, and they filed more than 2,500 civil cases in the fiscal years 2023-2024. According to Hamdani, “Patients deserve care based on their medical need and not on a doctor or company’s financial interest or gain,” as per the Department of Justice.
Among other significant efforts under Hamdani's leadership included a coordinated statewide effort against machine gun conversion devices and a staunch focus on Mexican cartels, which he often highlighted for their spread of violence into the district. He notably worked closely with other Texas U.S. Attorneys to collaborate on tackling these widespread issues. This approach saw the arrest of 23 individuals in a poly-drug indictment in Galveston Division, further underscoring the commitment to disrupting organized criminal activities that harm communities.
Violent crime initiatives weren't the only focus; Hamdani also worked on cybercrime, participating in numerous conferences on the topic. One such achievement was helping to disrupt a botnet used by China state-sponsored hackers to monitor American infrastructure. His office's continued efforts on national security matters included prosecuting individuals providing material support to foreign terrorist organizations and exporting U.S. technology to Iran.
Moreover, Hamdani made strides in protecting vulnerable populations, including combating human trafficking and smuggling. Of particular note was a case leading to the conviction of six men involved in an alien smuggling ring that resulted in the death of eight people. Hamdani's office also played a part in Joint Task Force Alpha, an initiative targeting dangerous smuggling and trafficking groups operating across several Central American countries.
As the first Asian in Texas to be presidentially appointed and confirmed as U.S. Attorney, Hamdani carries with him a legacy of authoritative accomplishment and civic engagement. Born in England to Indian parents and having immigrated to Texas at the age of 10, Hamdani has woven the narrative of the American Dream into his extensive career in law enforcement and justice. A proud father, he has demonstrated a commitment to "treat and protect others as you would your own ‘mama,’" as stated in the Department of Justice.
