Jacqueline C. Romero has stepped down as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, a position she has held since her swearing-in on June 21, 2022. This news comes via an official release where Romero indicated her immediate departure from the role she had been appointed to by President Joseph R. Biden and confirmed for by the U.S. Senate. Her background includes 16 years of experience within the same office as an Assistant United States Attorney, with a focus on fraud investigations and civil rights cases.

During her stint as the chief federal law enforcement officer, Romero has been involved in overseeing a range of violent crime and fraud cases, as well as prioritizing civil rights violations. Some of the office's highlights under her leadership were prosecuting key figures in violent gangs, dismantling unsafe drug operations, and leading significant community outreach initiatives. In the statement obtained by the Department of Justice, Romero stated, "It has been the absolute honor of my life to hold this title of U.S. Attorney."

The Romero-led U.S. Attorney's Office notably increased the Violent Crime Unit's size and its effectiveness. This was seen in the partnership with agencies like the ATF, FBI, and local police to both take down violent crime rings and to drastically reduce violent crime by 40 percent in some areas of the district. Among the prosecuted were the leaders of a known violent drug and sex trafficking gang, as well as carjackers charged through the Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force which led to significant prison sentences.

White-collar crime was another area of focus under Romero's watch. Cases ranged from racketeering and securities fraud by the principals of Par Funding to the embezzlement convictions of Local 98 union officials. Efforts in civil enforcement led to significant financial recoveries through False Claims Act settlements and civil rights cases such as the redlining investigations that held financial institutions accountable. Romero told the Department of Justice, "The work we've done these last years. All of it has made the Eastern District of Pennsylvania safer, stronger, and more just."

This approach led to the hiring of a youth engagement coordinator and the formation of an External Engagement team dedicated to enhancing EDPA's presence within the community.

With Romero's departure, Nelson S.T. Thayer, Jr., steps in as the Acting U.S. Attorney. Thayer brings over thirty years of legal experience within the Department of Justice to this role, a career that undoubtedly prepares him to continue the office's mission. More information about Romero's tenure can be found in the official release on the Department of Justice's website.