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John L. Brownlee

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John Brownlee
United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia
In office
October 12, 2001 – May 16, 2008
Appointed byGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byRobert P. Crouch, Jr.
Succeeded byTim Heaphy
Personal details
Born
John Leslie Brownlee

January 31, 1965
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLee Ann Necessary
Parents
EducationJames Madison University
Washington & Lee University (BS)
College of William & Mary (JD)
ProfessionAttorney
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1987–1991
1997–2007
Rank Major
UnitInfantry Branch
J.A.G. Corps

John Leslie Brownlee is an American lawyer. He was the United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia from 2001 to 2008.[1]

United States attorney

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Investigation of Purdue Pharma

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In a case against Purdue Pharma, under pressure from Purdue lawyer Rudy Giuliani, Brownlee agreed to modify the prosecution so that Purdue Pharma's holding company, Purdue Frederick, would plead to a single misbranding charge so that Purdue Pharma would not have a criminal conviction on their name, which would prevent them from doing business with the U.S. Government. Brownlee also gave Purdue Pharma immunity from further prosecution up to and for future offenses after this plea deal, continuing until 2007.[2]

Despite this outcome, on July 31, 2007, Brownlee testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee regarding his investigation of Purdue and its executives."[3] Ben Cardin stated that Brownlee's work "will have a major impact on corporate conduct in our country."[4]

National security investigation

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In March 2007, after a six-year investigation, ITT Corporation, the 12th largest supplier of sophisticated defense systems to the United States military, pleaded guilty to violating the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). ITT was convicted of illegally transferring classified and controlled night vision technology to foreign countries, including China, and agreed to pay $100 million in penalties. Brownlee was the first federal prosecutor to convict a major defense contractor of violating the ITAR.[5]

The investigation and prosecution of ITT Corporation created important industry reaction. Global Watch, a web based Newsletter of the International Import-Export Institute called the convictions "record breaking" and "precedent setting" and claimed that Brownlee's work would have a "significant long-term impact on the trade compliance community worldwide." The Wall Street Journal wrote that Brownlee's "ITT case is bound to send shivers through the U.S. defense industry, which increasingly views international trade as vital for long-term growth."[6]

Use of the Violence Against Women Act

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In 2005, Brownlee charged Brent Simmons with two counts of using a firearm during the commission of the violent crime of interstate stalking, made criminal by the 1996 Violence Against Women Act. After a 2-week trial in February 2005, the jury convicted Simmons of the two murders but was unable to reach a unanimous decision on the death penalty. Simmons was immediately sentenced by the trial court to life in prison without the possibility of parole.[7][8]

First federal death penalty verdict in Western District of Virginia

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In 2007, Brownlee and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Giorno prosecuted a federal inmate for committing a violent prison murder. The jury imposed the death penalty, the first federal death penalty conviction in the Western District of Virginia.[9]

United States v. Frank Cassell

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On November 2, 2006, a federal Grand Jury charged 20 defendants for their roles in a racketeering conspiracy that included the distribution of illegal drugs, theft of drugs and firearms under the custody of the Henry County Sheriff's Office, money laundering, and obstruction of justice. Thirteen of the twenty defendants were current or former employees of the Henry County, Virginia Sheriff's Office. Eighteen of the defendants, including the sheriff, were convicted of felony offenses, and two were placed on pre-trial diversion.[10][11][12]

United States v. Carl B. Hutcherson

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In May 2005, Carl B. Hutcherson, the mayor of Lynchburg, Virginia, was convicted of defrauding two social security disability recipients and a charitable organization, making false statements to bank officials and federal investigators and obstruction of justice.[13]

Dismissal during U.S. attorneys controversy

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Main article: Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy

Brownlee was included on the list of the second set of U.S. attorneys who were fired in 2006. He testified before the Senate that his placement on the list was related to his refusal of a request by his superiors at the DOJ to delay settlement of the Purdue Pharma case in 2006. Ultimately, he was not dismissed.[14][15]

Later life

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2009 election

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In 2008, Brownlee announced that he was running for Attorney General of Virginia.[1] At the May 30, 2009, Republican Convention, he yielded the nomination to Ken Cuccinelli.[16]

Private practice

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On July 17, 2013, it was announced that Brownlee had been retained to represent Virginia Governor and former fellow JAG Corps officer Robert F. McDonnell, with regard to a federal Grand Jury investigation.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Craig, Tim (May 21, 2008). "Ex-U.S. Prosecutor Enters Attorney General Race". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  2. ^ Chris McGreal (May 22, 2018). "Rudy Giuliani won deal for OxyContin maker to continue sales of drug behind opioid deaths". The Guardian. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  3. ^ John L. Brownlee, retrieved April 28, 2023
  4. ^ Barry Meier and Eric Lipton (December 28, 2007). "Under Attack, Drug Maker Turned to Giuliani for Help". The New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
  5. ^ Leslie Wayne (March 28, 2007). "ITT Guilty of Revealing Classified Military Data". The New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
  6. ^ Evan Perez and Jonathan Karp (March 28, 2007). "U.S. to Probe Outsourcing After ITT Case". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
  7. ^ Jeff Casale (February 15, 2005). "Guilty: Now, Jury Will Decide If Simmons Should Die". Daily News-Record. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
  8. ^ Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police. "Brownlee, Whitmore receive Outstanding Contribution to Law Enforcement Awards." August 13, 2008. http://www.vachiefs.org/news/item/brownlee_whitmore_receive_outstanding_contribution_to_law_enforcement_award/[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ The Roanoke Times. "Death penalty for strangling fellow inmate." February 14, 2007. [1]
  10. ^ Lindsey Nair (November 3, 2006). "'Disgraceful Corruption,' Prosecutor Says". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
  11. ^ "Sheriff, 12 Deputies Among Those Arrested On Drug, Racketeering Charges In Southern VA County". www.dea.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  12. ^ Wray, Ginny (November 2, 2006). "Henry County Sheriff's Office under investigation; 20 indicted". Martinsville Bulletin. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  13. ^ Jim Kouri (May 12, 2006). "Lynchburg Mayor Convicted of Defrauding Jerry Falwell Ministries and Others". The National Ledger. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
  14. ^ U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Testimony of The Honorable John Brownlee, July 31, 2007, https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Brownlee%20Testimony%20073107.pdf
  15. ^ "U.S. Attorney Became Target After Rebuffing Justice Dept". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  16. ^ Kumar, Anita (May 30, 2009). "LIVE: The GOP Convention". Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 6, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2009.
  17. ^ Olympia Meola (July 17, 2013). "Brownlee joins, Flood leaves McDonnell's private legal team". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
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