‘The highlight of my career’: Acting U.S. Attorney in Massachusetts Joshua Levy to leave position

BOSTON — Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said Monday that he will be stepping down from his role effective Jan. 17.

Levy tendered his resignation to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on Monday afternoon, he said in a statement Monday night.

Levy became the Acting U.S. Attorney in Massachusetts on May 19, 2023.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary B. Murrane, who has been with the Department of Justice for 16 years, will assume the role of Acting U.S. Attorney in Massachusetts following Levy’s departure.

Levy, who was twice nominated by President Joe Biden for the permanent role as U.S. Attorney, was appointed U.S. Attorney by Attorney General Garland in November 2024.

As U.S. Attorney, Levy served on two subcommittees of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee – White Collar Crime, and Terrorism & National Security – and was a member of the Human Trafficking Work Group.

Levy also served as the Northeastern U.S. representative for the U.S. Attorney community on the Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee.

“Serving as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts has truly been the highlight of my career,” Levy said in a statement. “Every day over the past three years, I have witnessed firsthand the unwavering dedication and extraordinary skill of the federal prosecutors, support staff, and law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to uphold the rule of law, keep our communities safe and protect civil rights.“

“My core touchstones as the leader of this office have been to serve with the highest integrity and a commitment to pursue justice in every case by following the facts and the law, without fear or favor,” Levy said.

“We have brought some incredibly important cases these last three years that have improved the lives of the people of Massachusetts,” Levy said. “As I reflect on my tenure, I am equally proud of the thoughtful, deliberative process engaged in by our team whenever making the grave decision about whether to bring federal charges to ensure it is consistent with the principles of federal prosecution.”

Under Levy’s leadership, the office brought several high impact cases including charges against a former Stoughton Police officer in the death of Sandra Birchmore; the $650 million resolution of criminal and civil charges against McKinsey & Company for their illegal conduct in support of Purdue Pharma’s marketing of opioids; and charges against two men for their alleged involvement in a scheme to procure sensitive drone technology to Iran, which resulted in the deaths of three U.S. soldiers.

Under Levy’s tenure, Jack Teixeira was sentenced to 15 years in prison for leaking highly classified documents, and seven former employees of eBay were sentenced for cyberstalking a Massachusetts couple.

Levy oversaw one of his office’s more high-profile cases in November 2023, when charges were lodged against three people in connection with a high-end sex ring that catered to wealthy and prominent clients in Watertown, Cambridge, and in Virginia, where buyers paid up to $600 per hour for a wide array of advertised sex acts.

Elected officials, doctors, lawyers, professors, accountants, and military officers were reportedly among a group of “high-end” clients who paid for the illegal sex services at various locations in Massachusetts and in Virginia. Lawyers for the alleged clients at the center of the sex ring have pushed to keep court hearings private.

Levy also oversaw the $574 million-dollar criminal and civil enforcement action against Raytheon for overcharging government contracts. 

During his tenure, in 2024 alone, the office successfully recovered more than $1 billion in False Claims Act recoveries, Levy said.

One of the most important series of prosecutions in the last three years were brought by the newly created Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Unit, Levy said.

“This dedicated team of lawyers, support staff and victim witness advocates has secured convictions and lengthy sentences against 20 individuals since the unit was formed in 2022, including numerous convictions of people who trafficked minors or used force, fraud or coercion to engage in trafficking,” the outgoing Acting U.S. Attorney’s statement said.

The office’s other notable achievements under his leadership as U.S. Attorney included impact prosecutions in the areas of public corruption, child exploitation, hate crimes, police accountability, fentanyl trafficking and gun violence, Levy said.

Monday’s announcement marks the end of Levy’s second tenure with the Department of Justice.

In 1997, Levy served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division’s Economic Crimes Unit.

He left the Department of Justice in 2004 to become a partner at Ropes & Gray, where he served as co-chair of the firm’s 325-lawyer Litigation and Enforcement practice, co-managing partner of Ropes & Gray’s Boston office and co-chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.

In 2022, Levy was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers in recognition of his courtroom advocacy.

Immediately prior to becoming the Acting U.S. Attorney, Levy served as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney from January 2022 through May 2023.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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