United States Attorney Preet Bharara Announces Formation of Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit

January 20, 2010 - PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the merger of the existing Terrorism and National Security and the International Narcotics Trafficking Units to form the new Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. According to Mr. BHARARA, the mission of the Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit will include the investigation and prosecution of transnational acts of terrorism, narco-terrorism, narcotics trafficking, and money laundering which threaten U.S. national security. Mr. BHARARA has assigned more than 20 Assistant United States Attorneys to the Office's new Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit.

Mr. BHARARA appointed MICHAEL FARBIARZ and ANJAN SAHNI as Co-Chiefs and JOCELYN STRAUBER as the Deputy Chief of the Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. The new unit will work closely with the Office's many local, state, national, and international law enforcement partners, including, among others, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New York City Police Department.

Mr. FARBIARZ, 36, was previously the Deputy Chief of the former Terrorism and National Security Unit. Prior to joining the Office in 2004, Mr. FARBIARZ clerked for the Honorable MICHAEL B. MUKASEY of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the Honorable JOSÉ A. CABRANES of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Mr. FARBIARZ also worked as an associate for Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. Mr. FARBIARZ is a 1995 graduate of Harvard University and a 1999 graduate of Yale Law School.

Mr. SAHNI, 33, was previously the Chief of the former International Narcotics Trafficking Unit. Before joining the Office in 2005, Mr. SAHNI clerked for the Honorable PIERRE N. LEVAL of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and worked as an associate at WilmerHale. Mr. SAHNI is a 1998 graduate of Emory University and a 2001 graduate of Yale Law School.

Ms. STRAUBER, 36, was the Deputy Chief of the former International Narcotics Trafficking Unit. Ms. STRAUBER joined the Office in 2005 after she clerked for the Honorable A. RAYMOND RANDOLPH of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and the Honorable WILLIAM H. REHNQUIST of the United States Supreme Court. Ms. STRAUBER was also an associate for Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. Ms. STRAUBER is a 1995 graduate of Brown University and a 1998 graduate of Duke University Law School.

Mr. BHARARA said: "I am very pleased to announce the formation of the new Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit and the appointment of its supervisors. The men and women assigned to this important unit possess a relentless commitment to justice and are extraordinary public servants. The Southern District of New York and the entire nation will benefit from the leadership these talented professionals will provide."