TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Legal professional Normal Pamela Bondi appointed Gregory Kehoe as Interim United States Legal professional for the Center District of Florida on March 31, 2025.
Mr. Kehoe labored for the U.S. Division of Justice as a prosecutor for over 20 years with postings in the US, Europe, Asia and South America.
“The folks which might be on the market have an expectation of this workplace, they’ve an expectation that we’re going to tackle sure points, and their expectations are well-founded and well-grounded, and we’ve got to fulfill these expectations,” mentioned Kehoe.
The Center District of Florida stretches over 350 miles, from the Georgia border within the northeast to south of Naples on Florida’s southwest coast. It’s made up of 12 district judges, 17 senior judges, and 17 magistrate judges. The district has five divisions in Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Ocala, Orlando, and Tampa.
Throughout Kehoe’s time on the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace within the Southern District of Florida, he prosecuted the members of the Outlaws bike membership, which was alleged to be a racketeering enterprise.
Kehoe then got here to the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace within the Center District of Florida as the primary assistant. Kehoe prosecuted the case of the Financial institution of Credit score and Commerce Worldwide (BCCI).
In accordance with the Center District, a two-year undercover operation in 1988 led to the submitting of cash laundering, narcotics, and conspiracy prices in Tampa in opposition to 15 people, a few of them BCCI officers, in addition to 4 firms.
He is additionally prosecuted numerous public corruption instances and drug instances.
Within the mid-Nineteen Nineties, Kehoe was detailed over to the Worldwide Legislation Crimes Tribunal for the previous state of Yugoslavia as a prosecutor for warfare crimes, trial instances, and violations of worldwide humanitarian regulation.
Kehoe mentioned that it later advanced into being detailed by the Division of Protection. He led the workforce of legal professionals and investigators that suggested the Iraqi Particular Tribunal, an advert hoc court docket shaped to prosecute Saddam Hussein and members of his former regime.
Kehoe changed Roger Handberg, who had served within the place since 2021. When requested concerning the transition, Kehoe mentioned he’s tried to be seamless and mentioned ongoing instances haven’t been delayed.
“I believe the folks will inform you that I’ve been pushing them alongside to maneuver these things out extra rapidly,” he mentioned. “I don’t assume issues have modified that a lot so far as instances being prosecuted and transferring out the door and being indicted or being filed on the civil facet.”
He mentioned his precedence for the Center District of Florida is the priorities of the Division of Justice: transnational felony organizations, organizations that endanger the folks of this group with weapons, medicine, human and youngster exploitation.
“That’s to not say that we aren’t going to be aggressive on fraud,” mentioned Kehoe. “Issues of healthcare fraud, any sort of fraud, that falls into that space, and you possibly can run the gamut of that, and that’s each on the civil and felony facet.”
When requested about immigration and deportations, Kehoe mentioned there hasn’t been an uptick within the prosecution of unlawful entries or the deportation of criminals as a result of it is one thing the Center District has been doing for many years.
As Kehoe ready to return to the workplace he as soon as served in, however now as interim U.S. Legal professional, he mentioned he talked it over together with his spouse and daughter, they usually all agreed it was transfer to return.
“I imagine in public service,” he mentioned. “I imagine within the larger good, and I believe that is the explanation I got here again, essentially.”
The Senate should verify Kehoe’s appointment.
That is his message to the group: “I give my all. I attempt to do the perfect I can with no matter restricted assets I’ve mentally and bodily, and that’s what I’m going to attempt to do right here. I’m going to attempt to deliver to bear my expertise, which I’ve been fortunate to have in many alternative corners of the world, to attempt to assist this workplace and assist the group alongside.”
Kehoe acquired his bachelor’s diploma from Boston School, summa cum laude, and his Juris Doctorate from St. John’s College.
