U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Timothy Heaphy is stepping down and switching sides in the courtroom, having accepted a position as head of “White Collar Defense and Government Investigations” for an international firm in Richmond, according to a November 25 press release announcing his departure, which will take place at the end of the year.
Heaphy has served as U.S. Attorney in this district since 2009, when he was sworn in by Attorney General of the United States Eric Holder, who described Heaphy in a recent statement as “a champion of the cause of justice” and a “fierce advocate for groundbreaking community outreach initiatives.”
During his more than five-year tenure, Heaphy has led multiple high-profile prosecutions, including the Rugby Road fake ID ring. That prosecution resulted in the convictions of three people and the recovery of millions of dollars. Heaphy has also led the investigation into a string of burglaries and the murder of off-duty Waynesboro Police Captain Kevin Quick, an allegedly gang-related crime for which eight individuals have been charged.