U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine reflects on success for Southern District of Georgia | USAO-SDGA

SAVANNAH, GA: Bobby L. Christine, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announces his resignation from the president-appointed position since November 22, 2017. Christine will return to the private legal practice at Augusta. Ga., Area.

The previously internally announced resignation will take effect on Tuesday, February 9th.

“It was a special honor and privilege for me to serve the people in the 43 counties of the southern district as chief federal prosecutor and law enforcement officer,” said Christine. “I am proud to have worked with an unparalleled team of lawyers and staff to help our law enforcement partners make our communities safer.”

Law enforcement community leaders presented awards for Christine’s service.

“I would like to thank US attorney Bobby Christine, on behalf of the Atlanta FBI and our southern Georgia-based agencies, for his dedication and partnership in our efforts to protect and support the citizens of his district,” said Chris Hacker, special agent on charges by the FBI Atlanta. “His commitment and accomplishments are something Georgians and all Americans can be proud of. It was an honor and privilege to work with him and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors. “

“The citizens of the southern district of Georgia were well served by US attorney Bobby Christine,” said Robert Murphy, special agent for the Atlanta Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “Bobby embodies public service. It is based on the principles of doing the right thing and making the community safer. Bobby worked hand-in-hand with law enforcement every day to make sure we bring those who have fallen victim to our community to justice. It’s an honor to work with Bobby, but more importantly, I’m proud to call him a friend. I wish Bobby all the best in his future endeavors. I look forward to working with him in the future in the service of this great nation. “

“US attorney Bobby Christine has done a lot to reduce violent crime in our communities in South Georgia. He has served with honor and distinction because at his core he values ​​faith, honor, family, and commitment, ”said Arthur D. Peralta, special agent, Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. “As the top law enforcement agency in the southern district of Georgia, US attorney Christine has inspired us all to go further and get more from the resources we have at our disposal. Our violent crime reduction mission continues unabated, in large part due to the path that US attorney Christine has taken us. I join all of the members of the ATF Atlanta Field Division and wish all the best to US attorney Christine. ”

“I have known Bobby Christine for more than 20 years as a prosecutor / judge and I consider him a great friend,” said Richard Roundtree, Richmond County Sheriff. “Christine, a US attorney, has been an absolute professional in every role he has ever held, and I look forward to what the future holds for him. We all know he will continue to be a great law enforcement and justice advocate. I would like to thank US attorney Christine again for her many contributions. ”

“Shortly after Bobby Christine was named a US attorney three years ago, he visited our Thomson office to tell us that he was ready to use federal government resources to make our communities a safer place to live, work and raising a family, “said William Doupe, District Attorney for the Toombs Judicial Circuit.” Through Bobby’s attorney-to-attorney collaborative program, we were able to reach some of the most violent convicted felons who still opted for the illegal possession of firearms in our county They were sent to federal court for long sentences without parole. Without a doubt this program saved lives. This prosecution also allowed our office to look into the cases with victims eagerly awaiting resolution. Thank you, Bobby, for everything what you did for the citizens of the Toombs Circuit. ”

As a U.S. attorney, Christine implemented the Prosecutor to Prosecutor Program (P3), a partnership between the U.S. Attorney General, state and local law enforcement agencies, and the district’s 11 law firms that cut through the southern district. Christine’s US Attorney’s Office saw a dramatic increase in law enforcement – including prosecuting an illegal firearm charge against an additional 650 defendants in three years. For the past three years, coupled with increased efforts to combat violent crime, the office has been among the most productive in the country per lawyer prosecuting violent crimes.

Christine praised the success of the Office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) division in pursuing civil proceedings against criminal defendants in recovering nearly $ 160 million in taxpayers’ money lost to fraud or other wrongdoing. The Office’s Criminal Health Care Fraud Unit ranked third among 94 U.S. law firms in the country for prosecuting a ring of more than 30 defendants responsible for more than $ 1.5 billion in fraudulent health claims . By cutting down human resources departments and unifying leadership, Christine created the Asset Recovery Unit, grossing an additional tens of millions of dollars for the victims and the United States.

With the US Army Cyber ​​Center of Excellence and an NSA facility at Fort Gordon in the southern district, Christine was honored in 2017 as one of the first in a small group of US attorneys to be named head of the US Attorney General’s Advisory Committee on cyber and intellectual property. Christine has been involved in providing basic guidance and advice to the US Department of Justice regarding cyber initiatives throughout his tenure.

A graduate of Georgia Military College (Milledgeville), the University of Georgia, the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, and the US Army War College, Christine served for a decade in the Augusta District Attorney’s office where he was the first chief of the Columbia County Division. He is one of the few prosecutors in modern Georgia to have won a murder conviction in a case where the victim’s body was never found.

He was appointed a judge at Columbia County Magistrate Court in 2005, and held that position until his appointment as a US attorney. From 2009 to 2012 he was Chief Magistrate. From 2005 to 2017, Bobby also maintained a private practice that focused on home, estate, personal and criminal proceedings.

Bobby has been an army reservist since he was 17, both as a combat engineer and as a judge attorney. In the uniformed military service Christine received her first training in cyber legal issues. As Brigadier General of the Army National Guard serving in the Pentagon, he currently serves as National Guard advisor to the Judge General and Assistant General Counsel to the National Guard’s Office. He is a veteran of the Iraq war.

He and his wife, Sheri, an elementary school teacher in Columbia County, where they find their home, have two daughters and a son.