U.S. Attorney Killian resigning from ET post to join national law firm

Note: This story was updated at 10:47 a.m. Nov. 20.

KNOXVILLE—William C. Killian, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, has submitted his resignation to President Barack Obama effective December 5. He is joining a national law firm.

Killian was sworn into office October 4, 2010, after he was nominated by Obama and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate. He served on the following subcommittees of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee: Terrorism and National Security, Civil Rights, and Healthcare Fraud Working Group, a press release said.

Federal cases that originate in Oak Ridge are heard in the Eastern District of Tennessee, which has offices in Knoxville and uses courtrooms there. Among the cases heard there in the past few years, for example, are the case of three anti-nuclear weapons activities who broke into the Y-12 National Security Complex in 2012, the trademark lawsuit against Lake City when it changed its name to Rocky Top, and a methamphetamine manufacturing conspiracy in Anderson County.

“U.S. Attorney Bill Killian has served the people of the Eastern District of Tennessee, and all Americans, with extraordinary distinction,” said U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch. “Under Bill’s outstanding leadership, his office secured landmark settlements in corporate and healthcare fraud cases; worked tirelessly to curb the illegal distribution of prescription drugs; joined local partners in combating violent crime; and took aggressive action against illegal firearms.

“In guiding these and many other actions, Bill displayed impeccable judgment, impressive skill, and an unerring sense of fairness. Thanks to his dedicated service, the United States is a safer and more just place. I commend him on a job well done, and wish him the best as he begins the next chapter of his career.”

“Words cannot express the appreciation that I have for the opportunity to serve the people of Eastern Tennessee, granted to me by the efforts of former Congressman Lincoln Davis, the nomination by President Barack Obama, and the approval by Senators Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander,” Killian said. “It was my great pride and honor to represent the United States of America in the Eastern District of Tennessee. I will forever be grateful to President Barack Obama for entrusting me with this position. The dedicated professionals in this United States Attorney’s office have performed at the highest level as representatives of the Department of Justice, under the leadership of former Attorney General Eric Holder and current Attorney General Loretta Lynch. The leadership, advice, and cooperation of the past and present attorney general have been invaluable and an integral part of our success. I am humbled by the honor and experience of serving with my fellow United States attorneys throughout the country.

“None of the accomplishments would have been possible without the cooperation and coordination of the various local, state and federal agencies.”

During his tenure as U.S. attorney, Killian directed and oversaw the investigation of several matters involving national security, including the Chattanooga shootings that resulted in the deaths of five servicemen. He personally participated in the negotiation of the settlement in the Pilot/Flying J case, the largest corporate financial penalty collected in the history of the district. He, along with the civil affirmative enforcement assistant U.S. attorneys, mediated the Hill–Rom matter, the largest civil healthcare fraud settlement in the history of the district.

Under his direction, the office established new records for asset forfeiture collections, numbers of convicted individuals illegally distributing prescription pills, including new records for sentences imposed on some of those defendants. His district prosecuted one of the highest numbers of federal firearms offenses in the nation.

The office further promoted and participated with local, state, and federal agencies and task forces to address and combat violent crime, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and other illegal drug sales, and organized gang activity. The district also established new records for child sex trafficking and child pornography convictions through the Internet Crimes Against Children Initiative.

Throughout his service, Eastern District of Tennessee averaged collecting more than $36 million per year, as a result of various forms of fraud perpetrated on the taxpayers of the United States, the press release said.

During his tenure as U.S. Attorney, Killian made presentations at various national and international seminars and conferences, including the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud and the European Union Office of Harmonization in the Internal Market regarding intellectual property rights prosecutions. He has presented to the Global Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the Tennessee Hospital Compliance Officers Association, the National State Attorneys General Conference, and spoken to the Pharmaceutical Compliance Congress in the District of Colombia on healthcare fraud prevention and prosecution.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy Harr will be acting U.S. attorney effective December 5.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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