About
About
The Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) primarily investigates and prosecutes cases against human rights violators and other international criminals. HRSP investigates and prosecutes human rights violators for genocide, torture, war crimes, recruitment or use of child soldiers, female genital mutilation, and for immigration and naturalization fraud arising out of efforts to hide their involvement in such crimes.
Leadership
Leadership
Hope Olds
Chief
Michael Sheckels
Principal Deputy
Rami Badawy
Deputy Chief (Human Smuggling)
Courtney Spivey Urschel
Deputy Chief (Human Rights)
Jay Bauer
Deputy Chief (International Violent Crime)
Contact
HRSP Direct Line
202-616-2492
Our Mission
HRSP's responsibilities include enforcing federal criminal laws relating to:
- Serious human rights violations such as torture, genocide, war crimes, female genital mutilation, and recruitment or use of child soldiers and immigrations and naturalization fraud crimes involving concealment of past human rights abuses;
- International human smuggling and other immigration-related offenses; and
- International violent crimes, particularly those involving U.S. government employees and contractors overseas.
News
Press Release
A federal judge in the Middle District of Alabama unsealed an eight-count indictment today charging five individuals with sex trafficking and related offenses.
Press Release
Aaron T. Simmons, 26, of Greenville, South Carolina, was sentenced today to 365 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release after he pleaded guilty in November...
Press Release
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) in June 2021 in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to strengthen the Justice Department’s...
Press Release
Today, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland marked the third anniversary of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the highly successful national effort to investigate and prosecute human smuggling at...
Press Release
The leader and two members of a violent criminal gang in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) were sentenced yesterday to life in prison for their roles in a...
Press Release
A U.S. citizen will make his initial appearance in Fort Myers, Florida, today at 2 p.m. EDT following his extradition from Ukraine to the United States to face...
