Buffalo Ledger

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, appointed by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., and confirmed by the Senate in 2021, recently outlined her achievements during her tenure as the first black woman to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York.

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve in this position as the top law enforcement officer in the Western District of New York, my home, where I was born and raised and have spent the majority of my life,” Ross stated. She highlighted her return to an office where she began her career as a federal prosecutor in 1995.

During her time in office, approximately 1178 defendants' cases were resolved under Ross's leadership, including several high-profile cases such as U.S. v. Robert Morgan and U.S. v. Joseph Bongiovanni among others.

Ross also initiated charges in new significant cases like U.S. v. Payton Gendron and U.S. v. Hadi Matar that gained national attention.

The violent crime rate decreased in several counties within the district during Ross's term, notably Erie and Monroe Counties which include Buffalo and Rochester.

Her office filed around 120 appellate briefs with nearly perfect affirmation rates from the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on cases like U.S. v. Richard Leon Wilbern.

In civil matters from 2022 to January 2025, about $80 million was collected through various actions benefiting crime victims and aiding local law enforcement partners.

Ross played a key role on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) after being selected among twelve United States Attorneys early into her tenure. She chaired its sub-committee on Law Enforcement Coordination, Victim Assistance, and Community Relations (LEVC).

Community outreach was central to Ross's approach; she established regular meetings with community leaders in Buffalo and Rochester while creating innovative communication methods like "Feds Demystified," a podcast aimed at educating the public about federal law enforcement agencies.

Throughout her service, federal grant funding totaling approximately $55 million supported local initiatives against human trafficking, recidivism reduction efforts among other causes.

Her work earned recognition from multiple organizations including bar associations across New York State alongside being featured prominently on lists celebrating diversity and leadership excellence such as City & State’s Power of Diversity: Black 100 list.

Ross emphasized dedication towards improving both community relations along with internal office dynamics stating: “I came to make positive changes inside and outside of the office... And I believe I have reached that goal.”