United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the appointment of Catherine Semmes to serve as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This appointment is the result of a partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Ouachita Parish District Attorney’s Office in the Monroe Division of the Western District of Louisiana.
Due to the proliferation of gang and gun violence in the Monroe area, U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown and Ouachita Parish District Attorney Steve Tew have joined efforts in a unique way to fight violent crime in that area by adding a specially appointed federal prosecutor to work these types of cases. The goal is for Ms. Semmes to partner as a SAUSA with the district’s Project Safe Neighborhood Program and other Assistant U.S. Attorneys to improve the program’s effectiveness in the northeast corner of the district.
“We have collaboratively made some strides in fighting violent crime, but in approaching District Attorney Tew with this idea, I wanted to take our relationship with the Ouachita Parish District Attorney’s Office to the next level,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “We are grateful that District Attorney Tew is willing to share his talent with our office to find ways to combat the violent crime epidemic our district is facing. SAUSA Semmes will assist where we need it most and we look forward to having her as a part of our office. She has developed a great working relationship with our federal agents and task force officers over the years, is a stalwart with the Metro Narcotics Unit, and is dedicated to helping us eradicate gang violence in Monroe.”
“The partnership between the District Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice is a powerful tool in the fight against violent crime,” said Ouachita Parish District Attorney Steve Tew. “I am committed to working with the DOJ to successfully prosecute violent offenders who bring guns and drugs into our communities. ADA Cathy Semmes is a zealous prosecutor. She, as well as the other prosecutors in our office, will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s office to focus on the worst offenders. I appreciate the opportunity to partner with U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown and his team.”
Catherine Semmes has worked as an Assistant District Attorney for the 4th Judicial District Court in Ouachita Parish since February 2020, where she has served as the office’s liaison with Metro Narcotics and serves in the parish’s Violent Crime Repeat Offender Unit. She also tracks and maintains information concerning known gang members. Prior to practicing law, SAUSA Semmes worked as a Probation and Parole Officer for the Office of Juvenile Justice. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law.
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