David N. Kelley
Encyclopedia
David N. Kelley is an American attorney and a former United States Attorney
and Deputy U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He was also a co-chair of the United States Justice Department’s nationwide investigation into the September 11 attacks.
Kelley, who served as chief of the organized crime and terrorism unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, is noted for leading the investigations of the 2000 millennium attack plots
and the October 2000 attack on the USS Cole
in Yemen, and for prosecuting Ramzi Yousef
for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing
. He was named Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia acting as co-lead prosecutor of John Walker Lindh
. Kelley is also noted for obtaining convictions of WorldCom CEO Bernie Ebbers in his prosecution for accounting fraud and Martha Stewart
in the ImClone stock trading case
.
Kelley was raised in East Hampton, NY, and has lived in the New York metropolitan area for most of his life. He earned his undergraduate degree from The College of William & Mary and law degree in 1986 from New York Law School
. Kelley was a policeman and a fireman while attending law school. After leaving the U.S. Attorney’s office in 2005, Kelley joined Wall Street law firm Cahill Gordon & Reindel
as a partner in its litigation and corporate investigations practice.
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
and Deputy U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He was also a co-chair of the United States Justice Department’s nationwide investigation into the September 11 attacks.
Kelley, who served as chief of the organized crime and terrorism unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, is noted for leading the investigations of the 2000 millennium attack plots
2000 millennium attack plots
The Year 2000 attack plots were terrorist attacks planned to occur on or near January 1, 2000: the bombing of four sites in Jordan, the bombing of Los Angeles International Airport , and the bombing of the USS The Sullivans. The first two plots were foiled by law enforcement agencies; the third was...
and the October 2000 attack on the USS Cole
USS Cole
Two United States Navy destroyers have borne the name USS Cole. The first Cole was named for Edward B. Cole. The second ship was named for Darrell S. Cole....
in Yemen, and for prosecuting Ramzi Yousef
Ramzi Yousef
Ramzi Yousef was one of the main perpetrators of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and a co-conspirator in the Bojinka plot. In 1995, he was arrested at a guest house in Islamabad, by the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence and United States Diplomatic Security Service, then extradited to the...
for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing
1993 World Trade Center bombing
The 1993 World Trade Center bombing occurred on February 26, 1993, when a truck bomb was detonated below the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The 1,336 lb urea nitrate–hydrogen gas enhanced device was intended to knock the North Tower into the South Tower , bringing...
. He was named Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia acting as co-lead prosecutor of John Walker Lindh
John Walker Lindh
John Phillip Walker Lindh is a United States citizen who was captured as an enemy combatant during the United States' 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. He is now serving a 20-year prison sentence in connection with his participation in Afghanistan's Taliban army...
. Kelley is also noted for obtaining convictions of WorldCom CEO Bernie Ebbers in his prosecution for accounting fraud and Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart is an American business magnate, author, magazine publisher, and television personality. As founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, she has gained success through a variety of business ventures, encompassing publishing, broadcasting, and merchandising...
in the ImClone stock trading case
ImClone stock trading case
A U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. Attorney probe of trading in the shares of ImClone Systems resulted in a widely publicized criminal case, which resulted in prison terms for media celebrity Martha Stewart, ImClone chief executive officer Samuel D...
.
Kelley was raised in East Hampton, NY, and has lived in the New York metropolitan area for most of his life. He earned his undergraduate degree from The College of William & Mary and law degree in 1986 from New York Law School
New York Law School
New York Law School is a private law school in the TriBeCa neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. New York Law School is one of the oldest independent law schools in the United States. The school is located within four blocks of all major courts in Manhattan. In 2011, New York Law School...
. Kelley was a policeman and a fireman while attending law school. After leaving the U.S. Attorney’s office in 2005, Kelley joined Wall Street law firm Cahill Gordon & Reindel
Cahill Gordon & Reindel
Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP is a prominent New York-based international law firm with offices in New York, Washington, D.C. and London...
as a partner in its litigation and corporate investigations practice.