Joel Violanti

Trini Ross, who became U.S. Attorney on Oct. 11, 2021 and was the first black woman to hold the position in the Western District of New York, has officially stepped down from the position.

“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.” said Ross, a graduate of the State University of New York at Fredonia. “And serving in this particular office was also special because I started my career as a federal prosecutor here, in 1995.”

Joel L. Violanti is now the Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of New York.

As U.S. Attorney for the 17 counties in the Western District of New York, Ross’s accomplishments are wide ranging. Cases involving approximately 1,178 defendants were resolved during her tenure. She also oversaw the filing of charges in multiple new cases, including addition high profile cases, of national and international interest, including: Payton Gendron and Hadi Matar.

Under her tenure, the violent crime rate decreased in several Western District of New York counties, including Erie and Monroe Counties, home to the Cities of Buffalo and Rochester.

Trini Ross

In March 2022, Ms. Ross was one of the first 12, of 93, United States Attorney’s to be selected to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC), which she served on until her term ended after a year and a half. The AGAC advises the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management impacting the Offices of the U.S. Attorneys and elevates the voices of U.S. Attorneys in Department policies. In addition, Ms. Ross was also selected as the Chairperson for the AGAC sub-committee on Law Enforcement Coordination, Victim Assistance and Community Relations (LEVC). In this role, Ms. Ross lead the sub-committee that advised the Attorney General on matters involving law enforcement, victim assistance, and community relations. In June, 2023, Ms. Ross hosted the LEVC meeting in Buffalo, bringing U.S. Attorneys from across the country to the Buffalo area for two days. The meeting included presentations and discussions on the May 14th tragedy, which included a visit to the Tops store on Jefferson Avenue, business, and community outreach efforts, as well as multiple presentations by law enforcement.

Community outreach was a hallmark of Ross’s tenure as U.S. Attorney. She worked tirelessly to build better relationships between members of the community and law enforcement in both Buffalo and Rochester. Ms. Ross developed quarterly meetings with community leaders in both cities, establishing an ongoing dialogue and building trust. She also sought new and innovative ways to reach the community, including creating the first of its kind podcast in the U.S.