Jessica Aber, a career federal prosecutor, was found dead at her home in Alexandria, Virginia, Saturday morning – but the circumstances of her death remain unclear.
Aber, 43, rose to prominence as a top U.S. attorney in Virginia, overseeing important legal cases for the Justice Department, including those securing convictions for an MS-13 gang leader, the former governor of Virginia and more.
She also helped in investigations against Russians accused of conspiracy and fraud. Aber also oversaw the prosecution of man who helped Israeli citizens enter the U.S. without proper visas.
She was appointed to oversee the Virginia district by then-president Joe Biden. Aber resigned from her position as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia as President Donald Trump took office.
Two months later, police were called to Aber’s home shortly after 9 a.m. where authorities found her deceased. Her death is under investigation and will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia, the Alexandria Police Department said.
Here’s are details about Aber’s life and some of the top cases she oversaw:
What cases did Jessica Aber work on?
Having spent much of her career working in an area of the U.S. home to some of the most important federal agencies, Aber handled cases prosecuting violent crimes, child exploitation cases, financial fraud, cyber crimes and more.
Many of Aber’s cases involved foreign entities, whether it be individuals, companies or organizations.
In October, Aber and her staff secured a criminal conviction against a former MS-13 gang member for his role in the gang’s criminal enterprise that resulted in the killing of six people.
At the time of the conviction, Aber said the gang’s “deadly activities” including flooding the streets with narcotics and committing brutal murders “will not go unchecked” and promised to give her “full attention and resources” to address the crimes.
In coordination with the Department of State and Treasury, Aber and her office brought an indictment against a Russian national for his alleged involvement in multiple money laundering schemes.
Last year, Aber helped secure a guilty plea in a corporate espionage case involving Siemens Energy Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of the German conglomerate Siemens Energy AG.
Aber and her office also obtained a guilty plea from an Israeli national for his alleged role in facilitating the illegal entry, harboring and transportation of a noncitizen to the U.S.
