MOSES LAKE — U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ announcement on Monday of 311 new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions includes the allocation of three prosecutors to the Eastern District of Washington.

The allocation of the 311 assistant U.S. Attorney positions, which is the largest increase in decades, will go toward assisting high priority areas. The allocations break down as follows: 190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil enforcement prosecutors and 35 immigration prosecutors. A large number of the civil enforcement prosecutors will be supporting the newly implemented Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force, which aims to combat the growing opioid crisis.

"Under President Trump's strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis — and today we are sending in reinforcements," Sessions said on Monday.

The Eastern District of Washington, which covers 22 counties, four Indian Reservations and almost 42,000 square miles in eastern Washington, will be adding three positions under the nationwide allocation. The three prosecutors will be focusing mainly on violent crime, civil fraud enforcement and immigration crimes.

“The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington is committed to combating violent crime, attacking fraud, and addressing immigration matters together with our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners,” Joseph H. Harrington, U.S. Attorney for Washington’s Eastern District, said. “The additional AUSA (Assistant U.S. Attorney) positions that have been allocated to the District will assist significantly in these efforts.”

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.