BOSTON, Mass. /Massachusetts Newswire/ — On Friday, Mass. Governor Deval Patrick named Middlesex County First Assistant District Attorney (DA) Michael Pelgro as Acting Middlesex County DA. Pelgro will assume responsibility for all Middlesex County DA’s office operations until Governor Patrick appoints a permanent Middlesex County DA.
Pelgro served as the First Assistant DA under outgoing Middlesex County DA Gerry Leone. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the job, having served as both a state and federal prosecutor for over 20 years. For over 17 years, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Boston in the Major Crimes Unit and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Unit. He was named the Deputy Chief and the Chief of the OCDETF Unit from 2002 to 2007. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Pelgro received numerous awards, including the Director’s Award from the Department of Justice for superior performance as a federal prosecutor and his dedication to the public through case prosecution and programmatic initiatives.
Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Pelgro was an Assistant DA in the Middlesex DA’s Office for over six years, prosecuting homicides, sexual assaults, armed robberies and other serious felonies in the Superior Court. Before rejoining the office in 2012, he practiced for five years in the areas of white-collar criminal defense and government investigations at the law firm of Foley Hoag in Boston. Early in his career, Pelgro practiced in the area of civil and business litigation at the law firm of Mintz Levin in Boston.
Pelgro is a graduate of Boston College and Boston College Law School. He is married with 4 children and is an active volunteer in youth sports and other public-service endeavors in his community.
Pelgro is temporarily filling the vacancy created by the departure of current Middlesex County DA Gerry Leone until the Governor appoints a DA. An election to select the next DA will occur in 2014, the next biennial election.
“I am very grateful that the Governor has exhibited the confidence in me, to appoint me to such an important position of public trust,” said Pelgro. “I am extremely honored to be chosen to help maintain the tradition and legacy of excellence which is the hallmark of the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.”
“I commend the Governor for taking a deliberative and contemplative approach to naming my successor, and in doing so making a prudent choice in entrusting the position of Middlesex District Attorney to Michael Pelgro in the interim period until a District Attorney is appointed,” said District Attorney Leone. “I have full faith and confidence in Mike’s ability to lead the office through this brief transition period. His depth of experience and knowledge as a lawyer and manager will serve him and the county of Middlesex well in this position.”
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“I am very grateful that the Governor has exhibited the confidence in me, to appoint me to such an important position of public trust,” said Pelgro.
