CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced that she stepped down from her position as the Western District’s chief law enforcement officer effective Wednesday.
“It has been a tremendous honor to serve the people of the Western District of North Carolina,” said King in a statement. “I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the most talented public servants who are dedicated to serving our communities with integrity, distinction, and excellence.”
King is the first person of color to be appointed to the position in the Western District of North Carolina, based in Charlotte. She was nominated by then-president Joe Biden on Sept. 28, 2021, and was officially sworn into the position two months later.
During her tenure, she led an office of nearly 100 federal prosecutors and support personnel, serving a district that covers 32 counties across the western part of the state. The WDNC also includes half of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
During her time in office, King formed WDNC’s first ever Civil Rights Team, reconstituted the Western District’s Health Care Fraud Task Force and prioritized the protection of vulnerable populations from exploitation and violence.
The office also touts prioritized strengthening partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders through training seminars on Department of Justice priorities and U.S. Attorney’s Office initiatives.
“Our collective mission is to serve and protect the people of Western North Carolina,” King said. “I stand proud of our accomplishments and our efforts to support law enforcement, build strong partnerships with our communities, and uphold justice.”
King previously served as WDNC’s Deputy Criminal Chief, assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of North Carolina, an enforcement attorney in the Securities Division of the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, and an assistant District Attorney in Mecklenburg County.
