DOJ Launches Investigation into Fairfax County Attorney’s Office Policies

On Wednesday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it would investigate the attorney’s negotiation, prosecution, and sentencing practices in Fairfax County, Virginia.

The U.S. Attorney, Steve Descano, was informed about the investigation on the same day. The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division will carry out the inquiry, which aims to assess whether Descano’s office has been discriminating against U.S. citizens by favoring illegal alien defendants.

“Under my leadership, the Civil Rights Division will not permit district attorneys to choose favorites based on immigration status,” stated Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “This investigation seeks to understand if this prosecutor is jeopardizing community safety by giving lenient deals to undocumented individuals charged with serious offenses.”

A letter to Descano indicated that the investigation stemmed from allegations that his office has adopted such policies. Specifically, a document detailing plea negotiations, indictment decisions, and sentencing policies noted that there should be consideration of immigration consequences for the crimes charged against defendants.

Particularly notable was a case where undocumented immigrants, Mardin Anibal Guzmán Vides and Luis Alonzo Solto Portillo, received five years in prison for stabbing a man to death in a park. This incident drew sharp criticism, leading to significant backlash against what some referred to as “madness.”

The investigation also falls under multiple statutes, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Safe Streets Act. The DOJ has pointed out that while it has previously conducted similar inquiries resulting in settlements and reforms, it has only just begun this investigation and hasn’t drawn any conclusions regarding the claims made.

Moreover, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) criticized local politicians, mentioning that their consistent plea bargaining practices and refusal to cooperate with federal authorities have affected public safety. They cited a recent arrest of a released child rapist as a consequence of such decisions.

Interestingly, reports indicated that in about three-quarters of murder cases, the primary suspect may be an illegal alien, with victims spanning from infants to mothers. As of now, Steve Descano’s office has not commented on these matters.