Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone has dedicated his career to seeking justice for the victims of crime and protecting the families of Massachusetts through innovative, communnity-based prevention programs. He has prosecuted significant state and federal cases involving terrorism, public corruption, and the abuse of women and children.
Marked by a steadfast determination to represent the public and fight for victims, Leone has earned hundreds of convictions, some of the most notable being the first-admitted Al Qaeda terrorist in U.S. history, “Shoe Bomber” Richard Reid, who attempted to blow up a plane with 180 passengers; British au pair Louise Woodward, who was convicted of killing eight-month old Matthew Eappen; and members of the State Treasury who stole $9.7 million in taxpayer monies in the largest public corruption case in the Commonwealth’s history.
Elected as District Attorney in November 2006, Leone oversees the prosecution and investigation of hundreds of serious violent crimes in Middlesex County every year, including cases of homicide, child abuse, domestic abuse, and sexual assault. While in office, Leone has also worked to address ever-evolving public safety concerns by implementing important prevention and intervention initiatives in our schools and communities.
With students confronting safety challenges at earlier and earlier ages, Leone has launched a comprehensive effort to expand school-based prevention initiatives – including anti-bullying trainings, Internet Safety strategies, and Community-Based Justice programs – beyond the high schools and into our middle schools. Leone also created the office’s first-ever Cyber Protection Unit, a team of highly-qualified prosecutors and investigators to combat Internet and other cyber crimes against children and families.
As instances of domestic violence continue to plague far too many families, Leone created a Domestic Violence Unit to more effectively prosecute and prevent these crimes while also better serving victims. A strong advocate that public safety and healthcare providers are critical partners to assure the welfare of all citizens, Leone and his office have joined with hospitals throughout the county to educate parents of newborn children and prevent instances of Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Prior to his election as District Attorney, Leone was called “the most experienced person to ever run for the office” by the Lowell Sun. Leone earned respect from law enforcement, community leaders, and victims for his work as a top prosecutor and leader for the offices of the United States Attorney, the Massachusetts Attorney General, and the Middlesex District Attorney.
After September 11, 2001, Leone was called to serve as the first Anti-Terrorism Coordinator in Massachusetts and was later promoted to First Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Massachusetts, managing the office and conducting federal investigations and cases ranging from terrorism to drug trafficking. As the Department of Justice’s first ever Anti-Terrorism Task Force Coordinator for Massachusetts, Leone initiated nationally recognized and unprecedented cooperation among federal, state, and local authorities to protect the Commonwealth from terrorist threats following September 11.
Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Leone was Chief of the Criminal Bureau for the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office, where he led a team of more than 80 lawyers, State Police detectives, and investigators responsible for investigating and prosecuting public corruption, narcotics, environmental crimes, computer crimes, and other special investigations.
Prior to the Attorney General’s Office, Leone was Deputy First Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County, where he investigated and prosecuted a number of high profile cases. It was there that Leone also was integral in implementing school and community-based youth intervention and crime prevention strategies. During an outbreak of crime and youth violence in the 1990s, Leone helped implement and run the Community-Based Justice Program that became a national model for preventing gang and school violence. Leone personally spent many of his mornings in Middlesex County schools, bringing together school personnel, law enforcement professionals, and social service providers to help identify at-risk kids and provide them with the support and positive alternatives to steer them away from crime and violence.
Leone began his career in the late 1980s in Suffolk County, where he was in charge of the Roxbury District Court office and worked the Boston neighborhoods as a member of the Homicide Response Team at the height of inner-city gang activity and the crack cocaine epidemic.
Gerry was born in Brighton, Massachusetts to a high school football coach and homemaker. Leone then moved to the town of Franklin, Massachusetts. He was a successful athlete, graduating from Franklin High School; attending Phillips Andover Academy for a post-graduate year; and then Harvard University and Suffolk Law School.
Gerry lives in Hopkinton with his wife, Wendy. They are the proud parents of two children.
