Neronha

WASHINGTON — President Obama has announced his intention to nominate Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha to be the next U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse said Friday.

The Rhode Island Democrats, who jointly suggested the nomination to Mr. Obama in May, released this statement:

“We applaud President Obama for picking a distinguished, independent prosecutor. Mr. Neronha’s years of exemplary service in the attorney general’s office and the U.S. Attorney’s office have earned him respect throughout Rhode Island’s law enforcement and legal communities. We are confident he will do an outstanding job of serving and protecting the people of Rhode Island.”

The Senate must confirm Mr. Obama’s nomination of Neronha, an assistant U.S. Attorney in 2002, to serve a four-year term as the state’s top federal law enforcement official.

Neronha works in the criminal division prosecuting drug, organized crime and public corruption cases, according to Reed and Whitehouse. He is a former criminal prosecutor in the Rhode Island attorney general’s office and has practiced law privately. He is a graduate of Boston College and Boston College Law School.

jmulligan@belo-dc.com