U.S. Attorney William Hochul says his tenure as Western New York’s top federal prosecutor has been bookmarked by the prosecution of violent crimes and seen the arrival of home-grown terrorism. But in a news conference announcing his retirement, Hochul says the most serious problems he sees for society are opioid drug addiction and cyber crime.
Hochul says the widespread availability of opioid pain killers and cheap heroin are a threat he’s been pointing to for five years, causing many deaths in the community. He says we’re not going back from computers to paper and pencils…but they have given criminals a worldwide playing field.
Hochul says violence is as old a society itself, but technology has become law enforcement’s friend in keeping on top of it through DNA evidence and use of data to track criminals. He says the arrest in the Xerox Credit Union robbery and murder is a prime example.
Hochul retires at the end of the month after 30 years in the U.S. Department of Justice. The president appoints the next U.S. Attorney with consent of the senate. Hochul’s deputy will fill in until then.