Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey has accepted an assignment with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.
It is expected that in the early fall, he will be sworn in as an assistant United States attorney, and will be assigned as the Attorney-in-Charge for the Camden branch of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, according to information provided by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Carey was appointed acting county prosecutor of Middlesex County in May 2013. He was formally nominated by then-Gov. Chris Christie and was confirmed as the county prosecutor by the N.J. Senate in June 2014. He has completed his five-year term.
“It has been my absolute honor to serve as the Middlesex County prosecutor, and my privilege to work alongside so many dedicated prosecutors and police officers who work tirelessly each day to protect and serve our community,” Carey said in the statement. “I greatly value the partnerships that Middlesex County law enforcement officials have forged with our community leaders and partners.”
Carey continued, “I am grateful for the opportunity being extended by U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito. I am very fortunate to be able to continue my career as a prosecutor at such a well-respected office.”
During his administration, Carey’s assistant prosecutors, detectives and local law enforcement agencies have worked to build trust between law enforcement and the diverse communities of Middlesex County, according to the statement. Carey’s many initiatives include implementing mental health training for law enforcement, forming an Elder Abuse and Exploitation Team, initiating a comprehensive Veterans Program, emphasizing best practices for school safety and juveniles matters, formulating cold case review protocol, and addressing the current drug crisis through programs and symposiums which emphasize prevention, treatment, education and effective law enforcement.
Carey has worked closely with county officials to provide advanced training and equipment to enhance the office’s capabilities in such areas as arson response, missing persons, fatal crash, and the county’s Special Operations Response Team (SORT), according to the statement.
Prior to serving as county prosecutor, Carey was an assistant United States attorney for the District of New Jersey, under then-US Attorneys Christie and Fishman, and was assigned as the chief of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit.
In 1996, Carey was sworn in by the Honorable Robert Morgenthau as an assistant district attorney in New York County, and was assigned to the Office of Special Narcotics. During this appointment, Carey was assigned to the Special Investigations Bureau and was promoted to deputy bureau chief of a trial bureau, according to the statement.
“I would also like to thank Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders for supporting the mission of the Prosecutor’s Office,” Carey said in the statement.
Carey’s replacement has not been named at this time.