U.S. Attorney’s Office Welcomes Sean M. Lewis to Newly Created Civil Rights Section

MIAMI - United States Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones announced today that Sean M. Lewis has been sworn in as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Lewis will serve in the Office's newly created Civil Rights Section within the Criminal Division, under the leadership of Joe diGenova, and will be based in the Fort Pierce office.

Lewis brings nearly two decades of trial, appellate, and judicial experience to the Southern District of Florida. He previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney in both the District of Columbia and the Western District of Michigan, where he prosecuted violent crime, narcotics, white collar, child exploitation, and sexual assault cases. During his federal prosecutorial career, Lewis tried dozens of cases to verdict, handled substantial appellate work, and argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

Lewis is widely recognized for his work as the federal prosecutor in the case against Lawrence Gerard Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor whose crimes shocked the nation. Nassar was sentenced in federal court to 60 years in prison for child-pornography and obstruction-of-justice offenses, with the federal sentence ordered to run consecutive to any state sentences. The Department of Justice's Western District of Michigan release identified Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean M. Lewis as the prosecutor in that case.

"Sean Lewis is exactly the kind of prosecutor we want helping lead this work in South Florida," said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones. "He has stood in court for victims in some of the most serious and nationally significant cases in the country, including the federal prosecution of Larry Nassar, where justice required courage, precision, and an unwavering commitment to the vulnerable. Sean brings deep trial experience, appellate judgment, and a prosecutor's heart to our newly created Civil Rights Section. Under Joe diGenova's leadership, this section will protect constitutional rights, pursue those who abuse power or target others because of who they are, and ensure that every community in our district receives the full protection of federal law."

Before joining the Southern District of Florida, Lewis served as a General Magistrate in Florida's Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, where he presided over trials and evidentiary hearings, resolved civil pretrial matters, conducted Baker Act and Marchman Act hearings, and prepared findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommended orders for circuit court judges.

Lewis previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of Michigan from 2012 to 2021 and in the District of Columbia from 2008 to 2012. In those roles, he prosecuted and tried serious federal and local offenses, briefed and argued criminal appeals, mentored younger attorneys, trained law enforcement officers, and served as liaison to the 11 federally recognized Indian Tribes in the Western District of Michigan.

Earlier in his career, Lewis was an associate at Covington & Burling LLP, where he worked on white collar investigations, complex civil litigation, and pro bono matters. He also served as a law clerk to Judge James L. Ryan of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Lewis earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, where he graduated cum laude, was elected to the Order of the Coif, and served on the University of Michigan Law Review. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, from Grove City College, with studies in political science and French.

The newly created Civil Rights Section will focus on enforcing federal criminal civil rights laws throughout the Southern District of Florida, including cases involving hate crimes, official misconduct, human trafficking, threats, and other offenses that strike at the dignity, safety, and constitutional rights of victims.

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