EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
2007 - Present:
New York State Department of Taxation and Finance
Deputy director of the special investigations unit, supervising the Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse Special Investigation Units.
2006 - 2007:
Law Office of Diane M. LaVallee
Specializing in immigration law.
2004 - 2006:
Cohen & Lombardo, P.C.
Of counsel; specializing in civil litigation, federal criminal defense, and immigration law.
2004 - 2007:
Orleans County District Attorney's Office
First Assistant District Attorney, handling grand jury investigations and felony trials.
1997 - 2004:
New York State Attorney General's Office
Chief of the Capital Assistance to Prosecutors Unit. Assisted counties around the State with the prosecution of death penalty and other complicated murder cases. In 1999, became the Supervising Attorney of the Criminal Prosecutions Unit. Continued to prosecute child murder cases, and also investigated and prosecuted large-scale securities fraud cases. Obtained civil recovery of millions of dollars for crime victims.
1983 - 1997:
Erie County District Attorney's Office
Served as the Consumer Fraud Chief, County Court Assistant Bureau Chief, and Chief of the Comprehensive Assault, Abuse, and Rape Unit. Investigated and prosecuted all types of misdemeanors and felonies, ranging from white collar crimes to rape and murder cases. Founding member of the Child Advocacy Center and the Child Fatality Review Team of Erie County.
HONORS:
Criminal Justice Award; the Erie County Bar Association;
Woman Lawyer of the Year; Women Lawyers of Western New York;
Prosecutor of the Year; Detective Sergeants and Detectives Association;
Business First's top 40 Under 40 for Western New York award;
Louis J. Lefkowitz Memorial Award for outstanding service (twice); NYS Attorney General's Office
Also received awards from law enforcement agencies such as the New York State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Buffalo Police Sex Offense Squad, and the Wyoming County Sheriff's Department.
TEACHING:
1995
1996 - 1997
1997 - 2004
2004 - 2007
2007
2007
2007
Coach, Mock Trial Team, Buffalo School of Law
Trial Techniques, Buffalo School of Law
National Advocacy Center, Columbia, South Carolina
Plea bargaining, Buffalo School of Law
Legal Issues in the War on Terror, Buffalo School of Law
Prosecution of a Criminal Case, Buffalo School of Law
Legal Ethics for the Prosecutor, Buffalo School of Law
Also presented at multiple seminars for various organizations, including the New York State Bar Association; NYPTI; Erie County Bar Association; Children's Hospital; Mullen Institute (CLE); Buffalo School of Law, New York State Attorney General's Office; Erie County Police Academy; Niagara County District Attorney's Office; League of Women Voters; Holy Name Society.
PERSONAL:
Born: August 18, 1958, Burlington, Vermont. Moved to Buffalo in 1960.
*B.A., Economics, cum laude, SUNY at Buffalo
*J.D., Buffalo School of Law
*Writer and performer, Erie County Bar Revue
*First female Roast master of the Erie County Bar Association Judicial Candidate's Luncheon
*First attorney to participate in Buffalo/Lille, France Bar Associations exchange program
