Brian Hood
Richmond
Summary
Seasoned federal prosecutor with extensive leadership experience and trial expertise in violent crime, white-collar fraud, civil rights, and cybercrime. Proven success in supervising large teams, providing ethical and legal guidance, and managing complex prosecutions from indictment through trial. Recognized for significant contributions to computer crime law and skilled in navigating highly technical subjects with clarity and precision. Retired Navy Commander (O-5) with a strong track record in program management and fostering cross-agency collaboration.
Overview
44
44
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Litigation Counsel
United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA)
Richmond, VA
11.2022 - Current
- Regularly organize and conduct training of other attorneys and law enforcement investigators.
- Provide leadership of multiple complex investigations involving cyber issues and international subjects.
- Consulted daily by other supervisors and line attorneys on a broad range of issues.
Assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA)
08.1999 - Current
- Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (CHIP) prosecutor for the EDVA Richmond Division for approximately 14 years (since 2002).
- Investigated and tried a wide variety of offenses, including violent crime, white-collar fraud, domestic terrorism, civil rights, and many cyber and computer crime cases.
- Cases featured in Professor Orin Kerr’s Computer Crime Law Casebook (First Edition):
- U.S. v. John Ickes: Motion to suppress child pornography evidence discovered during a U.S. Customs border search involving issue of border search doctrine exception to Fourth Amendment warrant requirement (First Edition)
- U.S. v. William Jarrett: Fourth Amendment question regarding agency principle where evidence was provided to the FBI by an anonymous “cyber vigilante” who hacked into the defendant’s computer (current through Fourth Edition).
- Other Notable cases:
- U.S. v. Richard Haas: Lead attorney for jury trial with guilty verdict for defendant charged with attempted sex-trafficking of minor and child pornography offenses; trial involved extensive computer forensics expert testimony
- U.S. v. Steven Gerstenfeld: Successfully litigated motion to suppress requiring expert testimony from CTO and founder of AccessData (now Exterro) to explain discrepancy with FTK Imager forensic tool.
- U.S. v. Chong Lam, et al.: Counterfeit hard goods trademark prosecution involving multiple factories in China manufacturing and distributing counterfeit items.
- U.S. v. Michael Mitchell: Theft of trade secrets case involving a former DuPont employee who shared secrets with a Korean-based competitor Kolon.
Criminal Section Supervisor, Richmond Division
United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA)
08.2008 - 03.2017
- Overall responsibility for 20 criminal prosecutors; directly supervised 10 AUSAs.
- Reviewed indictments, plea agreements, wiretaps, prosecution memos, and pleadings requiring higher approval.
- Provided case supervision, legal and ethical guidance, and mentoring on a daily basis.
Naval Flight Officer
United States Naval Reserves
08.1992 - 04.2005
- Retired with rank of Commander (O-5).
- Aircrew Mission Commander and Tactical Coordinator in P-3C Orion crews assigned to VP-64 (NAS Willow Grove, PA) and VP-68 (Andrews AFB, DC).
Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit
Philadelphia, PA
07.1997 - 07.1999
- Investigated and prosecuted domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault.
- Tried 20 jury trials and hundreds of bench trials.
Assistant District Attorney
Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office
Philadelphia, PA
09.1994 - 07.1999
- Conducted approximately 1,000 preliminary hearings and hundreds of bench trials.
- Handled a wide range of street-level crimes, including drug and gun offenses, robbery, assault, burglary, and larceny.
United States Navy
05.1982 - 08.1991
- VP-31, NAS Moffett Field, CA (1989 – 1991): Instructor duty at Pacific Fleet P-3C Training Squadron.
- VP-19, NAS Moffett Field, CA (1986 – 1989): Navigator, Tactical Coordinator, and Mission Commander.
- Naval Aviation Training, Florida and California (1982 – 1984)
- Navy Recruiting District, Boston, MA (1982 – 1984)
Education
Juris Doctor -
Georgetown University Law Center
Washington, DC05-1994
Bachelor of Science - Resources Management
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD01.1982
Skills
- Leadership and supervision of large legal teams
- Cybercrime, computer forensics, and intellectual property prosecutions
- Complex investigations and trials (violent crime, white-collar, cybercrime)
- Legal ethics, professional responsibility, and internal trainings
- Trial readiness: indictments to verdicts; motions practice
- Cross-agency collaboration; federal/state/private sector partnerships
- Military leadership, operations planning, and crisis management
- Oral advocacy
- Written advocacy
- Trial experience
- Legal analysis
- Legal writing
- Case analysis
- Investigation skills
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving abilities
- Collaboration and teamwork
Certification
Admitted to Pennsylvania State Bar, 1995
Timeline
Senior Litigation Counsel
United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA)
11.2022 - Current
Criminal Section Supervisor, Richmond Division
United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA)
08.2008 - 03.2017
Assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA)
08.1999 - Current
Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit
07.1997 - 07.1999
Assistant District Attorney
Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office
09.1994 - 07.1999
Naval Flight Officer
United States Naval Reserves
08.1992 - 04.2005
United States Navy
05.1982 - 08.1991
Bachelor of Science - Resources Management
United States Naval Academy
Juris Doctor -
Georgetown University Law Center