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Charlotte Amalie
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Former U.S. Attorney Keeps On Moving On

Nov. 26, 2005 –David M. Nissman is a man who stays on the move.
Born on the East Coast, he went to school and became a law professor at the University of Oregon. He was a trial lawyer with the Department of Justice. He then became an assistant U.S. attorney for the Virgin Islands before taking over the top spot – as the U.S. attorney for the Virgin Islands in April 2002
A few things have become consistent in the last couple decades, however. He is calling the Virgin Islands his home and he remains active in the book publishing trade. He has authored a half-dozen books himself and been intimately involved with the publication of at least a half-dozen others. In 1995, when he was involved with the book publishing section of the Department of Justice, he moved to Washington, D.C. But after a year there, he told his superiors, "I can be doing this work in the Virgin Islands. I am going back home." He has been here ever since.
Early this month he released a new book – Follow the Money: A Guide to Financial & Money Laundering Investigations."
The press release marking the publication says, "It is no secret that a great deal of questionable financial transactions flow through the Caribbean. The mysteries include how it is done and how much money is involved … and how it can be exposed and halted. Nissman thoroughly addresses these and many other pertinent issues."
The book aims to help investigators learn to unearth financial crimes, track and seize the money, and build successful cases to take to court.
In an interview Friday, Nissman said the book's readers will include agents, prosecutors, judges and defense attorneys. He said, "It is written in a high level of analysis, but without the legalese."
The book is already finding its market. Nissman said the Drug Enforcement Agency has ordered 500 copies. The book goes for $175.
The press release describing the book says, "As the world in which we live changes, so do the patterns of criminal activity. International borders are crossed, and currency is moved. Financial records and related documentation contain keys to solving complex crime. From a step-by-step guide to organizing an investigation, through the countless schemes that people have used to profit from white collar fraud, to the toolkit that investigators, prosecutors, and lawyers have to uncover and redress fraud, this book provides the clues to find the missing money."
Nissman said the philosophy he followed during his 30 months as the U.S. Attorney was to determine the most significant criminal and civil problems at the federal level and to devise strategies to address them. One significant case during his tenure were the Plaza Extra Supermarket case, the first federal tax case resulting in criminal prosecution. (See "Former Plaza Extra Controller Pleads Guilty to Fraud") Another significant case involved Global Resources Management, Inc, where territorial officials were steered away from the possible misuse of government revenues. (See "Judge Finds 'Reek Of Politics' In Sewage Contract").
The book's press release also says of Nissman, "His anti-public corruption, money laundering, tax, and drug trafficking prosecutions brought him widespread acclaim."
After his retirement in 2004, the U.S. Attorney's Office Building on St. Croix was named the David Marshall Nissman Justice Center.
Although most of his time since leaving that office has been working in the private sector, he also played an integral part in writing the new V.I. regulations covering the Economic Development Commission. He has also not ruled out serving in the V.I. government as Attorney General if the opportunity arose at the right time.
Corpus Juris Publishing, of Atlanta, also announced this month the publication of the new edition of Proving Federal Crimes by Nissman. First published by the Department of Justice and then by Nissman in 2001, it was chosen by Amazon.com as one of the ten best law books of the year. Proving Federal Crimes contains materials from federal law enforcement agency manuals, the U.S. Attorneys' Manual, the Federal Judges' Benchbook, and material from federal defenders' publications.
Interested parties can get more information at www.cjpbooks.com or call (340)719-0601.

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