Federal prosecutor opens office in Bowling Green

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Department of Justice United States Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday that for the first time in Kentucky’s history, Bowling Green will have a fully-staffed federal prosecutor’s office.

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky Russell Coleman, law enforcement and community leaders congregated for the announcement at the downtown Federal Courthouse.

“We want assistant united State attorneys to be expanding the cases they work, expanding availability, so we can do a better job of protecting Bowling Green and protecting this region,” said Coleman.

Opening a full-time staffed office required approval from the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington D.C. and Congress.

Previously, federal prosecutors made a two-hour commute from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Louisville.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office press release states that having this office will help to strengthen relationships with local law enforcement and state prosecutors in order to better handle the threat of increased drug trafficking, online elder fraud and child exploitation.

The announcement was made during a ribbon-cutting ceremony where the Mark Yurchisim was sworn in as Special Assistant United States Attorney at the U.S. District Court House in Bowling Green.

“It’s a great day in Warren County because not only will we gain the experience that Mark is going to receive but also we are gaining a brand new office with full time U.S. attorneys here in Bowling Green and Warren County something we have needed really for a long time,” said Warren County Attorney Amy Milliken.

The office will be initially staffed with full-time Assistant United States Attorney Madison Sewell and Special Assistant United States Attorney Mark Yurchisin.

Yurchisin is a Bowling Green native and was sworn in as the first Bowling Green-based special assistant U.S. attorney Wednesday. He is currently an assistant county attorney for the Warren County Attorney’s Office and will serve as a link between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and local prosecutors.

U.S. Attorney Coleman is looking to hire another full-time federal prosecutor later this year.