A report released Monday detailed the major cases handled by former U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber, who was found dead over the weekend at age 43. Authorities say the cause of death remains under investigation after police discovered her unresponsive at her home in Alexandria on Saturday morning. Officials have not announced signs of foul play, and reports indicate investigators are considering the possibility of a longstanding medical condition.
Aber served as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia until stepping down in January following the inauguration of President Donald Trump. During her tenure, she oversaw several high-profile national security and international crime prosecutions.
One of her most notable recent cases involved former Central Intelligence Agency analyst Asif Rahman, who pleaded guilty to leaking classified documents describing Israel’s planned military strike on Iran. Prosecutors said the leak exposed sensitive intelligence, endangered lives, and damaged U.S. foreign relations. The disclosure reportedly forced Israel to delay retaliatory military plans.
Aber also led a major sanctions-evasion case against Eleview International Inc.. Two executives, Oleg Nayandin and Vitaliy Borisenko, were accused of illegally shipping more than $6 million in sensitive U.S. technology to Russia through third countries including Turkey, Finland, and Kazakhstan to bypass sanctions related to the war in Ukraine.
In another major case, Aber secured indictments against Russian nationals Sergey Ivanov and Timur Shakhmametov. Authorities alleged they operated a large money-laundering network serving ransomware groups, hackers, and criminal marketplaces involved in attacks on U.S. financial infrastructure.
She also played a key role in a landmark Justice Department war-crimes case charging four Russian soldiers with torturing an American citizen in occupied Ukraine’s Kherson region. Prosecutors said the victim was abducted, beaten, tortured, and subjected to a mock execution.
Born in Virginia, Aber graduated from University of Richmond in 2003 and William & Mary Law School in 2006. She joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2009 and rose through the ranks before leading one of the nation’s most prominent federal districts.
