Effective September 19, 2024, Reagan Taylor Fondren, who has been serving as the First Assistant United States Attorney since October 2022, will take over as the Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. This appointment follows the departure of former United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz and is made under the Vacancies Reform Act.
Fondren, a native of Memphis and an alumna of Central High School, pursued her undergraduate education at Spelman College and earned her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. She has dedicated her entire career to federal public service with the United States Department of Justice and has been an Assistant United States Attorney for over 16 years.
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Fondren’s career commenced as a Presidential Management Fellow with the Drug Enforcement Administration, where she was involved in investigating and instituting charges against DEA registrants accused of violating federal regulations. In 2008, she became part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, gaining extensive trial and appellate experience as a violent crime and homicide prosecutor.
Returning to Memphis in 2014, Fondren served the Western District of Tennessee, holding roles such as senior and lead AUSA in the Civil Rights Unit of the Criminal Division. She managed complex investigations and trials involving multiple law enforcement partners. Later, she moved to the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office, where she served as Senior Litigation Counsel, defending the United States in various civil cases, including employment discrimination, medical malpractice, and prisoner litigation. She also led the Financial Litigation and Bankruptcy Divisions, coordinated with government agencies to collect debts, and represented the United States in bankruptcy litigation. Additionally, Fondren served as the District Election Officer and chaired the Diversity Committee.
Fondren is married to Rickey Fondren II, and they have two children. She is actively involved in community and legal organizations, including the Memphis Bar Foundation, the National Bar Association, the National Black Prosecutors Association, Girl Scouts Heart of the South, The Links, Incorporated, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
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