BOSTON (WWLP) - United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced on Thursday that Katherine Ferguson has been appointed as the First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. Ferguson is a career prosecutor and has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for 15 years, with extensive experience working with international drug trafficking and money laundering cases. She has also held the positions of Deputy Chief of the Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit for the District Attorney's Office, and Lead Task Force Attorney for the District's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley appointed for District of Massachusetts Ferguson received her bachelor's degree in economics from Princeton University and her master's degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Before joining the U.S. Attorney's Office, she handled over 600 cases in the Boston Municipal Court as an assistant district attorney for the Suffolk County DA's office. U.S. Attorney Foley, who was recently appointed for the role after previously serving as an Assistant Attorney herself, said she looks forward to the expertise Ferguson will bring to the position as First Assistant U.S. Attorney. “Ms. Ferguson’s leadership, dedication, and prosecutorial excellence have earned her widespread respect within our office and beyond,” Foley said. “Her deep understanding of federal law enforcement and her commitment to upholding the rule of law make her an invaluable asset. I am confident that she will bring the same integrity and vision to her new role as First Assistant U.S. Attorney as she has throughout her career.” Local News Headlines TJO Animals teams up with local organization to build shelters for feral cats Hartsprings hosts donation drive in West Springfield Katherine Ferguson appointed as First Assistant U.S. Attorney for District of Massachusetts Railroad Hobby Show comes to Eastern States Exposition WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.