Vinciguerra's New Position is Part Prosecutor, Part Professor

Joshua Vinciguerra '99 recently began working with the Albany-based New York Prosecutors Training Institute ("NYPTI"), a not-for-profit organization that provides counsel and training to the state's prosecutors.

"Every day here is different because we respond to requests for assistance whenever they arise, from prosecutors around the state, in a variety of different circumstances," he explained. "We're often called upon to provide recommendations and strategic advice within very short periods of time."

Part of Vinciguerra's job is to develop, coordinate and conduct training courses for prosecutors and other members of the New York state law enforcement community on the topics of mortgage fraud, motor vehicle theft, insurance fraud and ethics. He also handles financial crime issues at NYPTI by tracking developments and emerging trends in criminal and business law that affect all areas of American industry. He writes and edits articles about current issues and developments in criminal law in NYPTI's quarterly magazine, Empire State Prosecutor.

Vinciguerra draws upon his own experiences as a former federal prosecutor and Assistant District Attorney. Most recently, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of New York, where he prosecuted white collar crime, including mortgage fraud, financial institution fraud, corporate embezzlement and ERISA crime. Before moving back to Albany, he was an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan under District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, where he prosecuted narcotics cases in the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, as well as financial crime in the Frauds Bureau.

He also credits his time at Albany Law with helping him to prepare for his legal career, specifically noting how Professors Deutsch and Bonventre changed the ways in which he looked at the law, as well as the myriad opportunities he had to apply his lessons in more hands-on environments.

"One particularly striking aspect of Albany Law School always seemed to be the sheer number of opportunities for professional development that existed outside of the classroom, from the Law Review and the Moot Court Program to the student organizations, the Student Bar Association and clinics," said Vinciguerra, who served as an executive editor on the Albany Law Review. "They provided us with real-world experiences and helped us to develop writing, advocacy and leadership skills, as well as lasting friendships."

"It's also been great to be able to maintain close ties with Albany Law School itself, which has grown tremendously since we graduated," he concluded. "My wife and I are enjoying raising our two little girls nearby to their grandparents, and taking advantage of just about every form of outdoor recreation available in Upstate New York.  I'm also enjoying establishing, and re-establishing, personal and professional ties in the area."