Robert M. Holmsen
1st Asst. Prosecutor

First Assistant Prosecutor Robert M. Holmsen

Robert Holmsen was sworn in as First Assistant Prosecutor on June 30, 2009. Holmsen was Chief Assistant Prosecutor in charge of the Intelligence/Counter-Terrorism Unit.

Holmsen is a 1982 graduate of Montclair State University and graduated Seton Hall University School of Law in 1985. He served as a law clerk for the Honorable Isabel Stark, Superior Court of New Jersey.

Holmsen joined the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office in 1986 as an Assistant Prosecutor. He prosecuted cases in the Grand Jury, Trial and Sex Crimes Units before becoming Chief of the Criminal Investigations Section. There, Holmsen led prosecutions that involved crimes of homicide, murder for hire, extortion, loan sharking, armed robbery, bank robbery and gambling. During his tenure with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Holmsen also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney with the United States Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey. There he participated in prosecutions of major members of the Genevese Organized Crime Family. Holmsen received the prestigious United States Department of Justice Director’s Award for his participation in these successful prosecutions.

In 2001, Holmsen joined the United States Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey as an Assistant United States Attorney. While assigned to the Criminal Division, he prosecuted a wide array of criminal cases. Upon being assigned to the Violent Crimes Unit, Holmsen prosecuted cases involving human trafficking, forced labor, domestic servitude, gang violence and international narcotics distribution.

In 2003, Holmsen joined the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office as a Chief Assistant Prosecutor. He served as Chief of Intelligence/Counter-Terrorism Unit. In that position, he helped develop the unit into one of the most sophisticated in the State of New Jersey through the acquisition of state of the art equipment and recruitment of experienced and trained personnel. In that capacity, Holmsen also served as legal advisor for the Passaic County Rapid Deployment Team and Passaic County Counter-Terrorism Task Force. He also served as Co-Chairperson on the Urban Areas Security Initiatives Law Enforcement Sub-Committee. During his tenure in the Prosecutor’s Office, Holmsen also served as Chief of the Insurance Fraud Unit. In that capacity he led prosecutions involving insurance fraud including cases that involved fraud committed by physicians and health care officials.

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