Missouri's U.S. Attorney Wood resigns

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri John F. Wood has resigned effective Feb. 28, he announced Wednesday.

The Western District of Missouri covers 66 counties and major cities including Springfield, Jefferson City and Kansas City.

Wood, who was appointed by former President George Bush in 2007, has been hired as a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of a Wall Street law firm, according to a news release.

During his tenure, Wood created three new units within his office: the Fraud & Corruption Unit, the Terrorism & National Security Unit and the Violent Crime Strike Force Unit.

Wood argued dozens of cases, with a particular emphasis on national concern, corporate crime, mortgage fraud and consumer protection. His office indicted one of the largest mortgage fraud cases ever prosecuted in the district, involving 17 defendants and an alleged $12.6 million mortgage fraud scheme covering 25 residential properties in Lee's Summit and Raymore. Wood's office also reached a $60 million civil settlement with Cox Medical Centers to compensate Medicare for payments that Cox improperly claimed and received.

For more on Wood's work as U.S. Attorney, click the link below.