Vanessa Singh Johannes

Mrs. Johannes is a former federal prosecutor, with a decade of experience investigating and trying complex criminal matters in federal court in Miami. From 2021 to 2025, she was a Carlton Fields' White Collar and Government Investigations group and the Miami Office's Co-Managing Shareholder. She handled complex criminal and civil defense matters for the Firm, and was also apt to advise on civil rights and human trafficking compliance and investigations. Her specialty is federal jury trials, having tried dozens in the SDFL.

At CF, she tried a two-month long federal healthcare criminal trial. Ms. Johannes is licensed to practice law in New York (admitted in 2007) and Florida (admitted in 2021).Mrs. Johannes is a former federal prosecutor, with a decade of experience investigating and trying complex criminal matters in federal court in Miami. From 2021 to 2025, she was a Carlton Fields' White Collar and Government Investigations group and the Miami Office's Co-Managing Shareholder. She handled complex criminal and civil defense matters for the Firm, and was also apt to advise on civil rights and human trafficking compliance and investigations. Her specialty is federal jury trials, having tried dozens in the SDFL. At CF, she tried a two-month long federal healthcare criminal trial. Ms. Johannes is licensed to practice law in New York (admitted in 2007) and Florida (admitted in 2021).

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

In addition to being an AUSA in the Special Prosecutions unit, Ms. Johannes was the District's PSC Coordinator. She handled the intake for all PSC matters in our District, which spans and encompasses the counties between Key West, FL to Fort Pierce, FL. She was also responsible for training federal agents and junior AUSAs on federal child exploitation violations and investigative steps to aid prosecution of online sexual predators. Her job required her to keep abreast of computer hacking and intellectual property ("CHIP") updates, case law, and changes, and to attend trainings at the NAC on technological advancements that affect online criminal behavior. She worked closely with the FBI and HSI, and ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) task force, special agents, USMS, and local law enforcement in South Florida to investigate and prosecute all federal crimes against children.

Positions Held:

• Affirmative Civil Rights (Civil Division) (Miami Office), AUSA: April 2017 - April 2018
Investigated cases involving housing discrimination (including sexual harassment violations); ADA violations; and the mistreatment of prisoners under CRIPA. One of only two (2) Affirmative Civil Rights AUSAs in the SDFL.

• Special Prosecutions Section (Criminal Division) (Miami Office), AUSA: June 2013 – April 2017, May 2018 - January 2021: Investigated, indicted, and tried cases involving human trafficking, child exploitation, child pornography, and extreme/organized violent crimes, including homicide, kidnapping, and murder-for-hire cases. A sample of the cases Mrs. Johannes worked on are referenced below. One of only seven (7) AUSAs in Special Prosecutions. Top Secret Clearance held.

• Major Crimes Section (Criminal Division) (Miami Office), AUSA: July 2011 – May 2013
• Appellate Division (Miami Office), AUSA: January 2011 – June 2011

Additional Information: Mrs. Johannes first-chaired over twenty federal jury trials as an AUSA.

In addition to her work an AUSA, Mrs. Johannes served as the Chair of the USAO-SDFL’s Women History Month Committee. In this capacity, she has organized and hosted the Office’s Women’s History Month Luncheon and Speaker Series since 2013, has led various drives for donations of items to local domestic violence shelters, and has led roundtable discussions in the Office on the role of gender in the workplace and judiciary. Further, she has attended various Department of Justice sponsored trainings and conferences.

Mrs. Johannes is proud of her humble beginnings, Indo-Guyanese background, and Miami roots. She recognizes that many people and mentors have helped her excel. To that end, she is always open to volunteer opportunities in the community, to help our youth, impoverished, and/or minority populations. She remains passionate about civil rights, and helping women, children, and those in need.