CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Attorney for Southern West Virginia Moore Capito has learned a lot through his first year in the position.
Capito was confirmed into office on October 7, 2025, following four terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates. Capito reflected on his first 365 days in office during an appearance Wednesday on MetroNews “Talkline.”
“‘Is it everything that you lived it up to be? Is it what you expected?'” Capito said. “Actually, the answer is yes, because frankly I didn’t know what to expect. I came into the job with a few clear priorities, of course somethings surprised me, some things have changed. I’ve definitely learned a lot, I’ll tell you that.”
It’s been a learning experience day after day, Capito said. He added that collaboration has been the key to success so far.
“I think what surprised me more than anything was how determined our law enforcement components were throughout the state of West Virginia,” Capito said. “How committed they are to making our communities safer. There’s probably a zillion anecdotes that I could tell you that I’ve gotten along the way.”
All of those contributions from law enforcement have shaped the work by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Capito said. He emphasized that the “best way to learn is to listen” before going ahead with action.
There are 23 counties within the Southern District of West Virginia, and Capito said he’s visited each one at least once. Some of them he’s been to multiple times, he said, visiting with sheriffs, local law enforcement, prosecutors, and everyone else within the system. He noted that the approach for each county differs based on the local needs.
“Each one of those 23 counties has unique needs,” Capito said. “There’s no way to learn what those needs are, in each of those individual counties, without meeting people where they are, and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”
There have been widespread priorities of the U.S. Attorney’s Office under Capito’s watch. He said that they’ve been working to crack down on violent crime and drugs, particularly with interdiction; working to stop the selling of drugs. Capito said education plays a key role, saying that his office has made sure to get involved with high school events to let them know the dangers of controlled substances.
Additionally, Capito said that they’ve been focusing on finding child predators and bringing them to justice. He said that unfortunately, child exploitation happens every day within West Virginia. One of the most noteworthy cases of 2026 was former Fayette County delegate and schoolteacher Elliott Pritt, who was arrested and indicted for allegedly enticing an underage girl into a sexual relationship.
Capito pointed out that child predators could be everywhere; even in government or in schools. He said that education for parents and children is vitally important, letting them know what the danger signs are. He added that specific efforts, such as Operation Spring Sweep, have targeted noncompliant sex offenders to keep the state safer.
“It’s camouflage, it is not apparent to the eye,” Capito said. “It takes good police work. It’s fluid, chasing where technology is going, and how these people are accessing our children that candidly keeps me up at night.”
The U.S. Department of Justice is putting a particular focus on the new National Fraud Enforcement Initiative. Capito said West Virginia is ready to roll out a comprehensive approach in about a month.
Capito said collaboration among people from many different levels have allowed them to stay up to date on the latest dangerous drugs and technologies, as those continue to evolve. Above all, Capito said he’s noticed a significant ‘dynamic shift’ for the better since he’s stepped into the job.
“I used to walk into these courthouses, and the common reaction that I would get from most of the folks was, ‘what did we do this time? Why are we in trouble?'” Capito said. “I think that we’ve become known more of a partner, as opposed to a threat. That’s how you build those relationships that are going to help us ultimately make West Virginia a safer place.”