Timothy Stengel has always enjoyed putting pieces together in service of the big picture.
His penchant for leaving no stone unturned led Stengel to law school, a private practice in Philadelphia, and eventually, a role as deputy chief of the violent crime unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
“I prosecuted a whole bunch of different cases,” Stengel said. “Violent crime cases, organized crime, drug trafficking, some corruption and fraud cases, as well as some national security matters.”
He said he remembers being in law school and listening to a presentation by a former U.S. district attorney.
“I remember thinking, as that person described what they did, ‘wow, that really sounds like something I would like to do,’” Stengel said. “I just really like the work…starting with an allegation, talking to people, reviewing documents, eventually figuring out what happened, articulating what the evidence demonstrated what that was.”
As deputy chief, Stengel supervised a team of nearly 30 prosecutors on high profile investigations.
His resume includes the conviction of Rafael Vega-Rodriguez, who, in 2020 in Reading, drew a handgun and opened fire on a trio of FBI agents while they attempted to arrest him for violating parole.
When you work so closely with law enforcement agents, you know how federal law enforcement puts themselves in harm’s way,” Stengel said. “It meant a lot to put that case up.”
Another case Stengel oversaw involved Gregory Dow, 61, of Lancaster County in 2021.
Dow was sentenced to nearly 16 years in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing four minors in an orphanage he and his wife operated in Kenya.
“That case had international components and whole lot going on,” Stengel said. “It was complicated, and it was tough to get to the finish line, but it was really worth it.”
Stengel said it was fulfilling to see prosecutors in his unit take a major case to trial.
“I am nothing but a team player, and I felt such pride watching people on the team do such good work,” Stengel said.
Now, the Lancaster native is bringing his wealth of experience and team-oriented mindset to a position closer to home.
In August, Stengel began his new role as co-chair of the investigations, white collar, and criminal defense group at Saxton & Stump, a private law firm.
Saxton & Stump has ten offices located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and South Carolina.
Stengel works out of the group’s Lancaster and Philadelphia offices, leading a growing team that guides clients through internal investigations, government inquiries, regulatory scrutiny, and criminal defense matters.
“We’re in court a lot, we try some cases, but most of what you’re doing is building cases,” Stengel said of his time as a prosecutor. “That type of work is equally applicable to private practice…If a company gets wind of a problem within its walls, the leadership has to figure out what happened, so they know how to react.”
Getting to the bottom of the facts is the kind of work Stengel has spent the past eight years doing in the U.S. attorney’s office.
“It’s the type of work that I’m really looking forward to doing at Saxton & Stump,” Stengel said.
Stengel said his role includes navigating internal investigations for government or private entities, as well as a more traditional white-collar defense.
“When charges are brought or enforcement action is filed, you’ve got to be ready and willing to defend your client,” Stengel said.
Stengel said a major reason he decided to transition to Saxton & Stump is the organization’s commitment to growing its team.
That team includes former federal and state judges, former prosecutors, defense attorneys, and professionals with backgrounds in law enforcement, healthcare, and corporate compliance.
“With the growth that Saxton has experienced comes depth,” Stengel said. “Say a client needs an investigation into an employment matter…You can take someone who is experienced in conducting investigations and partner with someone in another practice group area, like our employment group…So it’s not just a team of investigators, you’re partnering with other people throughout the firm, and Saxton certainly now has the depth to do that.”
Stengel’s co-chairs include Mark E. Cedrone, a white collar defense attorney, and Hon. Christopher C. Conner, former chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
“Tim is an outstanding addition to our group,” Judge Conner said. “His breadth of experience makes him uniquely qualified to help us lead this practice forward and serve clients facing sensitive and high-stakes issues.”
Stengel said he’s been continually impressed with his new colleagues.
“They seem to be good people who want to do good work,” Stengel said. “That was very important to me.”
Another reason for Stengel’s transition is Saxton & Stump’s footprint in areas that he has a connection, including Philadelphia, where he went to school and practiced law, and his hometown, Lancaster.
“I’m just a Lancaster boy,” Stengel said. “Very happy to have both feet under me in Lancaster but still keep my connection with and work in the Philadelphia area.”
Stengel is the second former prosecutor to arrive at Saxton & Stump in August — the firm welcomed Cody J. Groeber, a seasoned federal public defender with 20 years of experience, as a shareholder in the Charleston, S.C., office.
“These strategic hires reflect the firm’s investment in expanding its national investigations and enforcement practice in response to rising client demand across healthcare, education, government, nonprofit, and corporate sectors,” Saxton & Stump said in a press release.
The firm, founded in 2015, employs nearly 300 professionals, including 150 attorneys.
Source: Berkshire mont