William J. Powell (attorney)

William J. Powell is an American attorney based in West Virginia. He served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia from 2017 to 2021.

Powell's legal career has primarily focused on criminal justice. Prior to his appointment as U.S. Attorney, he worked as a criminal defense attorney in private practice for many years. He has also served as a prosecutor at the state level.

As U.S. Attorney, Powell was responsible for overseeing all federal criminal and civil cases in the Southern District of West Virginia. His office handled a wide range of issues, including drug trafficking, violent crime, white-collar crime, and civil rights violations. He resigned his position in February 2021 as part of the transition to the Biden administration.