The U.S. Attorney for West Virginia's Northern District will resign at the end of the month.
After serving in the position for more than six years, William Ihlenfeld II will step down as U.S. Attorney for the northern district on Dec. 31, his office said in a news release Monday.
"Serving as United States Attorney has been the most rewarding and exciting experience of my professional career," Ihlenfeld said in the release. "I feel blessed to have been a part of a talented team of crime fighters and community problem solvers, and I'm proud of all that we've accomplished."
Ihlenfeld touted his aggressive response to the state's drug epidemic. Prosecutors in his office dismantled drug trafficking organizations and prosecuted doctors, pharmacies and other medical professionals involved in the improper prescribing or dispensing of painkillers.
Gov.-elect Jim Justice appointed Ihlenfeld to chair a committee on the state's drug epidemic, as part of Justice's transition team.
Ihlenfeld plans to return to private practice in 2017, the release states.
While in office, Ihlenfeld established a public corruption unit and created a hotline for citizens to report tips. The unit helped uncover pay-to-play schemes within the West Virginia Division of Highways. Ihlenfeld focused largely on federal domestic violence cases and his office saw numerous convictions for interstate domestic violence, stalking and illegal gun possession by domestic violence offenders.