AMONG THE ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEYS

Richard E. Drooyan

LAW SCHOOL: Harvard

EXPERIENCE: Three years with law firm of Kadison, Pfaelzer, Woodard, Quinn & Rossi

CASES: Chief assistant U.S. attorney since 1984, Drooyan, 36, has been in office eight years and handled over 200 cases. For the last three years he has supervised the W. Patrick Moriarty public corruption investigation, which so far has resulted in the conviction of 11 bankers, politicians and Moriarty aides.

“We attract a lot of young, talented ambitious attorneys who are concerned about obtaining trial experience, handling cases and doing public service.”

Joyce A. Karlin

LAW SCHOOL: Loyola of Chicago

EXPERIENCE: Two years private practice in Chicago and Los Angeles

CASES: An assistant U.S. attorney since 1977, Karlin, 35, is in charge of a high-priority investigation of child pornography violations that has produced 18 indictments in the past two years.

“My dreams as a girl at night were delivering closing arguments in the courtroom in a big criminal case. When I first came to this office my feeling was, ‘Why are people paying me to do this?’ ”

James R. Asperger

LAW SCHOOL: UCLA

EXPERIENCE: Law clerk for California Supreme Court Justice Stanley Mosk and Chief Justice William Rehnquist of the United States, then three years as litigator for law firm of Latham & Watkins.

CASES: In three years as an assistant U.S. attorney, Asperger, 33, has worked primarily on white collar criminal cases.

“There was very little courtroom work for a young lawyer in private practice. I came here because I wanted to feel comfortable in a court. I knew I wanted to do white collar work ultimately and that’s what I’ve been doing.”

Fred D. Heather

LAW SCHOOL: Hofstra

EXPERIENCE: Spent five years as civil litigator in major New York law firm.

CASES: Since joining the office in 1983, Heather, 43, has prosecuted the Bell poker parlor corruption case, a major oil pipeline theft and over 30 defense industry kickback cases.

“I was unhappy in New York with the realization that if I stayed there I would never get the courtroom experience essential to being a trial lawyer. A litigator who is never in court is like a surgeon who doesn’t operate.”

Maurice A. Leiter

LAW SCHOOL: Harvard

EXPERIENCE: Three years at a New York law firm, where he did some pro bono work for Lawyer’s Committee for International Human Rights investigating civilian murders in El Salvador.

CASES: In office less than a year, Leiter, 28, has had five trials, including the successful prosecution of two Immigration and Naturalization officials charged with illegally selling permanent alien residency permits.

“I love it here. The job is exciting . . . but I’m sure there will come a time when I want to make more money.”

Russell Hayman

LAW SCHOOL: Yale

EXPERIENCE: Law clerk for one year for federal judge in San Francisco.

CASES: Since joining office in 1983, Hayman, now 28, has handled 15 trials, serving as co-prosecutor with U.S. Atty. Robert C. Bonner in both spy trials of former FBI Agent Richard W. Miller.

“Just about all of us here are taking approximately a 50% pay cut just for being here. . . . My father was a university professor all his life and my entire family is geared to public service. I’m inclined to public service, too.”

Laurie L. Levenson

LAW SCHOOL: UCLA

EXPERIENCE: One year as law clerk for the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia.

CASES: Hired in 1981, Levenson, 31, has focused primarily on major fraud and drug money laundering cases. She presently serves as chief of criminal appeals for the U.S. attorney’s office, monitoring all decisions of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

“I don’t consider myself a career prosecutor, but . . . this job spoils you. The people are smart, they’re ethical, they’re enthusiastic and they support you.”

Mark H. Bonner

LAW SCHOOL: American University

EXPERIENCE: Justice Department lawyer in Washington for two years.

CASES: During 10 years in the office, Bonner, 39, who is not related to U.S. Atty. Robert C. Bonner, has prosecuted a series of major cocaine cases, including the successful prosecution of the Alan Charles Mobley cocaine ring in Orange County, the largest drug network ever dismantled by federal officials on the West Coast.

“I had just intended to come out for a couple of years and then go back to Washington. But . . . the time passes by so fast. The Mobley case alone took up two entire years of my life.”

Nancy Wieben Stock

LAW SCHOOL: USC

EXPERIENCE: One year in real estate law in Orange County.

CASES: In eight years as a prosecutor, Stock, 35, has coordinated arson prosecutions for the office and is now chief of the major crimes unit in the U.S. attorney’s office, in charge of prosecuting such felonies as armed bank robbery, kidnaping and arson.

“When I started there were only four women in this office. There weren’t too many role models around. It took a long time before there were significant numbers both here and in the federal agencies.”

William F. Fahey

LAW SCHOOL: UCLA

EXPERIENCE: Law clerk for two years for U.S. District Judge Laughlin E. Waters and private practice for two years in San Diego.

CASES: Since joining office in 1980, Fahey, 34, has handled everything from prison murder cases to complex boiler-room fraud prosecutions. Fahey is now chief of the newly established public corruption and government fraud unit.

“We’re firmly convinced there is some corruption in state and local governments in California and we’re making that one of the more important priorities for the office.”