Needham Attorney Named First ADA for Middlesex District

Needham attorney Mike Pelgro has been promoted to First Assistant District Attorney for the Middlesex District Attorney’s office following the appointment of former First Assistant DA Michael Fabbri to the Massachusetts District Court Bench.

Fabbri, an Ashland resident, has worked for the Middlesex District Attorney’s office for more than 25 years and was confirmed by a vote of the Governor’s Council on Wednesday, Aug. 29.

Below is the press release submitted by the DA's office regarding the appointments:

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Middlesex District Attorney’s Office First Assistant DA Appointed To District Court Bench

MDAO First Assistant DA and Ashland resident Michael Fabbri has been confirmed as an Associate Justice on the Massachusetts District Court Bench. 

Fabbri, who has worked for the Middlesex District Attorney’s office for over 25 years, was confirmed by a vote of the Governor’s Council today as the newest addition to the judiciary.  Former Assistant United States Attorney and MDAO ADA Mike Pelgro, of Needham, will join the MDAO as the new First Assistant District Attorney. 

“We are very pleased that Michael Fabbri was nominated by the Governor, and has now been confirmed by the Governor’s Council, to be an Associate Justice of the District Court,” District Attorney Leone said.  “His remarkable tenure as a public servant, and most recently as the MDAO’s First Assistant District Attorney, is marked by commitment, dedication and devotion while protecting and serving others.  I’m confident that, as a Judge, he will serve the people of the Commonwealth with incredible distinction and fairness.”

In his more than two decades with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Fabbri has handled many challenging cases, such as the prosecution of Neil Entwistle, the British man convicted in 2008 of murdering his wife, Rachel, and their 9-month-old daughter Lillian-Rose.  Fabbri has held the positions Chief of Homicide, Chief of the Special Investigations Unit, Deputy Chief of the Appeals and Training Bureau, and the Framingham Regional Supervising ADAl

Fabbri and his wife, Karri, are the proud parents of Katelyn, an Air Force Academy Graduate; Peter, who recently graduated from the Naval Academy; and Nicholas, a Norwich Corps of Cadets student.  Fabbri served with the United States Air Force from 1972 to 1976 as a missile electronic technician and trainer.  Over the past twenty years, Fabbri has served as a faculty member at the National College of District Attorneys, has participated on numerous bar association and CLE educational panels, and has taught countless police officers and fellow prosecutors on a variety of criminal law related topics.

Regarding Pelgro’s appointment as First Assistant DA at the MDAO, Leone said, “Mike Pelgro brings to our team a wealth of trial experience in the public and private sectors where he has earned recognition as a lawyer, leader and decision maker.  We will greatly benefit from Mike's blend of state and federal prosecution experience with his private practice background and community involvement.  As an AUSA, Mike received numerous awards, including the prestigious Director’s Award from the Department of Justice, for his excellent performance, innovative problem solving skills, and dedication to the public.  We’re pleased to have Mike Pelgro join us, and are confident he will serve  and protect the citizens of Middlesex County with distinction.” 

Mike Pelgro spent the last five years in private practice with the distinguished law firm of Foley Hoag, and most recently was a partner at the Boston law firm of Perry, Krumsiek and Jack. His practice focused in the areas of white-collar criminal defense, government investigations, and complex civil litigation. 

Prior to that, Pelgro spent nearly two decades at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Major Crimes and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Units. As a member of the Major Crimes Unit, Pelgro initiated a federal-state firearms partnership that later became a nationwide DOJ initiative known as “Operation Triggerlock” and that continues in operation today at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In 2002, Pelgro was appointed Deputy Chief of the OCDETF Unit, and in 2004 he was appointed Chief of the OCDETF Unit. 

Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Pelgro spent 6 1/2 years as a Middlesex ADA and prosecuted numerous cases in the District Courts and Superior Court, after beginning his legal career practicing law in the Boston office of the international law firm of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo. 

Pelgro lives in Needham with his wife and four children, and is active in the Needham community.