Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill has nominated Shirley Emehelu for the position of State Comptroller. Emehelu brings experience from her recent role as Executive Assistant Attorney General from 2022 to 2024. Prior to that, she was a member of Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi’s White Collar Criminal Defense and Government Investigations Group, where she also co-led the Banking and Finance Group.
Emehelu previously served as Chief of Asset Recovery and Anti-Money Laundering at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. In this capacity, she managed statewide programs focused on federal asset forfeiture, money laundering, and victim restitution. Over her nine years with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Emehelu prosecuted several complex financial fraud cases.
Her background also includes clerking for Judge James R. Spencer in the Eastern District of Virginia. She holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctor degree from Yale University.
“Shirley is a leader who will fiercely uphold the rule of law, expose corruption, and ensure that state government is transparent and accountable. I worked closely with Shirley at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and saw how she implemented innovative reforms in the criminal legal system that improved public safety in New Jersey. I know that she will bring a focus on public service, integrity, and fairness to the Comptroller’s office to ensure that Trenton is being a good steward of New Jerseyans’ tax dollars to make life more affordable,” said Sherrill.
“It’s an honor to be nominated to be New Jersey’s next Comptroller. I worked alongside the Governor-elect at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and I know that her administration will be guided by a commitment to public service and accountability to the people. Our office will serve as a watchdog for the state and public trust – uncovering fraud, waste, and corruption to protect New Jersey taxpayers,” said Emehelu.
