Head of Justice Department's Criminal Division to Step Down

Criticized for not charging bankers with crimes

The head of the Justice Department's criminal division, who has shouldered much of the blame for bringing few cases related to the financial crisis, but who also led the unit to record settlements, will step down on March 1.

"As I wrote to the President, and want to tell you, serving as the head of this remarkable Division has been the greatest privilege of my professional life," Lanny Breuer said in a memo to criminal division employees dated Tuesday.

Breuer, 54, who previously worked as a defense lawyer and in the Clinton White House, has led the division since 2009.