Matthew Casey/KJZZ

U.S. Attorney Michael Bailey (right) was joined at the news conference by Albert Carter, acting field office director for ICE in Phoenix, (far left) and Scott Brown, special agent in charge of HSI in Arizona, in 2020.

Michael Bailey will step down from his post as Arizona’s U.S. attorney. His two-year tenure had a few surprises.

Bailey was named to the position long before anyone in Arizona had heard of COVID-19.

The virus created opportunities for fraud, and so he worked with state and federal agencies to set up a COVID-19 task force.

Bailey said early scams promised cures for the virus, but the schemes are getting more elaborate.

“And I have no doubt that fraud investigations and cases will be ongoing for years to come as a result of the entire pandemic,” he said.

Bailey also worked extensively in border security, narcotics and violent crime in Indian cCuntry.

Most U.S. attorneys, including Bailey, were asked to resign so the Biden administration could make its own appointments. Such requests are standard when new administrations take over, and former President Donald Trump made a similar move when he took office in 2017, replacing nearly all U.S. attorneys.

Bailey's resignation takes effect at the end of the month.