R. Cooper Vaughan is Senior Counsel to the Director of the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection, where he advises on and litigates a range of high-priority matters in service of the agency's mission to protect consumers from fraud and deception. Cooper began his legal career as a state prosecutor, handling criminal offenses including fraud and embezzlement and bringing civil asset forfeiture proceedings to recover money stolen through wire scams. In that role, Cooper also collaborated with state and federal partners on anti-fraud and anti-money laundering initiatives and served on a regional task force to combat elder fraud. Later, at the Virginia Attorney General's Office, Cooper represented the Commonwealth in a range of high-profile civil matters, including internal and external investigations, and investigated violations of the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act. Cooper is a graduate of Columbia University and the University of Virginia School of Law.