You may know him as the new Homeland Security nominee...

... but in New York State, he's better remembered as, "The guy who nailed Crazy Eddie."

The man who kept investors safe from "Crazy Eddie" is now likely to be the man responsible for keeping the homeland safe from terrorists.

In the early 1990s, as U.S. attorney in New Jersey, he personally prosecuted "Crazy Eddie" Antar, who was accused of swindling $60 million from his 43 electronics stores throughout the metropolitan area. Antar's stores became famous for their loud-mouthed pitchman's signature phrase that "Crazy Eddie's" prices were "insane." Antar and other family members were accused of cheating investors out of $80 million.

Antar was convicted and sentenced to more than 10 years in prison.

Chertoff also oversaw the prosecution of the former top judge in the state of New York, Sol Wachtler, who was accused in 1992 of trying to extort $20,000 from his former lover and threatening to kidnap her daughter. Wachtler was convicted and served 15 months in prison.

Interestingly enough, Hillary Clinton cast the lone Senate vote against his confirmation to previous federal posts under the Bush administration. I've not yet figured out exactly what that portends.