Attorney General Holder Recognizes Department Employees and Others for Their Service at Annual Awards Ceremony

WASHINGTON—Attorney General Eric Holder recognizes 282 department employees for their distinguished public service today at the 60th Annual Attorney General’s Awards Ceremony. Fifty-seven other individuals outside the department are also honored for their work. Hcheld at DAR Constitution Hall, this annual ceremony recognizes both department employees and others for their outstanding dedication to carrying out the Department of Justice’s missions.

“This year’s award recipients have made significant contributions across, and far beyond, the Department of Justice and helped to protect the rights, safety, and best interests of the citizens we are privileged to serve,” Attorney General Holder said. “I am grateful for the dedication and passion that these extraordinary public servants bring to their work, and I am honored to count them as colleagues.”

Attorney General Holder and Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole present the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service—the department’s highest award for employee performance—to the team responsible for the successful prosecution of 10 New Orleans Police officers convicted of killing innocent civilians in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service is presented to members of the investigative and litigation team responsible for one of the largest police-misconduct cases ever brought by the Department of Justice. The evidence discovered by the prosecution team revealed that shortly after Hurricane Katrina, several New Orleans Police officers used assault rifles and a shotgun to shoot six innocent people on the Danziger Bridge, killing two and seriously wounding four others. In concert with supervisors and homicide investigators, the officers began a stunning cover-up. Ultimately, a jury convicted the defendants.

The recipients of the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service include, from the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, Deputy Chief Bobbi Bernstein; Special Litigation Counsel Forrest Christian; Trial Attorney Cindy K. Chung; Paralegal Specialist Steven D. Harrell; and from the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office, Special Agent William M. Bezak.

The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism is given to recognize an extraordinary act of courage and voluntary risk of life during the performance of official duties. This year’s award is presented to John M. Long, Senior Inspector for the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Investigative Operations Division. On December 9, 2011, Mr. Long risked his life to protect a victim from a brutal attack by a dangerous fugitive wanted for abduction, theft, and parole violation. Johnny Jones, a violent offender, broke into the home of his former wife, brutally attacking her. The following day while conducting surveillance, Mr. Long confronted Jones at gunpoint, grabbed the ex-wife and protected her from danger as Jones retreated back into the house. Mr. Long and his law enforcement partners then tracked Jones to a second location, where he ultimately surrendered.

The Edward H. Levi Award for Outstanding Professionalism and Exemplary Integrity is presented to pay tribute to the memory and achievements of former Attorney General Edward H. Levi, whose career as an attorney, law professor, dean, and public servant exemplified these qualities in the best traditions of the department. This year’s award is presented to Stuart M. Goldberg, Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General. Mr. Goldberg is honored for his extraordinary professionalism in senior positions throughout the department over the course of more than 24 years.

Over his distinguished career, he has performed his duties in each position of increased responsibility in such an exemplary manner that will serve as a model for excellence and professionalism in the department. Mr. Goldberg regularly handles sensitive matters with outstanding professionalism and leadership and routinely ensures that department attorneys have the resources and training necessary to appreciate professional responsibility and ethics. Because of his extraordinary talents, Mr. Goldberg has played a leading role in many important department matters over the past several years.

The Mary C. Lawton Lifetime Service Award recognizes employees who have served at least 20 years in the department and have demonstrated high standards of excellence and dedication throughout their careers. This award is presented only in exceptional circumstances to those individuals of special merit and is not awarded to express general appreciation for tenure alone.

This year’s award is presented to John J. Dion, Chief of the National Security Division’s Counterespionage Section. Mr. Dion has been involved in the investigation and prosecution of almost every spy prosecuted in the United States over the past 31 years. He is also a frequent lecturer at the FBI and in the intelligence community on national security investigations and prosecutions. Mr. Dion’s outstanding contributions have been recognized through the Intelligence Community Seal Medallion and the Medal of Distinguished Service from the National Reconnaissance Office.

The William French Smith Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cooperative Law Enforcement is an honorary award granted to recognize state and local law enforcement officials who have made significant contributions to cooperative law enforcement endeavors.

This year’s award is presented to task force officers responsible for closing more than 3,300 warrants, recovering more than five missing and abused children, and successfully completing more than nine sex-offender compliance checks. Most recently, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Task Force Officers (TFOs) displayed exceptional bravery and skills while responding to armed suspects and aiding their fellow TFO who had been shot and killed in the line of duty. Eastern North Carolina TFOs also displayed exceptional bravery after being fired upon by suspects from behind closed doors.

The recipients of The William French Smith Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cooperative Law Enforcement include, from the Pennsylvania State Police, Sergeant Adam R. Kosheba and Detective Timothy C. Flickinger; from the Berk’s County, Pennsylvania Sheriff’s Department, Deputy Sheriff Kyle D. Pagerly (posthumous); from the Greenville, North Carolina Police Department, Officer Timothy S. McInerney; from the Pitt County, North Carolina Sherriff’s Department, Deputy Sherriff Joseph G. Reason; from the Kinston, North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Officer Jimmy R. Moody, Jr.; from the North Carolina Department of Justice, Special Agent Christopher W. Dawson; and from the Nash County, North Carolina Sherriff’s Office, Investigator Warren B. Lewis (posthumous).

The Attorney General’s Award for Meritorious Public Service is the top public service award granted by the department and is designed to recognize the most significant contributions of citizens and organizations that have assisted the Department of Justice in the accomplishment of its mission and objectives. This year’s award is presented to Ellen Pence Ph.D. (posthumous), Executive Director for Praxis International’s Office on Violence Against Women. Her inter-agency collaboration model, the Duluth Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, is used in all 50 states and more than 17 countries, as well as in tribes throughout the United States. Her framework of a coordinated community response to domestic violence permeates many of the programs authorized under the Violence Against Women Act administered by the Office on Violence Against Women.

The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service is the Justice Department’s second highest award for employee performance. The recipients of this award exemplify the highest commitment to the department’s mission. Fourteen Distinguished Service Awards were presented this year to individuals or teams of people.

The first Distinguished Service Award is presented to members of the investigative and litigation team responsible for the successful prosecution of United States v. AU Optronics et al., participants in an international cartel that fixed the price of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels used in computers, laptops, and televisions sold in the United States and around the world. The investigation resulted in nearly $1.4 billion in criminal fines against companies involved in the conspiracy and a recent conviction at trial of one of the world’s largest manufacturers of LCD monitors, its U.S. subsidiary, and its two highest-ranking executives. In addition to returning guilty verdicts against these defendants, the jury also found that the ill-gotten gain to the conspirators was at least $500 million, thereby raising the statutory maximum corporate fine from $100 million to $1 billion for the offense. This case represented the first time that the Antitrust Division litigated the issue of ill-gotten gain before a jury. This successful prosecution sends a powerful message, deterring international cartels that may be tempted to target U.S. businesses and consumers.

Award recipients include, from the Antitrust Division, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Scott D. Hammond; from the division’s San Francisco Field Office, Chief Phillip H. Warren and Assistant Chief Peter K. Huston; Trial Attorneys, Lidia Maher, E. Kate Patchen, Christopher M. Ries, Michael L. Scott, Brent C. Snyder, Heather S. Tewksbury, and Micah L. Wyatt; Paralegal Specialists Nicole A. Beach, Alicia M. Berenyi, Justin L. Brooke, Divya Musinipally, and Lechuan Zhou; Secretary Liliana Cruz Vallejo; from the division’s National Criminal Enforcement Section, Trial Attorney Jon B. Jacobs; from the division’s Networks and Technology Enforcement Section, Trial Attorney Sanford M. Adler; from the division’s Appellate Section, Trial Attorneys James J. Fredricks and Kristen C. Limarzi; from the division’s Paralegal Unit, Paralegal Specialist William E. Cuomo; from the division’s Economic Regulatory Section, Economist Matthew Magura; from the division’s Competition Policy Section, Economist Michael T. Sandfort; from the division’s Economic Litigation Section, Senior Economic Counsel Gregory J. Werden and Economist Peter A. Woodward; and from the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office, Special Agent Claire Duda.

The second Distinguished Service Award is presented to the team whose service and dedication to the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Working Group led to the completion of one of the largest and most complex rule-makings in the Department of Justice’s recent history. The work on this project, which has resulted in a comprehensive set of national standards aimed at eliminating sexual abuse in our nation’s confinement facilities, was of an outstanding and distinctive character. These individuals conducted an in-depth review and revision of standards recommended by the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission and engaged with a wide range of relevant stakeholders, culminating in publication of a detailed final rule with extensive justifications of the standards and responses to public comments.

Award recipients include, from the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General Eric R. Columbus; from the Access to Justice Initiative, Senior Counsel Daniel B. Olmos; from the Office of the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Cristina Maria Rodriguez;, Attorney-Advisor Bonnie I. Robin-Vergeer, and Special Counsel Rosemary A. Hart; from the Eastern District of New York, Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney F. Franklin Amanat; from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Senior Policy Advisor for Corrections Gary L. Dennis Ph.D.; from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Senior Statistical Advisor Allen J. Beck Ph.D.; from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Compliance Monitoring Coordinator Elissa Rumsey; from the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Deputy General Counsel Kenneth P. Hyle; from the BOP’s National Institute of Corrections, Program Specialists Lorie Brisbin and Deborah “Dee” Halley; from the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section, Senior Trial Attorneys Kerry K. Dean and Joshua C. Delaney; and from the Office on Violence Against Women, Attorney-Advisor Marnie R. Shiels.

The third Distinguished Service Award is presented to the individuals involved in procuring a $25 billion mortgage servicing settlement between the United States, 49 state attorneys general, and the five largest mortgage servicers, representing the largest federal-state settlement in history. The settlement includes comprehensive new mortgage loan servicing standards, $5 billion to state and federal treasuries and borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosure, $20 billion in consumer relief and a $1 billion resolution of False Claims Act recoveries by the Eastern District of New York.

Award recipients include, from the Office of the Associate Attorney General, Senior Counsel and Chief of Staff Brian Hauck; from the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, Deputy Director Michael D. Granston and Trial Attorney John Warshawsky; from the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section, Trial Attorneys Elizabeth A. Singer, Amber R. Standridge, and Daniel Yi; from the Eastern District of New York, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth M. Abell and Richard K. Hayes; from the District of Colorado, Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Chris Larson; from the District of Colorado’s Civil Division, Chief Kevin T. Traskos; from the Colorado Attorney General’s Office Consumer Protection Section, First Assistant Attorney General Andrew P. McCallin; from the Florida Office of the Attorney General’s Division of Economic Crimes, Bureau Chief Victoria A. Butler; from the North Carolina Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Division, Assistant Attorney General Philip A. Lehman; from the Office of the Connecticut Attorney General’s Finance Department, Assistant Attorney General Matthew J. Budzik; from the Office of the Illinois Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, Chief Deborah A. Hagan; from the Office of the Attorney General of Texas’ Consumer Protection Division, Assistant Attorney General James A. Daross; from the Washington Office of the Attorney General, Senior Counsel David W. Huey; and from the Iowa Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, Assistant Attorney General Patrick T. Madigan.

The fourth Distinguished Service Award is presented to the team whose outstanding contribution led to the successful investigation and dismantling of the Coreflood Botnet, also known as Operation Adeona. The Coreflood Botnet was a collection of approximately 2.3 million compromised computers illegally controlled by subjects in Russia, which were then used to steal personal information and commit financial fraud on a massive scale. Operation Adeona was the first proactive seizure of a botnet by law enforcement authorities in the United States, utilizing an innovative legal framework and sophisticated technical means to cause the subjects to release control of the compromised computers.

Award recipients include, from the District of Connecticut, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward Chang and David C. Nelson; from the FBI’s Cyber Division, Supervisory Special Agents Thomas X. Grasso, Jr. and Pedro D. Cordero; from the FBI’s International Operations Division, Supervisory Special Agent Michael J. Kolessar; from the FBI’s Memphis Field Office, Supervisory Special Agent Dean Kinsman; from the FBI’s New Haven, Connecticut Field Office, Special Agents Jane M. Domboski, Kenneth W. Keller, Thomas S. Lawler, Briana L. Neumiller, and Stephen L. Ney; from the Criminal Division, Supervisory Trial Attorney Richard W. Downing; and from the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Senior Counsel Josh Goldfoot.

The fifth Distinguished Service Award is presented to members of the investigation and prosecution team responsible for its outstanding work in combating the violent transnational criminal organization La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) that terrorized communities throughout the greater San Francisco metropolitan area. This complex racketeering investigation and prosecution spanned more than six years and targeted an organization responsible for at least six murders and countless shootings, assaults, and other acts of violence, as well as narcotics trafficking. The team’s relentless pursuit of this gang led to the conviction of more than 37 gang members on racketeering charges, with the most violent leaders of the gang receiving life sentences.

Award recipients include, from the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, Trial Attorney Laura Gwinn; from the Northern District of California, Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Frentzen, C. David Hall, Wai Shun Wilson Leung, and Andrew M. Scoble; Paralegal Specialist Kevin P. Costello; Marina Ponomarchuk, Legal Technician; from the Northern District of Illinois, Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Owens; from the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Special Agent Nikki Skovran; from the Department of Homeland Security, Supervisory Special Agent Christopher Merendino and Special Agents Brick A. Eubank, Rocio Franco, Benjamin W. Horton, Alicia MacDonald, and John R. Moore; and from the San Francisco Police Department, Sergeants Dion J. McDonnell and Mario Molina.

The sixth Distinguished Service Award is presented to the Tribal Trust Negotiation Team for its sustained and excellent work in negotiating settlements with more than 40 Tribes in complex and long-running Tribal Trust cases. These settlements have obviated the need to prolong highly contentious litigation with these tribes and will save the United States the significant resources that litigating these cases would have cost. On an expedited schedule, the team prepared offers for 75 separate tribes and reached favorable resolutions with more than 40 of the tribes. Collectively, the settlements in these cases will provide more than $1 billion to tribes in exchange for the dismissal of all trust mismanagement lawsuits.

Award recipients include, from the Office of the Associate Attorney General, Deputy Associate Attorney General Samuel Hirsch; from the Environment and Natural Resources Division, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Robert Dreher; from the division’s Natural Resources Section, Chief Lisa L. Russell and Principal Deputy Chief Tom C. Clark; Senior Attorney Michael D. Thorp; Trial Attorneys Brian M. Collins, Joshua A. Doan, Joseph H. Kim, Matthew M. Marinelli, Romney S. Philpott, Jody H. Schwarz, and Stephen R. Terrell; and Special Litigation Counsel Anthony P. Hoang.

The seventh Distinguished Service Award is presented to the team for investigating and prosecuting Raj Rajaratnam and his criminal associates in a case that has made history as the largest insider trading case ever. Rajaratnam, the billionaire founder of the Galleon Group, was, for more than 10 years, the leader of an extensive network of insiders at public companies who repeatedly took advantage of ordinary investors and corrupted United States capital markets by trading based on material, non-public information, reaping millions of dollars in illegal profits. This case represents the first use of wiretaps to prosecute insider trading schemes.

Award recipients include, from Southern District of New York, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reed Brodsky, Andrew L. Fish, Andrew Z. Michaelson, Rahul Mukhi, Avi Weitzman, and Jonathan R. Streeter (former); from the FBI’s Security Division, Special Agent B.J. Kang; from the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Supervisory Special Agent James C. Barnacle, Jr.; from the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office, Special Agent Diane M. Wehner; from the FBI’s New York City Field Office, Special Agents Michael D. Brown, Kathleen M. Queally, and Thomas J. Zukauskas and Forensic Accountants Wai-Mon Chan and Joan Mazzella.

The eighth Distinguished Service Award is presented to the team whose extraordinary service led to the successful prosecution of Ahmed Warsame, al Shabaab commander and emissary to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Warsame was captured with the authorization of the president and by the U.S. military off the coast of Yemen. The FBI then later brought him to the Southern District of New York for prosecution on various terrorism-related offenses. The unparalleled coordination, dedication, and teamwork among the department, the Department of Defense (DOD), and the intelligence community resulted in bringing an international terrorist to justice in a federal court.

Award recipients include, from the Southern District of New York, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam S. Hickey and Benjamin A. Naftalis and Criminal Investigator George F. Corey, Jr.; from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, Deputy Chief Alamdar S. Hamdani; from the FBI’s New York City Field Office, Supervisory Special Agents Carlos T. Fernandez and Michael A. Brodack and Special Agents Stefanie Roddy and Philip A. Swabsin; from the FBI’s Boston Field Office, Supervisory Special Agent Darryl Wegner; from the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group, Special Agent Thomas J. Dugan, IV; from the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Supervisory Special Agent Janelle M. Miller; from the Office of the General Counsel, Supervisory Attorney-Advisor Lisa K. Matsumoto; from the U.S. Navy, Lieutenant Commander Robert B. Staley; from the U.S. Air Force, Major Richard G. Harris.

The ninth Distinguished Service Award is presented to the team whose outstanding work led to the successful prosecution of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and others for fraud, extortion, and bribery relating to corrupt acts that occurred from 2002 through 2008. The team’s dedicated and exhaustive pursuit of evidence, as well as its compelling presentation of that evidence over multiple lengthy trials, resulted in the conviction of Blagojevich, two chiefs of staff and four others for crimes related to the selling of a U.S. Senate seat, the extortion of a children’s hospital, the attempted bribery of a campaign contributor, as well as other criminal acts.

Award recipients include, from the Northern District of Illinois, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Debra R. Bonamici, Carrie E. Hamilton, Christopher S. Niewoehner (former), and Reid J. Schar (former); Paralegal Specialist Chrissy M. Stein; from the FBI’s Chicago Field Office, Supervisory Special Agent Patrick J. Murphy and Special Agents David D. Bray, II, Daniel W. Cain, and Jay G. Hagstrom; from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Internal Revenue Service, Supervisory Special Agent Vikas K. Arora; U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General, Special Agent Irene E. Lindow; U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Postal Inspector Silvia M. Carrier.

The 10th Distinguished Service Award is presented to INTERPOL Senior Inspector Joseph J. DeLuca for his outstanding leadership and law enforcement coordination in the apprehension and extradition of international fugitives, as evidenced by his assistance in the capture of a subject wanted by authorities in Quebec for a 1997 homicide. Mr. DeLuca also exhibits remarkable leadership abilities with regard to the administration, orientation, and training of the USMS personnel assigned to INTERPOL Washington on a temporary basis. His diplomatic approach, fluency in five languages, and understanding of foreign cultural differences has directly and positively impacted the United States and other countries’ capacity to locate international fugitives and bring them to justice.

The 11th Distinguished Service Award is presented to Assistant Inspector General Thomas F. McLaughlin for his distinguished 43-year career in federal law enforcement, 22 of which were with the department’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG). His tenure has been marked by many Investigations Division achievements, including the successful prosecution of department employees, contractors, and civilians who betrayed the trust of the department and American people through their misconduct or criminal actions; the implementation of a diverse grant fraud program with department-wide impact; and the implementation of programs that improved the operations and safety of OIG and department personnel.

The 12th Distinguished Service Award is presented to the CrimeSolutions.gov Development Team for its leadership in creating and launching the premier online resource for information about evidence-based programs and practices in criminal justice, juvenile justice, and crime victim services. The team led the review and synthesis of findings from more than three decades of rigorous social science research and program evaluations and created a user-friendly interface that turns highly technical information into highly practical information. Designed for practitioners, CrimeSolutions.gov increases effectiveness by encouraging replication of successful approaches, and it saves resources by reducing the time and expertise required to access research findings.

Award recipients include, from the Office of Justice Programs, Senior Policy Advisor Phelan A. Wyrick; Research Coordinator Brecht C. Donoghue; and from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Program Manager Jennifer Tyson Abell.

The 13th Distinguished Service Award is presented to team members for their involvement in two sensitive investigations ordered by two different Attorneys General. In January 2007, Attorney General Michael Mukasey asked Assistant U.S. Attorney John Durham to lead a team that would investigate the destruction of interrogation videotapes by the CIA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Durham assembled the team and began the investigation. Then, in August 2009, Attorney General Holder expanded Assistant U.S. Attorney Durham’s mandate to include a preliminary review of the treatment of detainees held at overseas locations. This second request resulted in the review of 101 detainee matters that led to two full criminal investigations. In order to conduct the investigations, the team had to review significant amounts of information, much of which was classified, and conduct many interviews in the United States and at overseas locations.

Award recipients include, from the District of Connecticut, Assistant U.S. Attorney John H. Durham and Information Technology Specialist Jane K. Royce; from the Counsel to the U.S. Attorney’s Anti-Terrorism Unit, Chief James B. Farmer; from the District of Massachusetts’ Strike Force Unit, Chief James D. Herbert; from the District of Massachusetts’ Criminal Division, Deputy Chief Cynthia A. Young; from the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Senior Litigation Counsel Francis D. Schmitz; from the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, Paralegal Specialist Joyce P. Moak; from the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, Trial Attorney Edward T. Kang; from the FBI’s Salt Lake City Division, Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson; from the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Supervisory Special Agents Kristen M. Beutler, and Sean L. Kaul and Special Agents Karen A. Cody, M.L. Miller, and C. Ormerod; from the San Francisco Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Stephanie Douglas; from the FBI’s Kansas City Field Office, Special Agent Kevin Caudle; and from the FBI’s Inspection Division, Management and Program Analyst Linda L. Hovatter.

The 14th and final Distinguished Service Award is presented to team members for their exceptional contributions in connection with the landmark investigation and prosecution of former Congressman William J. Jefferson and his co-conspirators. The investigation, which commenced in March 2005 while Jefferson was a sitting member of the U.S. House of Representatives, culminated in the prosecution and conviction of Jefferson for bribery, honest services fraud, conspiracy, money laundering, and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) violations. In November 2009, Jefferson was sentenced to serve 13 years in prison, the longest sentence ever imposed for a current or former member of Congress.

Award recipients include, from the Eastern District of Virginia, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack Hanly, Rebeca Bellows and Mark D. Lytle; Paralegal Crystal Griego; and Technical Assistant Jermaine M. Ragin; from the District of Columbia’s Appellate Division, Chief Roy W. McLeese, III; from the District of Columbia, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael K. Atkinson and David B. Goodhand; from the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, Deputy Chief Charles E. Duross and Trial Attorney Amanda Aikman (former); from the Criminal Division’s Appellate Section, Trial Attorney Stephan E. Oestreicher, Jr.; from the FBI, Special Agents John Longmire and Timothy R. Thibault; from the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Special Agents Edward S. Cooper (retired) and Daniel T. Gallagher (retired).

The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement recognizes outstanding professional achievements by law enforcement officers of the Department of Justice. Two Excellence in Law Enforcement Awards are presented this year.

The first Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement is presented to the investigative team responsible for the successful prosecution of eight Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) leaders and members, sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 to 18 years. Beginning in 2004, this team investigated five leaders of the FARC, a designated foreign terrorist organization dedicated to the violent overthrow of the government of Colombia. In a related effort in 2010, which focused on leaders and members of the particularly dangerous FARC 57th Front, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the FBI worked together to identify and gather evidence on the members, including those involved in the kidnapping of a U.S. citizen who was ultimately released. In total, the FARC investigations resulted in charges against 60 individuals, two jury trials, and 11 convictions and sentences, with sentences ranging from 10 to 29 years in prison.

Award recipients include, from the FBI’s Jacksonville, Florida Field Office, Special Agent Charles M. Cain; from the FBI’s Miami Field Office, Special Agents Manuel Ortega (retired) and C.M. Monero (retired); from the FBI’s Defense Intelligence Analysis Program, Intelligence Analyst Christopher J. Wright, Jr.; from the DEA’s Mérida, Mexico Resident Office, Resident Agent in Charge Justin L. Peterson; from the DEA’s Atlanta Field Office, Special Agent Dustin T. Harmon; from the DEA’s Houston Field Division, Group Supervisor Lee M. Nash; from the DEA’s Washington Field Division, Special Agent Nestor A. Laserna; and from the DEA’s New York Field Division, Special Agents Daniel J. Dyer and Christopher H. Miller and Intelligence Research Specialist Francisco Garrido.

The second Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement is presented to members of the Operation Delta Blues Task Force for its dedicated service and investigations into long-standing corruption, violent gang and drug activities, illegal weapons offenses, and illegal gambling in the Arkansas Delta. After conducting an undercover operation, seven Title III wire intercepts and eight controlled drug trafficking transactions with law enforcement officers who provided protection in exchange for cash, the Delta Blues team indicted more than 70 subjects, five of whom were law enforcement officers. The culmination of this four-year investigation resulted in the largest law enforcement operation ever conducted in Arkansas and one of the largest in FBI history.

Award recipients include, from the FBI’s Little Rock Field Office, Supervisory Special Agents Kimberly F. Brunell and Jeffery E. Peterson; Special Agents Carrie B. Land, John C. Marsh, H.L. Seale, Jr. and James P. Woodie; Photographer Noland R. McCoy; and Staff Operations Specialist Yvonne M. Maier; from the Eastern District of Arkansas, Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie E. Peters; from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) Little Rock Field Office, Senior Special Agent W. Glen Jordan; from the Arkansas State Police, Special Agent Phillip L. Hydron, Jr. and Major Cleveland Earl Barfield.

The Attorney General’s Award tor Exceptional Service in Indian Country recognizes extraordinary efforts by department employees that demonstrate the department’s commitment to fight crime in Indian Country. This year’s award is presented to Arvo Q. Mikkanen, the Assistant U.S. Attorney and Tribal Liaison for the Western District of Oklahoma. Mr. Mikkanen’s development of the Indian Country Misdemeanor Docket has successfully addressed a substantial gap in the criminal justice system on Oklahoma’s tribal lands, providing a model for other districts to emulate.

The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Information Technology recognizes outstanding achievements in applying information technology to improve operations and productivity, reduce or avoid costs, and solve problems. This year’s award is presented to five individuals for their outstanding leadership, unparalleled technology innovation, and superior program management of the Next Generation Digital Collection System-5000 (DCS-5000) Program. As a result of the team’s dedication to the success of this program, the DCS-5000 has saved more than $35 million, is ahead of schedule, and has provided innovative technical solutions to improve the efficiency, productivity, and effectiveness of the FBI’s case agents, intelligence analysts, linguists and system administrators.

Award recipients include, from the FBI’s Operational Technology Division, Supervisory Special Agent William T. Via; Supervisory Electronics Engineer Roger T. Campbell; Supervisory Engineering Technician John A. Herbert; and Electronics Engineers Charles J. Austin and Kristin L. Moxley.

The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions in protecting U.S. national security. Two Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security Awards are presented this year.

The first Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security Award is presented to the investigative and prosecution team of the attempted bombing of Northwest Flight 253 over Detroit on December 25, 2009, for its outstanding work in obtaining intelligence useful to the United States and its foreign intelligence partners. Over the course of this two-year, high-profile investigation, the team effectively balanced an intelligence gathering operation with a successful prosecution. The team’s cooperation resulted in a significant conviction against al Qaeda operative Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who was sentenced on February 6, 2012, to the maximum penalty of four consecutive life-sentences plus 30 years in federal prison.

Award recipients include, from the Eastern District of Michigan, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cathleen M. Corken, Michael C. Martin, and Jonathan Tukel; Paralegal Darlene L. Secord; from the FBI’s Detroit Field Office, Special Agents Gary A. Francis and Theodore J. Peissig; Supervisory Special Agent Michael F. Connelly; Intelligence Analysts Theodore R. Begeman, John A. Gates, and Debra George-Merritt; from the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, Supervisory Special Agent Gabriel K. Poling; Staff Operations Specialist Melissa Plowman; Intelligence Analyst Michael P. Machtinger; and from the FBI’s Laboratory Division, Physical Scientist Michael G. Leone and Chemist Robert F. Mothershead, II.

The second Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security Award is presented to the investigative and prosecution team whose exemplary work on the Boyd terrorism case—in which the defendants were recruiting, planning, and preparing to engage in violent attacks overseas—resulted in the conviction of seven defendants on various terrorism violations, including conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to murder persons overseas.

Award recipients include, from the Eastern District of North Carolina, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason M. Kellhofer, John S. Bowler, and Barbara D. Kocher; Legal Assistant Stacey J. Taylor; Victim Witness Coordinator Michelle D. Scott; Intelligence Specialist Sarah H. Foster; Information Technology Specialist Jacqueline M. Nobling; from the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office, Supervisory Special Agent Maria Jocys; Special Agents Paul C. Minella, Michael A. Greer, William J. Logallo, and Jason R. Maslow; Intelligence Analyst Kristie N. Cranford; from the FBI’s Training Division, Supervisory Special Agent Gregory T. Alznauer; from the National Security Division, Attorney-Advisors Michael E. Eaton and David Farnham; Unit Chief Alexandra Doumas; from the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Special Agent Heather Z. Ferris; Raleigh Police Department, Detectives Robert C. Powell, IV; and from the Durham Police Department, Task Force Officer Charles D. Burroughs.

The Attorney General’s Award for Equal Employment Opportunity is the department’s highest award for performance in support of the Equal Employment Opportunity program. This year’s award is presented to the team that represents the core membership of the department’s Diversity Council Executive Group. These talented individuals are responsible for implementing the Attorney General’s Diversity Initiative in addition to their outstanding work with the department’s Diversity Council. Most notable among its accomplishments, the team: established guiding principles for developing Component Operational Diversity Management Plans; reviewed 130 Component Diversity Management Plans; coordinated the first department-wide diversity training and subsequent relevant lectures; developed the Diversity Intranet site; helped to develop a more strategic approach to increasing representation of persons with disabilities; and facilitated numerous informal discussions with components to discuss effective diversity management practices.

Award recipients include, from Office of the Associate Attorney General, Deputy Associate Attorney General for Diversity Management Richard L. Parker and Special Counsel for Disability Resources Allison Nichol; from the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys’ Office of the Director, Deputy Director for Legal Management Suzanne L. Bell; Equal Employment Opportunity Staff, Assistant Director Jason S. Osborne; from the Justice Management Division’s Equal Employment Opportunity Staff, Director Richard A. Toscano, Jr. from the Justice Management Division’s Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management, Assistant Director Jeanne Svikhart (former); and Deputy Director for Legal Recruitment and Outreach Jamila W. Frone; from the BOP’s Office of General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel Kenneth Hyle; and from the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees, Associate Director Jeffrey M. Miller (retired).

The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Legal Support recognizes outstanding achievements in the field of legal support to attorneys by paralegal specialists and other legal assistants.

In the Paralegal Category, this year’s award for Excellence in Legal Support is presented to Jamie A. Smith, Paralegal Specialist for the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation’s (OIL) District Court Section. Her performance during the first instance of using Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act intercepts as evidence in a federal civil trial was exemplary. Ms. Smith’s dedication and hard work is always of the highest quality, and she continuously looks for ways to improve her already superior performance.

In the Legal Support Category, this year’s award for Excellence in Legal Support is presented to Evelyn Buggs, Legal Administrative Specialist for the Office of the Solicitor General. Ms. Buggs, who works in the front office of the Office of the Solicitor General, exemplifies excellence in legal support. In her more than 20 years of service, she has consistently displayed exceptional competence and professionalism. Through her leadership, she has helped to foster and sustain a highly productive support team.

The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Administrative Support recognizes outstanding performance in administrative or managerial support by an administrative employee or secretary. Two Excellence in Administrative Support Awards are presented this year.

In the Administrative Category, this year’s award for Excellence in Administrative Support is presented to Lorraine L. Gonzales, Supervisory Administrative Specialist for the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section. Ms. Gonzales was instrumental in orchestrating communications across the many agencies involved in the Cosco Busan oil spill litigation and provided invaluable support on the creation and management of the case database, composed of approximately one million documents critical to the development of the case.

In the Secretarial Category, this year’s award for Excellence in Administrative Support is presented to Sherrie M. McIntosh, Management and Program Analyst for the USMS’s Tactical Operations Division. Ms. McIntosh is honored for her role as the sole administrative employee overseeing the USMS Tactical Operations Division’s Strategic National Stockpile Security Operations program. Her professionalism and positive demeanor foster relationships within and outside of the Marshals Service, an especially vital asset in conducting the day-to-day business of the National Stockpile Security Operations program.

The Claudia J. Flynn Award for Professional Responsibility recognizes a department attorney who has made significant contributions in the area of professional responsibility by successfully handling a sensitive and challenging professional responsibility issue in an exemplary fashion and/or leading efforts to ensure that department attorneys carry out their duties in accordance with the rules of professional conduct. This year’s award is presented to Barbara Kammerman, Senior Attorney for the Professional Responsibility Advisory Office (PRAO). Ms. Kammerman alone has personally responded to more than 2,700 of the approximately 19,400 professional responsibility inquiries the office has received from attorneys and has managed or assisted PRAO attorneys in analyzing thousands more.

The Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Service in Freedom of Information Act Administration recognizes exceptional dedication and effort to the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). In fiscal year 2011, the National Security Division’s FOIA Declassification and Prepublications Review Unit received 289 FOIA requests and successfully processed and closed 305 requests, handling and closing all the new requests received and several from the backlog, including a number of older cases that were complex and challenging. The team also defended 13 lawsuits, including some seeking records related to highly sensitive intelligence collection programs that must remain classified in the interest of national security.

Award recipients include, from the National Security Division, FOIA Director Mark A. Bradley; Declassification Specialist Theresa Crosland; FOIA and Privacy Specialists Lani Gleaves, Patricia R. Matthews, and Tiffanie C. Tinsley; FOIA Initiatives Coordinator Arnetta Mallory; Counsel Susan L. Kim; and from the Law and Policy Office, Supervisory Records Management Specialist Kevin G. Tiernan.

The Attorney General’s Award for Fraud Prevention recognizes exceptional dedication and effort to prevent, investigate, and prosecute fraud, white-collar crimes, and official corruption. This year’s award is presented to the investigation and prosecution team responsible for the case involving American Therapeutic Corporation (ATC), one of the largest health care fraud cases in the United States. The case involved the submission of more than $205 million in fraudulent claims to the Medicare program by ATC. One ATC owner who pleaded guilty was sentenced to serve 50 years in prison, and two other ATC owners were sentenced to serve 35 years in prison.

Award recipients include, from the FBI’s Miami Field Office, Supervisory Special Agent Randall C. Culp; Special Agents Patrick R. Koeth and Ellen S. Thomas; from the Criminal Division, Trial Attorney Jennifer Saulino; Fraud Section Assistant Chief Benjamin Singer; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar; and from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Special Agent Daniel Arce.

The Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Community Partnerships for Public Safety recognizes outstanding achievement in the development and support of community partnerships designed to address public safety within a community. The award recognizes the significant contributions of citizens and organizations that have assisted the department in the accomplishment of these programs.

This year’s Outstanding Contribution to Community Partnerships for Public Safety award is presented to the team that, through public and private partnerships, has created the nationally recognized Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Innocence Lost Task Force. This team has worked tirelessly with federal and local officials as well as community members to fight child exploitation, Internet crimes against children, and child sex trafficking. Additionally, the team is working closely with victims and their non-government advocates to address the unique challenges presented by child prostitution and its impact on the community.

Award recipients include, from the Southern District of California, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alessandra P. Serano; from the FBI’s San Diego Field Office, Special Agent Carla J. Croft; from the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, Special Agent Sonny L. Kilmer; from the San Diego Police Department. Detective Chappie Hunter and Sergeant Charles Arnold; from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Deputy George Crysler; and from the Oceanside, California Police Department, Detective Jack Reed.

The Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee recognizes exceptional performance and notable accomplishments towards the department’s mission by an employee with fewer than five years of federal career service. Four Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee Awards are presented this year.

The first Contribution by a New Employee Award is presented to Fara T. Gold, Trial Attorney for Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section. During her three years with the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division, Ms. Gold has prosecuted and convicted multiple defendants in some of the section’s most difficult cases, including United States v. Beebe et al., the first case ever brought by the department under the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

The second Contribution by a New Employee Award is presented to Jack S. Schmidt, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska. Mr. Schmidt has excelled with a small staff while having one of the highest caseloads of any attorney in the district. Mr. Schmidt also led one of the largest Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigations in the office, leading to the prosecution of 34 defendants to date.

The third Contribution by a New Employee Award is presented to Anita M. Singh, Deputy Chief of Staff of the National Security Division, who previously served in this role on detail from the Criminal Division. Ms. Singh is recognized for her performance and support of the department’s highest priority of combating terrorism and other threats to national security, including emerging cyber-based threats. Most recently, she assumed primary responsibility for cyber policy and legislative work at the Criminal Division, led interagency cybersecurity policy development at the White House, and has helped lead broad efforts to combat cyber threats to national security.

The fourth and final Contribution by a New Employee Award is presented to Jason Bergmann, Trial Attorney for the Tax Division’s Court of Federal Claims Section. In less than five years with the federal government, Mr. Bergmann has demonstrated extraordinary skill and achieved outstanding results in representing the United States in tax matters before the Court of Federal Claims and federal district courts. A superb advocate, he has masterfully handled some of the Tax Division’s most difficult cases.

The John Marshall Awards are the Department of Justice’s highest awards offered to attorneys for contributions and excellence in specialized areas of legal performance. Twelve awards in nine categories are presented this year.

The first John Marshall Award for Trial of Litigation is presented to Edward K. Chung, Trial Attorney for the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, and Kyra E. Jenner, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas. This team is honored for its outstanding investigation and prosecution of United States v. Maybee et al., culminating in the conviction of two defendants for a racially motivated attack that resulted in life-threatening and serious injuries to five victims. This highly significant prosecution resulted in the nation’s first convictions under the Matthew Shephard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

The second John Marshall Award for Trial of Litigation is presented to Scott H. Anderson, Senior Litigation Counsel for the District of Puerto Rico. Mr. Anderson is recognized for outstanding performance in the litigation of United States v. Dennis Muniz-Tirado et al., wherein the defendants were utilizing their positions as law enforcement officers to incriminate citizens for crimes that they did not commit, routinely violating both individuals’ civil rights and the narcotics laws of the United States. Nine of the 10 defendants who were eventually indicted were members of the Police of Puerto Rico’s Mayaguez Drugs/Narcotics/Vice Unit.

The first John Marshall Award for Participation in Litigation is presented to the team whose dedication and skill in investigating, litigation, and negotiating led to a $335 million settlement in the groundbreaking lending discrimination case of United States v. Countrywide Financial Corporation. This lawsuit is the largest case of pricing discrimination in mortgage lending ever brought by the department and is the first fair lending case ever by the department to include a claim that Hispanic and African-American borrowers were discriminated against because they were systematically placed in subprime loans while similarly-qualified white borrowers were placed in prime loans.

Award recipients include, from the Civil Rights Division’s Office of the Assistant Attorney General, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Victoria H. Schultz and Special Counsel for Fair Lending Eric Halperin; from the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section, Chief Steven H. Rosenbaum; Principal Deputy Chief Donna M. Murphy; Trial Attorneys Burtis M. Dougherty, Daniel P. Mosteller, and Patricia L. O’Beirne.

The second John Marshall Award for Participation in Litigation is presented to the Stonehill trial and appellate litigation team for 12 years of exceptional work in successfully defending a multi-million-dollar tax judgment obtained in 1980 against the taxpayers’ last-ditch collateral attack. Defense of the case required the team members to master a 40-year record spanning tens of thousands of pages generated in hundreds of legal proceedings.

Award recipients include, from the Tax Division’s Western Civil Trial Section, Trial Attorney Charles M. Duffy; from the Criminal Appeals and Tax Enforcement Policy Section, Chief Frank P. Cihlar; and from the Appellate Section, Trial Attorneys Bethany B. Hauser and Randolph L. Hutter.

The first John Marshall Award for Support of Litigation is presented to Christopher B. Synsvoll, Supervisory Attorney for the Federal Correctional Complex-Florence, Colorado’s Consolidated Legal Center. Mr. Synsvoll serves as the legal and technical advisor on all legal aspects of correctional administration to the Federal BOP institutions within the District of Colorado. His expertise on restrictive conditions of confinement is sought after by staff from the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the Federal Death Penalty Resource Counsel, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and in capital prosecutions.

The second John Marshall Award for Support of Litigation is presented to Bradley R. O’Brien, Senior Attorney for the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section, and R. Michael Underhill, Attorney in Charge for the Civil Division’s Aviation and Admiralty Section. The Cosco Busan Litigation Team is honored for its outstanding work and filing, within three weeks of the incident, an in personam and in rem complaint against the owners and operators of the vessel Cosco Busan that collided with the San Francisco Bay Bridge. The incident caused a rupture in the vessel’s fuel tank and the discharge of bunker oil into the San Francisco Bay and ultimately the Pacific Ocean.

The John Marshall Award for Handling of Appeals is presented to Howard S. Scher, Senior Counsel for the Civil Division’s Appellate Staff. Mr. Scher is the Civil Division’s leading expert on federal sector labor and management issues and has secured victories for numerous agencies on issues of great importance to the management of those agencies. He has also made key contributions to the development of the law shielding federal employees, including high-ranking officials, from personal liability for actions taken in the scope of their responsibilities.

The John Marshall Award for Providing Legal Advice is presented to John J. Powers, III, Assistant Chief for the Antitrust Division’s Appellate Section. For more than 30 years, Mr. Powers has supervised almost all of the appellate litigation arising from the criminal antitrust enforcement program. His strategic judgment and unrivaled knowledge of criminal antitrust law makes him a respected legal advisor and ensures that the division receives outstanding representation in the appellate courts.

The John Marshall Award for Preparation or Handling of Legislation is presented to Claudia Burke and Steven J. Gillingham, Assistant Directors from the Civil Division’s National Courts Section. Ms. Burke and Mr. Gillingham assist in the management of one of the largest offices in the Civil Division, an office that engages in trial and appellate litigation, spanning a wide range of legal areas. This team is recognized for its innovative and sustained role in ensuring that regulations and legislation are clear, consistent with established principles of law, and do not inadvertently and adversely affect the interests of the United States in litigation—all the while being mindful of executive branch policy goals.

The John Marshall Award for Asset Forfeiture is presented to Linda M. Samuel, Deputy Chief, International Unit, for the Criminal Division’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section. Her work for the past two decades in cross-border cooperation in forfeiture and money laundering matters has led to the recovery of tens of millions of dollars and the development of international best practices and policy in international forfeiture. Additionally, she has been instrumental in developing the laws and litigating cases brought by the department to execute incoming requests from foreign jurisdictions for the registration and enforcement of foreign restraining orders and forfeiture judgments.

The John Marshall Award for Alternative Dispute Resolution is presented to Douglas K. Mickle, Senior Trial Counsel for Civil Division’s National Courts Section. Mr. Mickle is recognized for his outstanding professional achievement in resolving the disputes of nearly 2,200 combat veterans who challenged how the military services applied disability-rating guidance when rating their posttraumatic stress disorder condition. Responding to five separate lawsuits, Mr. Mickle spearheaded the drive to resolve these cases and brokered a framework that achieved results consistent with the results that the courts or military review boards would have reached if each case were adjudicated on the merits in those forums.

The John Marshall Award for Interagency Cooperation in Support of Litigation is presented to a team of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation attorneys for its outstanding work in assisting Civil Division attorneys litigate nearly 120 cases arising out of Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) enactment. The litigation involved approximately 50 trials, more than 128 million pages of documents produced by the federal government during discovery, 475 expert reports, and more than 2,500 depositions.

Award recipients include, from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Office of the General Counsel, Acting General Counsel Richard J. Osterman, Jr., Deputy General Counsel (retired) Jack D. Smith; from the Division of Administration, Senior Management Analyst Robert H. Krause; from the Legal Division, Senior Counsel (former) Claire L. McGuire; from the Finance Division, Director Craig R. Jarvill and Corporate Manager J. Craig Sweeney; from the Commercial Litigation Unit, Counsels Susan Kantor Bank, Leslie Ann Conover, and Wendy B. Kloner; from the Office of the Inspector General, Counsel to the Inspector General John A. Davidovich; from the Legal Information Technology Unit, Senior Counsels Thomas J. Feeney and H. Andrea Gribble; from the Appellate Litigation Unit, Counsel Jerome A. Madden; from the Corporate Litigation Unit, Counsel Thomas L. Holzman; and from the Division of Resolutions and Receiverships, Director Bret D. Edwards.