Attorney General Michael Mukasey recognizes Department employees and others for their service at Annual Awards Ceremony. Tsedey C. Berhanu, a native of Ethiopia, is one of those who were recognized for outstanding service.

WASHINGTON, DC – United States Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey recognized 250 Department employees for their distinguished public service today at the 56th Annual Attorney General Awards Ceremony. Twenty-two other individuals outside of the Department also were honored for their work. Held at Constitution Hall, this annual ceremony recognizes both Department employees and others for their dedication to carrying out the Justice Department’s mission.

Attorney General Mukasey and Deputy Attorney General Mark R. Filip presented the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service to two prosecution teams responsible for the prosecution of United States v. Padilla and United States v. Seale. The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service is the Department’s highest award.

“The achievements of the people we honor today span the globe, and are as broad as the mission of the Department: To enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law,” said Attorney General Mukasey. “We all serve that mission in different ways, but what all of these award recipients have in common is that they have reached the highest level of accomplishment in the work that they do.”

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). This year’s recipients, from the Office of Legal Counsel were, Deputy Executive Officer Elizabeth M. Farris; and Paralegal Specialists Tsedey C. Berhanu, Bernsteine B. Garrett, and Richard A. Hughes. The team received the award for their outstanding efforts in coordinating Office of Legal Counsel responses to litigation-related requests under FOIA.

The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service was presented to the team that investigated and prosecuted Jose Padilla, Adham Hassoun and Kifah Jayyousi for supporting Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations engaged in murder, kidnapping and maiming persons overseas. Their unprecedented determination and courage in pursuing this unique and highly complex prosecution for five years, brought an end to the terrorist activities of a network of Islamic extremists committed to damaging the national security of the United States. This trial team cemented a new prosecutorial model in terrorism cases and set the standard for others to follow.

The recipients of the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service include, from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Russell R. Killinger, Brian K. Frazier, John C. Shipley Jr., Lisa Tobin Rubio, Anne R. Schultz and Robert K. Senior; Eileen C. Stafford, Legal Administrative Specialist; Angel L. Martinez, Intelligence Specialist; and Hanif K. Ali, Computer Specialist; from the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, Stephanie K. Pell, Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General; from the FBI Miami Division, Special Agents Kent T. Hukill and John T. Kavanaugh Jr.

The prosecution team that obtained a conviction in United States v. Seale also received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service. Evidence presented at trial showed that on May 2, 1964, the defendant and his accomplices, all members of the Klu Klux Klan, abducted two victims and drove them into the Homochitto National Forest in Franklin County, Miss., where they beat the victims and interrogated them at gunpoint. Seale and the other Klansmen then bound the two men, drove the victims to Parker’s Landing in Warren County, Miss., and drowned them in the Old Mississippi River.
The recipients of the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service from this team were, from the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, Paige M. Fitzgerald, Special Litigation Counsel; Eric L. Gibson, Trial Attorney; and Connie Lee, Paralegal Specialist; and from the FBI’s Jackson, Miss., Division, William J. Stokes, Special Agent.

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, the award was presented to Capt. Ricardo (Rick) Marques and Chris J. Jeansonne Jr., Cook Supervisor, of the Federal Bureau of Prisons U.S. Penitentiary Pollock in Louisiana.

Marques and Jeansonne were honored for their courageous response and actions on April 20, 2007, at the U.S. penitentiary in Pollock, La. Marques was the first responder to a volatile confrontation among 250 inmates that occurred in the area where Jeansonne was working. Marques contained the crowd while being subjected to assaults by inmates. Jeansonne came to Marques’ aid and together they defused the situation by establishing locked barriers between two inmate factions and calming the disturbance in the food service area. Due to their leadership, courage, communication skills and effective rapport with the inmate population, there were minimal inmate injuries and no staff injuries.
The Edward H. Levi Award for Outstanding Professionalism and Exemplary Integrity was presented to pay tribute to the memory and achievements of former Attorney General Edward H. Levi, whose career as an attorney, law professor and dean, and public servant exemplified these qualities in the best traditions of the Department. David Margolis, Associate Deputy Attorney General for the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, is presented the award this year.

Margolis has been a federal prosecutor for more than 40 years and has brought his experience to a wide array of responsibilities in the Office of the Deputy Attorney General. Margolis has been called upon by the Department’s leadership to handle some of the most sensitive criminal matters. The contributions that Margolis has made are not simply characterized by his length of service, but by his impact on the Department’s policies and practices, his integrity and reliability, and his dedication to the cause of justice.

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 year’s award was presented to Douglas C. Moore, Special Agent from the St. Paul, Minn., Division for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Moore, a nationally recognized expert in the field of fire and explosives investigations, has repeatedly been called to duty during some of the nation’s most turbulent times. In his 31-year career, Moore has conducted investigations surrounding the 1992 Los Angeles riots, the 1995 bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building, the 1996 Summer Olympics bombing in Atlanta and the Unabomber attacks. He has been the authority on determining the origin and cause of approximately 627 fire scenes, and others in his field seek to learn from him.

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 John R. Chella, Commissioner Niagara Falls, N.Y. Police Department; John C. Askey, Chief of Police Amherst, Mass. Police Department; Timothy B. Howard, Sheriff Erie County, N.Y.; and Andrew Cuomo, Attorney General State of New York, for their formation and implementation of the Western New York Regional Computer Forensic Lab.

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 in the accomplishment of its mission and objectives. This year’s award was presented to a team from America’s Most Wanted. Recipients include John E. Walsh, Host; Lance Heflin, Executive Producer; Stephen J. Katz, Supervising Producer; Anthony B. Zanelotti, Director; Avery D. Mann, Publicist; and Gregory Ross Klein, Creative Producer.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service is the Department’s second highest award for employee performance. The recipients of this award exemplify the highest commitment to the Department’s mission. Seventeen Distinguished Service Awards were presented this year to individuals or teams of people.

One award was presented to a team for their exceptional achievement and exemplary efforts in the prosecution of four wildlife smuggling rings – two based in Mexico and two in China – engaged in illegal trafficking of endangered or otherwise protected sea turtles and other protected species. Recipients were, from the Environment and Natural Resources Division, Environmental Crimes Section of the Department of Justice, Robert S. Anderson, Senior Trial Attorney; Colin L. Black, Trial Attorney; Stephen J. Foster, Paralegal Specialist; and from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, Linda A. McMahan, Assistant U.S. Attorney. These prosecutions brought greater scrutiny at home and abroad on the problem of transnational illegal wildlife trade.

The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service was also presented to a team in New York for their work during the investigation and trial of Bonanno family acting boss Vincent Basciano and the prosecution of the gangsters who served him. Recipients were, from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Greg D. Andres, John D. Buretta, Amy L. Busa and Winston Y. Chan; Samantha E. Ward, Paralegal Specialist; and Special Agents from the FBI New York Division, Michael T. Breslin, Stacey G. Bowery, Eileen O’Rourke and Jude E. Tarasca. Basciano’s conviction was the product of a lengthy investigation into the Bonanno family, which has resulted in the incarceration of every major leader of this violent criminal enterprise.

The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service was presented to another group, honored for the exceptional results they achieved in pursuing justice in the United Nations Oil for Food scandal. Their commitment to pursuing justice in this case resulted in the convictions of numerous high profile businessmen, companies, United Nations officials and diplomats; allowed the return of tens of millions of dollars to the Iraqi people; and served as the catalyst for administrative reforms at the United Nations. Members of the team were, from the FBI New York Division, Supervisory Special Agent Benjamin Berry; Special Agents Kathleen M. Diskin, Meghan E. Miller, Frank C. Manzi, Richard Kariewicz, Duane Kuizema, and Nicolas Panagako; Financial Analysts Pauline Tai and Herbert M. Gastelu; and Language Specialist Samira Y. Rizkalla; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward C. O’Callaghan and Michael E. Farbiarz; and from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen A. Miller.
Another Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service was presented to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth R. Chadwell and Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Straus, both from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. Chadwell and Straus received the award for their accomplishments in the prevention of terrorism and promoting the national security of the United States. They managed a three-year investigation and prosecution, which resulted in the discovery and elimination of vulnerabilities to the nation’s security within the intelligence community and the U.S. military; uncovering numerous compromises in classified national security investigations into the activities of the designated foreign terrorist organization, Hezbollah; and dismantling significant portions of Hezbollah’s U.S. fundraising apparatus.

Nine individuals were awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service for their work on the Military Commissions Act and the Detainee Treatment Act. The group worked tirelessly on these important cases, briefing and arguing complex questions of constitutional and administrative law, responding to motions filed by more than 100 detainees, and closely coordinating with numerous client agencies and Department components. Members of the group from the Civil Division of the Department of Justice include, Jonathan F. Cohn, Deputy Assistant Attorney General; Robert M. Loeb, Appellate Counsel; Matthew M. Collette, Catherine Y. Hancock and August E. Flentje, Trial Attorneys; Jennifer A. Paisner, Senior Litigation Counsel for the Office of Immigration Litigation; individuals from the Office of the Solicitor General include, Gregory G. Garre, Solicitor General; Eric D. Miller and Nicole A. Saharsky, Assistants to the Solicitor General.

The group responsible for the prosecution of United States v. Bartlett, et al. was awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service for their work on this high-profile criminal civil rights prosecution in which seven Milwaukee police officers were convicted of brutally assaulting two young black men whom they had falsely accused of a crime. Recipients were, from the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, Deputy Chief Stephen J. Curran and Trial Attorney Edward G. Caspar; from the FBI Milwaukee Division, Special Agents Mark A. Robel, George R. Strong and Wayne E. Jackowski; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mel S. Johnson and Carol L. Kraft; and Paralegal Specialist Theresa L. Kneser.

Another Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service was presented to Trial Attorneys William D. Dillon and Deana L. Timberlake-Wiley from the Antitrust Division’s Atlanta Field Office; Special Agents Thomas M. Mayhall and Barbee A. Bryant, FBI White Collar Crime Squad. The team was honored for the successful prosecution and conviction of 21 defendants – five corporations and 16 individuals – who were charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to commit bribery, honest services mail fraud, and obstruction of justice in connection with a bribery and kickback scheme that subverted the competitive bid process with respect to sewer rehabilitation contracts in Jefferson County, Ala. In November 2007, the sentencing of all 21 defendants was completed, resulting in a total of $45,714,133 in criminal fines, 16,375 jail days and $2,315,825 in restitution to Jefferson County.
Also awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service was from the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Gary R. DiMartino, Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal, District of New Hampshire; from the USMS Investigative Operations Division, Regional Field Chief David M. Dimmitt, Chief Inspectors William J. Sorukas Jr., John M. Cuff, Joseph M. Parker and Andre J. LaBier; Inspector Wayne S. Warren; Commander David K. Robertson, Special Operations Group, Technical Operations Division; Special Deputy U.S. Marshal Jeffery M. May, Southeast Regional Task Force; Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal W. S. Robertson Middle District of Georgia; and from the Plainfield, N.H., Police Department, Chief Gordon A. Gillens. The team is recognized for their outstanding leadership and management of the investigation and apprehension of dangerous fugitives Ed and Elaine Brown. Due to the team’s professional management and careful planning, the arrest of these armed fugitives was without incident or injury.

Laura E. Duffy, Assistant U.S. Attorney from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, was awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service for her exceptional leadership, skill and tenacity, which resulted in extraditions and successful prosecutions of the leadership of the Arellano-Felix Organization (AFO) drug cartel. Through 12 years of determination, Duffy provided the continuity and focus necessary for a team of devoted agents and prosecutors to dismantle the AFO. Duffy’s work represents a fine example of commitment and dedication by an outstanding federal prosecutor serving the people of the United States.

Another Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service was awarded to Richard Farber, Senior Counsel for Appellate Matters, Appellate Section of the Tax Division of the Department of Justice. Farber was recognized for his distinguished service in supervising the government’s appellate litigation against abusive corporate tax shelters, resulting in landmark appellate victories in the Black & Decker, Coltec, Dow Chemical and Cemco cases. In all four cases, Farber demonstrated his ability to make even the most complex facts and tax concepts clear and understandable. Due in substantial part to his efforts, the government prevailed on appeal in all four of these cases. These victories turned the tide in the government’s ongoing battle against abusive tax shelters, saved billions of dollars in tax revenues and helped to restore public confidence in the basic fairness of the nation’s tax system.
Carl Ghattas, Supervisory Special Agent, Counterterrorism Division; Carolyn J. Murphy Special Agent, FBI Washington Field Office; and Harry G. Temple were awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service for their work on a highly sensitive operation. This team displayed exceptional professionalism and leadership in overcoming difficulties and differences. Their efforts resulted in better relations between agencies, and the operational plan they created jointly fostered an atmosphere of unprecedented cooperation.

An additional Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service was awarded to John R. Osterday, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Finance, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), for financial management excellence. Under his leadership, the DEA had no material weaknesses on the financial statements for fiscal years 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Another Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service was presented to Jason P. Salerno, Special Agent, ATF Madison, Wisc., Office. On a voluntary detail in the Iraq, Special Agent Salerno helped to relieve the suffering of children and brought hope and humanity to more than a few young lives. With his own life at constant risk, Salerno brought medical care, supplies and assistance to several Iraqi children who were physically deformed as a result of mortar fire from insurgents.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory W. Staples, Deirdre Z. Eliot, Craig H. Missakian and Douglas F. McCormick from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California; from the FBI Los Angeles Division, Matthew S. Moon, Supervisory Special Agent; Eric Velez-Villar, Special Agent in Charge; James E. Gaylord and Rolando A. Tostado, Special Agents; from the FBI Sacramento Division, Sheldon Fung, Special Agent; and from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service Gunnar Newquist, Supervisory Special Agent and Omar Lopez, Special Agent, were presented with the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service for outstanding performance in the investigation and prosecution of two critical national security cases: Chi Mak and JIS. In each case, the federal agents demonstrated a singular focus on bringing to justice those who would threaten our nation’s security through espionage or acts of terror. These investigations and prosecutions greatly furthered the interests of U.S. national security and protected citizens and the infrastructure from international and domestic threats.

Another Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service was awarded to, from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark A. Young, Peter A. Hernandez, David P. Kowal and Michael S. Lowe; Sareta Magee Taylor, Paralegal Specialist; from the Los Angeles Police Department, Daniel T. Jenks, Detective Sergeant; and David M. Torres, Detective; and from the Criminal Investigation Division, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Wilfred Castro, Special Agent, for outstanding performance in the investigation, prosecution and dismantling of the Vineland Boys street gang. Their efforts resulted in the elimination of a violent gang’s leadership, many of whom are now serving mandatory life sentences for the murder of a police officer and prosecution witness. The investigation and prosecution of this violent gang became a template for future joint federal and local investigations.

The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service was also awarded to employees from the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice, Deputy Chief J. Kirk Ogrosky; Trial Attorneys John S. Darden and Harold B. Walther; and Senior Program Analyst Steven G. Shandy; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Katz; former Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew I. Menchel; and Nurse Investigator Edith M. Sposato; from the FBI Miami Division, Supervisory Special Agents Randall C. Culp and Timothy P. Donovan; Special Agents Susan E. Devereaux, Scott P. Neville, Shaun P. O’Neil and Brian Waterman; and from the Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Bernardo Rodriguez; Special Agents Manuel Hernandez, Julie Rivera and Ariel Rodriguez. The team received the award for their tireless efforts to fight and deter Medicare fraud. During a seven-month period from March through October of 2007, the team indicted 74 cases and 120 defendants. Their efforts contributed to a drop in Medicare Part B billing of $1.4 billion when compared to the prior year. The tireless work, innovation and initiative of these award recipients to fight Medicare fraud exemplify the Department’s commitment to fraud prevention.

The team responsible for the implementation and pioneering of the National Procurement Fraud Task Force was also awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service. Recipients were from the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice, Steve A. Linick, Deputy Chief of the National Procurement Fraud Task Force; Trial Attorneys James J. Graham and Barbara A. Corprew; from the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, Trial Attorney Bradford L. Geyer; from General Services Administration, Brian D. Miller, Inspector General; and FBI Assistant Director Kenneth W. Kaiser.

The Task Force was assembled in October 2006 to promote the early detection, prevention and prosecution of procurement and grant fraud associated with increasing contracting activity for national security and other government programs. The Task Force’s efforts have produced more effective resource allocation in procurement fraud investigations, which has led directly to the acceleration of investigations and prosecutions. Since the creation of the Task Force, more than 300 fraud cases have resulted in criminal charges, convictions, civil actions or settlements.

The Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement recognizes outstanding professional achievements by law enforcement officers of the Department. Three Excellence in Law Enforcement Awards were awarded this year.

The Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement was presented to a team from DEA for their successful investigation and prosecution of one of the most significant Afghan narco-terrorist organizations. Recipients include, Paul K. Craine, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Special Operations Division; Michael J. Ferguson Executive Assistant, Office of Enforcement Operations; from the New York Division, James J. Hunt, Assistant Special Agent in Charge; Special Agents Patrick J. Hamlette and Francis X. Rau; from the Nassau County, N.Y., Office, Mark Minelli, Group Supervisor; and from the San Diego Division, William R. Sherman, Assistant Special Agent in Charge. Their efforts removed a significant source of funding for the Taliban, brought two White House-designated foreign narcotics kingpins and consolidated priority organization targets to justice, and paved the way for a historic extradition relationship between Afghanistan and the United States.

Another Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement was presented to William P. Delaney, Special Agent, FBI Jackson, Miss. Division for his outstanding performance in the case of Operation Benchmark, in which a conspiracy of judicial bribery and honest services wire fraud was uncovered and prosecuted.
From the FBI Los Angeles Division, Supervisory Special Agent Ramyar Tabatabaian; Special Agents Jason N. Smolanoff and Todd Munoz; from FBI Beijing, China, Legal Attache Steven E. Hendershot and Assistant Legal Attache Rodney B. Osborne, were honored with the Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement for the successful undercover and joint international police investigation entitled Operation Summer Solstice. Their efforts led to an unprecedented successful joint investigation with the Ministry of Public Service in the People’s Republic of China to enforce intellectual property laws. This cooperative effort resulted in the arrest of 25 individuals, the search of multiple businesses and residential locations, asset seizures by the Chinese government worth more than $7 million, and the seizure of more than 290,000 counterfeit software products in China with an estimated retail value of $500 million.

The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Management recognizes outstanding administrative or managerial achievements that have significantly improved operations and productivity, or reduced costs.

Irene S. Hernandez, was awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Management for her stellar performance while serving as the acting Director of the National Drug Intelligence Center. Hernandez accepted the challenges and responsibilities of overseeing the production of 37 major drug reports, which provided a strategic overview of the illicit drug situation and highlighted significant drug trends.

Another Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Management was presented to Chief Daire R. McCabe and former Chief Patricia Makely, Acquisitions Services, Library Staff, Justice Management Division, for their management of the library acquisitions program. Working as a team, they have managed an $11 million acquisition program, acquiring library paper and electronic resources for many Department components, including all seven library locations and collections, the U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the country and the 700 libraries of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Linda G. Rudolph, Administrative Officer, USMS, Eastern District of New York, also received the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Management. Rudolph has served for more than 30 years with the USMS and 37 years with the federal government. Most recently, she rose to the challenge of developing policy and procedures for the asset forfeiture program in her district, managing $115 million in assets. Rudolph possesses a leadership style distinguished by her professionalism, commitment to others and devotion to service.

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.

ATF employees W. Larry Bell, Deputy Assistant Director, Office of Science and Technology; Hugo J. Barrera, Deputy Assistant Director, Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information; Larry D. Slaughter, Chief, Planning and Architecture Branch; Kannatis B. Crawford, Telecommunications Manager, Office of Science and Technology; Barbara A. Wright, Section Chief, Resource Management Domain Section, were presented the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Information Technology for the development of the Wireless Portal, which has revolutionized the communication system of field agents at ATF.

An additional Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Information Technology was awarded to employees from the Office of the Federal Detention Trustee, Claudia Hill-Bickham, Assistant Trustee; Theodric Anderson, Senior Detention Facility Program Manager; James J. Morgan, Detention Facility Program Manager; Michael Thomas, Facilities Program Specialist; Brian J. Coady, Project Manager; and Shannon B. Brown, Chief Information Officer, for implementing the Facility Review Management System.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions towards protecting U.S. national security. Recipients were, from the FBI San Francisco Division, Charles J. Esposito Jr., Supervisory Special Agent; Special Agents Donaldo Wilson, Mark K. Hammell, Sang T. Jung (deceased), Scott Rakowitz, Elvis M. Chan, Y.J.M. Mihara-Meer, Darrell Aquin and David S. Parnell; Language Specialists Nadia S. Nettleton and Marion L. Butros; Intelligence Analyst Dina Badawy; from the FBI Salt Lake City, Utah, Division, Language Specialist Assaad E. Chalhoub; and from the FBI Counterterrorism Division, Special Agent Sanjay Virmani and Intelligence Analyst Sarah E. Marconi.

This team was recognized for establishing one of the first cyber-counterterrorism investigations of its kind in the FBI, proactively addressing not only terrorist cyber threats, but also their use of our Internet infrastructure to facilitate their attacks. The team immersed itself in the terrorist cyber realm, identifying and analyzing the terrorists’ use of the Internet for command, control, and communication and as an attack vector. The investigation uncovered hundreds of cyber attacks against U.S.-based networks and identified those responsible. Additionally, the intelligence gained has lent vital support to the war on terrorism as it has led to the arrest and neutralization of numerous known or suspected terrorists.

An additional Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security was presented to a team from the National Security Division of the Department of Justice, from the Office of Intelligence, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen; Associate Counsels Tashina Gauhar, Gabriel R. Sanz-Rexach, Robert P. Boyer and Tara A. Hurley; Attorney Advisors Frank P. Menna, Stuart J. Evans, and Jonathan W. Gannon; and Program Specialist Colum J. Gatens; from the Office of Law and Policy, Deputy Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers; former Counsel for National Security Law and Policy George C. Bobb III; and former Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brett C. Gerry.

The team received the award for their excellence in furthering the interests of national security through their development and handling of highly sensitive interagency initiatives involving legal, technical and administrative issues related to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The team’s extraordinary dedication and expert knowledge of intelligence and national security was instrumental to the success of these vital initiatives.

The Attorney General’s Award for Equal Employment Opportunity is the Department’s highest award for performance in support of the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program. This year’s recipient was Oliver C. Allen Jr., EEO Officer for the DEA. Allen was recognized for his efforts in furthering the goals of the program through effective leadership, imagination and innovation. Since Allen became the agency’s EEO officer, participation in EEO diversity and cultural programs has increased two-fold.
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. The recipients were, from the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees, Tina L. Oppelt, Paralegal Specialist, Office of the U.S. Trustee, Newark, N.J.; from the USMS, John A. Patterson, Torts Claims Administrator, Office of General Counsel; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, Karen L. Klever, Forfeiture Paralegal Specialist and Gerri L. Badden, Victim Witness Specialist; from FBI Portland, Ore. Division, Cindy M. Dugan Forfeiture Paralegal Specialist; from the Research and Publications Section, Office of the Solicitor General, Candy P. Lubin, Technical Editor; Paralegal Specialists Susan D. Ross, James K. Davis and Michele M. Klatka.

The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Administrative Support recognizes outstanding performance in administrative or managerial support by an administrative employee or secretary. Recipients in the Administrative Category were, Mark A. Jenkins, Chief Procurement, Facilities and Administrative Services; Procurement Liaison Specialist Carol S. Perry and Kathy S. Thrift, Administrative Support Specialist, Executive Office, National Security Division; Deputy Assistant Director Cathleen C. McIntyre, Space Management Specialist Myriam E. Skelly, Chau Huu Tran, General Engineer, Real Property Management Services, Facilities and Administrative Services Staff, Justice Management Division; and Thanet Williams, Supervisory Facilities Management Specialist, Executive Office for U.S. Trustees. Recipients in the Secretarial Category were Margaret Miller, Warden’s Secretary, Federal Correctional Complex Coleman, Federal Bureau of Prisons; and Angela M. Brown, Secretary, Office of the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division.

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. Two awards were presented this year. One Attorney General’s Award for Fraud Prevention was presented to the team responsible for investigating, and ultimately achieving a $499 million settlement with the pharmaceutical manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb. Recipients were, Andy J. Mao Senior Counsel for Health Care Fraud and Elder Justice, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division of the Department of Justice; and from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Susan M. Poswistilo and Gregg D. Shapiro.

Another Attorney General’s Award for Fraud Prevention was presented to Special Agent Laura Riley of the Office of the Inspector General Investigations Division, and from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Coyne and Robert M. Radick, for their contributions to the investigation and prosecution of rampant official corruption and civil rights violations at a federal prison.

The Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Community Public Safety recognizes outstanding achievement in the development and support of community partnerships designed to address public safety within a community. This year’s recipients were FBI Forensic Dentists Peter F. Hampl, Gig Harbor, Wash.; Barry E. Lipton, Largo, Fla.; and Warren D. Tewes, Queenstown, Md. This team received the award for being active members of the National Dental Image Repository Review Panel.

Osbia N. Hicks, Messenger/Food Service Worker, Consolidated Executive Office, Justice Management Division was presented the Cubby Dorsey Award for Outstanding Contributions by a Wage Grade System Employee for his commitment to excellence and his ability to perform all assigned tasks with unfailing accuracy and speed. This award recognizes extraordinary performance and contributions by wage grade system employees, including laborers, mechanics and skilled craft workers.

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. Recipients were, Arlene Irion Intelligence Analyst, FBI Los Angeles Division; Bradley T. Smith, Attorney Advisor, Office of Legal Counsel; and Kevin O. Driscoll, Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division. The John Marshall Awards are the Department’s highest awards offered to attorneys, for contributions and excellence in specialized areas of legal performance. Thirteen awards in eight categories were presented this year to teams and individuals.

The John Marshall Award for Trial of Litigation was presented to Jeremy F. Korzenik, Senior Trial Attorney; Deborah L. Harris, Assistant Chief for the Environmental Crimes Section; Katherine J. Barton and John L. Smeltzer, Trial Attorneys, Appellate Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division; and from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jay T. Golden, Assistant U.S. Attorney. The team was recognized for their successful prosecution of Robert Lucas and others in one of the most significant Clean Water Act prosecutions in U.S. history.

The John Marshall Award for Trial of Litigation was also presented to former Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Scully, and Assistant United States Attorneys Mitchell A. Mars (deceased) and T. Markus Funk from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, for their investigation and prosecution of Operation Family Secrets. This closely watched sweep of the mob hierarchy greatly disrupted the effectiveness of organized crime in Chicago.

Another John Marshall Award for Trial of Litigation was awarded to Alexandra R. Gelber, Trial Attorney, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Criminal Division of the Department of Justice; Audrey J. Renschen and Kimberley Sayers-Fay, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska. The trial team was recognized for their dedication to prosecuting United States v. Don Arthur Webster Jr., the first sex trafficking trial in the District of Alaska.

Trial Attorneys James D. Freeman, Heidi Kukis Hoffman, Mark C. Elmer and David F. Askman, from the Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice, were presented with the John Marshall Award for Participation in Litigation for their achievement in litigation against W.R. Grace & Co., achieving a trial court judgment of $54 million and obtaining a landmark settlement of $250 million to resolve claims for cleanup costs incurred and to be incurred at the Libby, Mont., Asbestos Superfund site. This settlement will provide a direct benefit to the residents of the town of Libby and help reduce their exposure to asbestos.

Another John Marshall Award for Participation in Litigation was awarded to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Raphael and Douglas M. Miller from the U.S. Attorney’s from the Central District of California. Raphael and Miller received the award for their outstanding litigation work on the successful investigation and prosecution of the leaker of grand jury transcripts during the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative prosecution in the Northern District of California. The investigation and prosecution exemplifies strong efforts in upholding the integrity of the legal system.

Another recipient of the John Marshall Award for Participation in Litigation was Trial Attorney Luis E. Saucedo, Special Litigation Section, Civil Rights Division. Saucedo is recognized for his work on a case involving the implementation of a consent decree to correct unlawful conditions of confinement at juvenile justice facilities in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The safety and well being of approximately 900 youth has been enhanced because of Saucedo’s efforts.

The John Marshall Award for Support of Litigation was presented to employees from the Environmental Enforcement Section of the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice, for their work on the American Electric Power settlement, the largest single environmental settlement in history. Recipients were, W. Benjamin Fisherow, Deputy Chief; Thomas Mariani, Assistant Chief; Phillip A. Brooks, Counsel to the Chief; James A. Lofton, Senior Counsel; Deborah N. Behles, Former Trial Attorney; and Trial Attorneys Myles E. Flint II, Justin A. Savage, Thomas A. Benson, Jennifer A. Lukas-Jackson and Katherine Vanderhook-Gomez.

Zita Y. Johnson-Betts, Supervisory Attorney, Disability Rights Section, Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, was also presented the John Marshall Award for Support of Litigation. Johnson-Betts was honored for outstanding leadership in the overall development, management and implementation of the Civil Rights Division’s testing program for compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The John Marshall Award for the Handling of Appeals was presented to Malcolm L. Stewart, Assistant to the Solicitor General. Stewart is recognized for his exemplary legal skills in handling appeals and the vital role he has played in representing the United States before the U.S. Supreme Court. During the past year, Stewart personally argued four cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including two cases in one eight-day period.

This year’s John Marshall Award for Providing Legal Advice was presented to Richard D. Cooke, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia; George S. Leone, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey; Robert D. Okun, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia; Robert A. Zauzmer, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Nina S. Goodman, Attorney, Appellate Section, Criminal Division of the Department of Justice; and Michelle Morales, Attorney Advisor, Office of Policy and Legislation, Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. The team received the award for their role in spearheading the Department’s response to the retroactive crack cocaine guidelines. Their work enabled those in the field to respond to the flood of motions with speed, accuracy and uniformity.

The John Marshall Award for Preparation or Handling of Legislation was awarded to Brian A. Benczkowski, Chief of Staff, Office of the Attorney General. Benczkowski provided outstanding leadership in the Office of Legislative Affairs during his tenure as the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General. He demonstrated remarkable ability in effectively articulating the Department’s positions on legislation relating to the War on Terror and other subjects that substantially affected our interests. He also managed the confirmation process for presidentially appointed nominees, which provided the Department with Senate-confirmed leadership in critical positions. His resolution of disagreements and other challenges in legislative, oversight and confirmation processes constituted extraordinary service to the Department.

The John Marshall Award for Asset Forfeiture was presented to Courtney J. Linn, Assistant U.S. Attorney from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California. Linn was honored for outstanding legal policy, training and case-related contributions to the asset forfeiture and money laundering programs.

Four Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York received the John Marshall Award for Dispute Resolution for the extraordinary result they achieved through mediation of the government’s environmental claims against the Dana Corporation, a bankrupt auto-parts supplier. Due to the team members’ creative and effective use of alternative dispute resolution, they secured a $125 million settlement that will be used to clean up two Superfund sites. Recipients were Pierre G. Armand, Daniel P. Filor, Matthew L. Schwartz and John D. Clopper.

Other Department employees were recognized at the ceremony for receiving the 2008 Presidential Rank Awards. Each year the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recommends awards for career Senior Executive Service employees that have demonstrated exceptional leadership, accomplishments and service over an extended period of time. These recipients progressed through a rigorous series of panels for review of their accomplishments with recommendations going to OPM, and ultimately approved by the President. Phillip H. Warren, Chief, Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Field Office, was named a recipient of the Distinguished Rank Award for achieving extraordinary results. The Meritorious Rank Award recipients are M. Faith Burton, Special Counsel, Office of Legislative Affairs for the Department of Justice; Ronnie A. Carter, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Dallas Office; D. Scott Dodrill, Regional Director, Northeast Region, Federal Bureau of Prisons; Wilfred L. Ford, Assistant Director, Office of Public and Governmental Affairs, ATF; Stuart Frisch, General Counsel, Justice Management Division; Timothy P. Garren, Torts Branch Director, Civil Division of the Department of Justice; Irva D. Greene, Executive Officer, Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice; Seth G. Heald, Chief, Civil Trial Section, Central Region, Tax Division; James C. Kilbourne, Chief, Appellate Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice; Barry M. Sabin, former Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Justice