Security News: Suburban Chicago Doctor Charged with Health Care Fraud in Connection with Alleged False Claims to Medicare and Private Insurer

Source: United States Department of Justice News

CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago doctor who specialized in removing moles to screen for cancer was charged today in federal court with submitting fraudulent claims for reimbursement to Medicare and a private insurer.

JOHN A. GREAGER II owned and operated Cancer Therapy Associates S.C., in Lombard, Ill.  From 2015 to 2021, Greager fraudulently obtained approximately $4.1 million from Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois by submitting fraudulent claims that falsely represented that certain health care services, including mole removal procedures, had been provided to patients, according to a criminal information filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  Greager knew that those services were not provided as represented on the claims and, at times, were medically unnecessary, the information states.   The information also alleges that Greager removed more moles from patients than was medically necessary, and then dictated notes and provided paperwork to employees to submit fraudulent claims for reimbursement for those medical procedures.

The information charges Greager, 74, of Hinsdale, Ill., with one count of health care fraud.  Arraignment in federal court has not yet been scheduled.

The charge was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; Mario Pinto, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General in Chicago; and Amy K. Parker, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Office of the Inspector General.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Hasten and Virginia Hancock.

The public is reminded that an information is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

Health care fraud is punishable by a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

Security News: Justice Department Announces Reproductive Rights Task Force

Source: United States Department of Justice News

The Task Force Formalizes the Department’s Ongoing Work to Protect Reproductive Freedom Under Federal Law

The Justice Department announced today the establishment of the Reproductive Rights Task Force. The Task Force formalizes an existing working group and efforts by the Department over the last several months to identify ways to protect access to reproductive health care in anticipation of the possibility of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta will chair the Task Force, which will consist of representatives from the Department’s Civil Division, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney community, Office of the Solicitor General, Office for Access to Justice, Office of Legal Counsel, Office of Legal Policy, Office of Legislative Affairs, Office of the Associate Attorney General, Office of the Deputy Attorney General and Office of the Attorney General and will be supported by dedicated staff.

“As Attorney General Garland has said, the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision is a devastating blow to reproductive freedom in the United States,” said Associate Attorney General Gupta. “The Court abandoned 50 years of precedent and took away the constitutional right to abortion, preventing women all over the country from being able to make critical decisions about our bodies, our health, and our futures. The Justice Department is committed to protecting access to reproductive services.”

The Task Force will monitor and evaluate all state and local legislation and enforcement actions that threaten to:

  • Infringe on federal legal protections relating to the provision or pursuit of reproductive care;
  • Impair women’s ability to seek reproductive care in states where it is legal;
  • Impair individuals’ ability to inform and counsel each other about the reproductive care that is available in other states;
  • Ban Mifepristone based on disagreement with the FDA’s expert judgment about its safety and efficacy; or
  • Impose criminal or civil liability on federal employees who provide reproductive health services in a manner authorized by federal law.

The Task Force will identify such actions and coordinate appropriate federal government responses, including proactive and defensive legal action where appropriate. The Task Force will work with agencies across the federal government to support their work on issues relating to reproductive rights and access to reproductive healthcare. 

The Justice Department is working with external stakeholders such as reproductive services providers, advocates and state attorneys general. The Task Force will continue this important effort. It will also work with the Office of Counsel to the President to convene a meeting of private pro bono attorneys, bar associations and public interest organizations in order to encourage lawyers to represent and assist patients, providers and third parties lawfully seeking reproductive health services throughout the country. In order to assist attorneys working to protect access to comprehensive reproductive health services, the Task Force will centralize online legal resources, such as filed Justice Department legal briefs and information about the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

Recognizing that the best way to protect reproductive freedom is through congressional action, the Task Force will also coordinate providing technical assistance to Congress in connection with federal legislation to codify reproductive rights and ensure access to comprehensive reproductive services. It will also coordinate the provision of technical assistance concerning Federal constitutional protections to states seeking to afford legal protection to out-of-state patients and providers who offer legal reproductive healthcare.

FY23 City Pair Contracts Awarded for Official Government Travel

Source: United States General Services Administration

July 12, 2022

Estimated savings of $1.2 billion negotiated through the program

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, GSA announced new Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 awards for scheduled airline passenger transportation services contracts offered through the GSA City Pair Program. The program negotiates set airfare rates for official government travel, and is estimated to save taxpayers more than $1.28 billion in the upcoming fiscal year. The new fares go into effect on October 1, 2022.

“The GSA City Pair Program is a great example of the federal government working together for the common mission, and creating value and cost savings for the taxpayers,” said GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) Commissioner Sonny Hashmi. “It’s a Best-In-Class solution that makes it easy to meet the needs of our workforce by providing much-needed flexibility for government air travel.”

Under the Program, airfare rates for official government travel are firm-fixed-price and offer an estimated 45% discount on comparable commercial fares. GSA City Pair fares have no cancellation or change fees along with other benefits such as being fully refundable, having last seat availability, and no blackout dates.

GSA’s City Pair Program awarded contracts to eight U.S. air carriers for FY 2023:

  • Alaska Airlines
  • American Airlines
  • Delta Airlines
  • Hawaiian Airlines
  • JetBlue Airways
  • Silver Airways
  • Southwest Airlines
  • United Airlines

This program is the single largest strategically sourced procurement for negotiated airfares throughout the world. The GSA City Pair Program began in 1980 with 11 markets; 12,139 line item markets will be served in FY 2023.

The markets are chosen using data provided from previous years’ travel bookings, keeping in mind cost savings and program performance. GSA considers certain criteria including availability of service, total number of flights, flight availability, average elapsed flight time, and price of service.

###

About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

Security News: Statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on Confirmation of ATF Director Steve Dettelbach

Source: United States Department of Justice

The Justice Department today released the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland following the Senate’s bipartisan confirmation of Steve Dettelbach as the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF):

“Every day, ATF’s agents, investigators, and professional staff work tirelessly to protect our communities from violent crime and the devastation caused by gun violence. They provide support, training, and expertise to law enforcement agencies nationwide, conduct life-saving research and analysis, work to ensure that our regulations keep pace with the ever-changing technology of firearms, and disrupt illegal gun trafficking networks. Today, for the second time in history, the United States Senate has voted to give ATF long-overdue Senate-confirmed leadership. As a career prosecutor and the former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Steve understands the importance and urgency of ATF’s mission, and I am confident he will lead ATF with integrity, dedication, and skill.”

Security News: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Honors Department of Justice Employees and Others for the 69th Annual Attorney General’s Awards

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Today, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the recipients for the 69th Annual Attorney General’s Awards, recognizing Department of Justice employees and partners for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation’s laws. This year, 298 Justice Department employees received awards, while 54 non-department individuals are also being honored for their work.  

“This year’s awardees have served selflessly to further the Department’s important work upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am proud to recognize these individuals for their professionalism, skill, and leadership, and I am grateful for their service to our Department and our nation.”

The 69th Annual Attorney General’s Awards and recipients are as follows.

The Attorney General’s David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service is the Department’s highest award for employee performance. Attorney General Garland recognizes Supervisory Special Agent Jessica A. Nye; Special Agents Peter Ahearn, Jr, Blair H. Newman, and John A. Maser; Computer Scientists Lindsey Chiesa and Naomi R. Patrick, Charlotte Field Office; Supervisory Special Agent Thomas S. Breeden, Baltimore Field Office; Supervisory Special Agent Carrie A. Crot, Cyber Division; Intelligence Analyst Sean A. McDermott, Richmond Division, FBI; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric L. Iverson and Anand P. Ramaswamy for the Middle District of North Carolina; and Senior Counsel Ryan Kao Jeung Dickey, Criminal Division.

The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service is the Department’s second highest award for employee performance; there are 15 Distinguished Service Awards being awarded today.

The first Distinguished Award is presented to Senior Counsel Cory B. Leuchten of the Office of the Assistant Attorney General; Trial Attorneys Meagan K. Bellshaw, Brittney A. Dimond, Collier T. Kelley, Ihan Kim, Sarah H. Licht, Bennett J. Matelson, Lillian Okamuro, John R. Read, Ethan D. Stevenson, Lara E.V. Trager, and Jeffrey Vernon, Financial Services, Fintech & Banking Section; Economists Brian Clark and Alexander Raskovich, Economic Regulatory Section; and Financial Analyst John Griffin, Economic Litigation Section, Antitrust Division.

The second Distinguished Award is presented to Assistant Branch Director Bridget B. Lipscomb, Torts Branch, Environmental Torts Section of the Civil Division.

The third Distinguished Award is presented to Director Eli M. Rosenbaum of Human Rights Enforcement Strategy and Policy; Trial Attorney Susan Masling; Chief Historian Dr. Jeffrey S. Richter, Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, Criminal Division; Deputy Chief Paul F. Stone; Senior Counsel Daniel I. Smulow, National Security Unit, Office of Immigration Litigation, Civil Division; Deputy Chief Counsel Brandon Josephsen; Senior Attorney William A. Lund; Associate Legal Advisor Ajay Bhatt, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor; and Special Agents Glen Earl Blache and John A. Witsell III, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security.

The fourth Distinguished Award is presented to Special Litigation Counsel Rosanna E. Gibson, Criminal Section, Civil Rights Division; Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Drew Yeates; Paralegals Ester Hernandez and Ingrid Westphal-Kelson; Victim-Witness Coordinator Candelaria Bennett for the District of Utah; and Special Agent Steven S. Hymas, FBI.

The fifth Distinguished Award is presented to Special Agent Zachary C. Leasure of the San Diego Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Agency.

The sixth Distinguished Award is presented to Senior Attorney Bridget Kennedy McNeil of the Wildlife and Marine Resources Section for the Environment and Natural Resources Division.

The seventh Distinguished Award is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarod J. Douglas and Brandon S. Flower; Victim-Witness Coordinator Christina M. Frizzell for the Northern District of West Virginia; Special Agents Ashley E. Archibald and John D. Large, Pittsburgh Division, FBI; Resident Agent in Charge Colin Davis; and Special Agent Keith Vereb, Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The eighth Distinguished Award is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Clark, Nicole Grosnoff, Peter Laserna, and Lisa H. Miller for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent Kristin Bailey, FBI; and Special Agent Robyn W. Ziemer, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The ninth Distinguished Award is presented to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Lesko; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tanya Hajjar and Kevin M. Trowel; Paralegal Specialist Teri Carby for the Eastern District of New York; Supervisory Special Agents Anthony Bivona and Christopher Donohue; Special Agents Delise Jeffrey, Michael W. Lever, Maegan O. Rees, and Michael J. Weniger; Victim Specialist Laura B. Riso; Task Force Officer Charles B. Fontanelli, New York Field Office, FBI; and Special Agents Megan Buckley and Christopher T. Munster, New York Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The tenth Distinguished Award is presented to Supervisory Trial Attorney Jennifer Kennedy Gellie, Counterintelligence & Export Control Section; Trial Attorney Jennifer E. Levy, Counterterrorism Section, National Security Division; Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Cummings, Jr. for the District of Columbia; Intelligence Analysts Mikolaj Recko and Susan M. Zalac; Special Agents Bernie S. Annor, Kathryn M. McDonald,  Michael C. Merletti,  Alexa M. Racioppo, and Danielle Ray, Washington Field Office; Supervisory Special Agents David Nadasi and Matthew J. Sanderl, Counterintelligence Division; Supervisory Special Agent Jason Coffey; Special Agent Danielle S. Ditzler; and Intelligence Analyst Stephany Warner, Counterterrorism Division Fly Team, Counterterrorism Section, FBI.

The eleventh Distinguished Award is presented to Senior Level Trial Attorney Nannette L. Davis; Supervisory Trial Attorney Kathleen M. Barry, Northern Criminal Enforcement Section; Supervisory Trial Attorney Todd Ellinwood, Southern Criminal Enforcement Section; Litigation Technology Case Manager Jason D. Dowling, Office of Management and Administration; Paralegal Kevin P. Kingston, Court of Federal Claims Section, Tax Division; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Capozzi and Sagar K. Ravi for the Southern District of New York; Special Agent Amy Lindner; and CI Cybercrimes Fraud Detection Analyst David Utzke, Criminal Investigation Division, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The twelfth Distinguished Award is presented to Supervisory Electronics Engineer Robert J. Smith; Electronics Engineers Gregory Klatt, Peter R. Lacko, and Robert M. Weber, Operational Technology Division; and Special Agent Peter G. Diaz, New York Field Office, FBI.

The thirteenth Distinguished Award is presented to Director Shawn O. Flinn; and Deputy Director Valarie Mulcahy, Human Resources, Justice Management Division.

The fourteenth Distinguished Award is presented to Chief Inspectors Jan E. Hamm, Erin A. Lane, Michael E. Pannone, and Allison E. Russo; Senior Inspector Kathleen E. Flanagan; Inspectors Eric F. Barker, James D. Ludwig, Fei Yin Luk, and Charla Ngatcha, Evaluation and Inspections Division; Investigative Counsels S. Randall Humm and Ann Marie Terzaken, Oversight and Review Division; Assistant Director Melanie C. Danberg; and Mathematical Statisticians Elizabeth T. Heines and Ramona R. Rantala, Office of Data Analytics, Audit Division, Office of the Inspector General.

The fifteenth Distinguished Award is presented to Assistant Chief Senior Inspector Vincent G. Bellino; Deputy U.S. Marshal William J. Hicks; and Task Force Officers Mark Jeffrey and Gerik John Robert Ray, Western District of Texas, U.S. Marshals Service.

The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism recognizes an extraordinary act of courage and voluntary risk of life during the performance of official duties. One Exceptional Heroism Award is presented this year to Deputy U.S. Marshal Marlon J. Medrano of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The Edward H. Levi Award for Outstanding Professionalism and Exemplary Integrity pays tribute to the memory and achievements of former Attorney General Edward H. Levi. This award is presented to an individual whose career as an attorney, law professor and dean, and public servant exemplified these qualities in the best traditions of the Department. This year’s Edward H. Levi Award is presented to Deputy Chief Douglas E. Crow of the Organized Crime and Gang Section for the Criminal Division.

The Mary C. Lawton Lifetime Service Award recognizes employees who have served at least 20 years in the Department and who 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. Two Mary C. Lawton Award are presented this year.

The first Mary C. Lawton Lifetime Service Award is presented to Chief Teresa L. McHenry of the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section of the Criminal Division.

The second Mary C. Lawton Lifetime Service Award is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Zauzmer for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The Attorney General’s Award for Meritorious Public Service, the top public service award granted by the Department, recognizes the most significant contributions of citizens and organizations that have assisted the Department in the accomplishment of its mission and objectives. This award is presented to Grants Director Kim J. Day of the International Association of Forensic Nurses.

The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service in Indian Country recognizes extraordinary efforts by those who demonstrated the Department’s commitment to fighting crime in Indian Country. This year, two Exceptional Service in Indian Country Awards are being presented.

The first Exceptional Service in Indian Country is presented to Supervisory Special Agent L. Craig Overby; Special Agents Nadine F. Brown, Steven Lowe, and Brandon Walter; Intelligence Analyst Nicolette G. Rose; Staff Operations Specialist Cara K. Kaizer; Victim Specialists Erin Harris and Michele L. Stewart, Salt Lake City Field Office; Forensic Accountant Daniel R. Conger, Criminal Investigative Division, FBI; Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Lee Sundwall for the District of Utah; Tribal Operations Officer Jo-Ellen Cree, Bureau of Indian Affairs; and Special Agents Larry S. Harris and J. Christopher Wood, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Interior.

The second Exceptional Service in Indian Country is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shannon B. Cozzoni, Ryan M. Roberts, and Douglas E. Snow of the Northern District of Oklahoma.

The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement recognizes outstanding professional achievements by law enforcement officers of the Department of Justice. This award is presented to Supervisory Special Agents Adam Cushman and Steven C. Patterson; Special Agent Jacob E. Alder, Phoenix Field Office; Supervisory Special Agent Victor Nguyen, San Diego Field Office; Supervisory Special Agents Ricardo L. Jimenez, Brian D. Percival, and Carlos Tomala, Legal Attaché Mexico City; Supervisory Special Agent Kyle S. Blackhurst, Legal Attaché San Salvador; Supervisory Special Agents Shannon Fontenot and Amie Loos, Criminal Investigation Division; and Supervisory Special Agent Jason P. Parrish, Laboratory Division, FBI.

The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Management recognizes outstanding administrative or managerial achievements, which have significantly improved operations, productivity, or reduced costs. This year, three Excellence in Management Awards are being presented.

The first Award for Excellence in Management is presented to Geospatial Program Manager Aaron A. Jabbour of the National Geospatial Intelligence Branch for the Criminal Intelligence Division, Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The second Award for Excellence in Management is presented to Deputy Chief Learning Officer Mary Beth Pfister of the Office of Legal Education for the National Advocacy Center and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys.

The third Award for Excellence in Management is presented to Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael H. Allen for Policy, Management and Planning; and Deputy Director Christine E. Gunning of the Security and Emergency Planning Staff for the Justice Management Division.

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. Two Excellence in Information Technology Award are presented this year.

The first Award for Excellence in Information Technology is presented to Deputy Chief Brian R. Young; Assistant Chiefs Mark Cipolletti, Michael T. O’Neill, Avi M. Perry, and Justin Weitz; and Trial Attorneys Drew Bradylyons, Jennifer L. Farer, Leslie S. Garthwaite, Cory E. Jacobs, Alexander J. Kramer, John F. Scanlon, Della Sentilles, and Matthew F. Sullivan, Fraud Section, Criminal Division.

The second Award for Excellence in Information Technology is presented to Deputy Chief Information Officer Craig J. Hegemann; Supervisory Information Technology Specialists Kate Myong Ahn, Kelvin N. Doan, David Robert Fruehwald, Andrew J. Leftwich, Timothy L. Robinson II, and Willie J. Williams; Supervisory Information Technology Project Manager Michael R. Barylski; Supervisory Information Technology Program Manager Desmond L. Murphy; and Information Technology Specialists Dain A. Bentley, Nelma Gail Hartfiel, Ricardo D. Phillips, Sr., Elissa M. Reynolds, and Sein Sanborn, Office of Information Technology, Executive Office for Immigration Review.

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. Two Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security Award are presented this year.

The first Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace; First Assistant U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel; Paralegal Catherine Robillard; Victim-Witness Specialist Acquanette Lindsey for the Southern District of Ohio; Trial Attorney Justin Sher, Counterterrorism Section, National Security Division; Supervisory Trial Attorney Paul Casey, Counterterrorism Section, National Security Division; Victim-Witness Specialists Christina Conrad and Linda James, Cincinnati Field Division; Supervisory Special Agent Morgan Spurlock; Supervisory Special Agent Michael Herwig; Special Agents Patrick Gragan and T.A. Staderman; and Task Force Officers Charles Balaj, Brad Meeker, Kyle Metz, and A.J. Schweier, Joint Terrorism Task Forces, FBI.

The second Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security is presented to Supervisory Attorney-Advisors Loyaan A. Egal, Eric S. Johnson, and David I. Plotinsky, Foreign Investment Review Section; Attorney-Advisor Julie E. Dickerson, Office of Law and Policy; and Attorney-Advisors Christopher R. Clements, Megan K. Fluckiger, Alice S. Jou, Lee G. Licata, and Christine M. Quinn, Foreign Investment Review Section, National Security Division.

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. One Equal Employment Opportunity Award is presented this year to Supervisory Special Agent Catherine M. Fagan, Training Division; Supervisory Management and Program Analyst David R. Cotton-Zinn, Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division; Intelligence Analyst Ashley V. Evans, Washington Field Office; Intelligence Analyst Aleksandra Panovska, Cincinnati Field Office; Staff Operations Specialist David M. Maltinsky, Los Angeles Field Office; Special Agent Anthony J. Grecco, Jr., New York Field Office; Intelligence Analyst Summer Harms, Sacramento Field Office; Intelligence Analyst Corbin M. Warfel; Special Agent Brett Kalina, San Diego Field Office; and Special Agent Clay Rehrig, San Juan Field Office, FBI.

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. Three Excellence in Legal Support Awards are presented this year.

The first Excellence in Legal Support Award in the paralegal category is presented to Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Wanda G. Evans of the Office of Immigration Litigation (Appellate) for the Civil Division.

The second Excellence in Legal Support Award in the paralegal category is presented to Paralegal Specialist Jennie M. Gallagher of the U.S. Trustee Program – Region 10 for the Peoria Field Office.

The third Excellence in Legal Support Award in the legal support category is presented to Senior IT Specialist Tsang (Rowbe) Pun of the Litigation Support Section for the Antitrust Division.

The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Administrative Support recognizes outstanding performance in administrative or managerial support by administrative employees or secretaries. Four Excellence in Administrative Support Awards are being presented.

The first Excellence in Administrative Support Award in the Administrative category is presented to Legal Assistant Christopher G. McShea for the Southern District of New York.

The second Excellence in Administrative Support Award in the Administrative category is presented to Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Betty Alfaraz for the Southern District of Florida.

The third Excellence in Administrative Support Award in the Secretarial category is presented to Legal Assistant Madison V. Beasley of the Environmental Enforcement Section for the Environment and Natural Resources Division.

The fourth Excellence in Administrative Support Award in the Secretarial category is presented to Supervisory Support Services Specialist Tracey N. Armstrong for the Southern District of Texas.

The Claudia J. Flynn Award for Professional Responsibility recognizes Department attorneys who have 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 Claudia J. Flynn Award is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence E. Kole for the Central District of California.

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. One Outstanding Service in Freedom of Information Act Administration Award is presented this year to Division Chief Adam C. Siple of the Information Privacy and Governance Division, Office of Public and Governmental Affairs, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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 Fraud Prevention Awards are presented this year.

The first Award for Fraud Prevention is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abraham C. Meltzer, Alexander B. Schwab, and Carolyn S. Small; Paralegal Specialist Yeni Gomez for the Central District of California; Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben S. Kingsley; Paralegal Specialist Jonathan Birch for the Northern District of California; Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan for the Western District of North Carolina; Trial Attorney Alexander T. Pogozelski, Civil Frauds Section, Civil Division; Postal Inspector Megan Bradley, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Postal Service; Special Agent Paul Richard, Office Inspector General, Federal Housing Finance Agency; Special Agent Ryan Wat Office of Inspector General, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; Special Agents Armando Delgado-Campos and Albert Fontana, FBI; and Special Agent Kelvin Zwiefelhofer, Office of Inspector General, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

The second Award for Fraud Prevention is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis D. Murray for the Middle District of Florida; Special Agents Kristy L. Anderson, Alvis A. Lockhart, and Yenixa Perez, Tampa Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and Task Force Officer Ryan P. Doherty, Tampa Field Office, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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. Two Outstanding Contributions to Community Partnerships for Public Safety Awards are being presented this year.

The first Outstanding Contributions to Community Partnerships for Public Safety Award is presented to Regional Director Meg Gorecki; Associate Director Theresa J. Segovia; Lead Conciliation Specialists Walter Atkinson, Darryck Dean, and James Williams III; and Conciliation Specialists Mildred Duprey de Robles, Kim Milstead, and Linda Ortiz, Community Relations Service.

The second Outstanding Contributions to Community Partnerships for Public Safety Award is presented to Senior Inspector William A. Boldin; Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Anne M. Murphy, Northern District of Ohio; Chief John Majoy, Newburgh Heights Police Department; Chief Scott Gardner, East Cleveland Police Department; Survivor and Missing Person Advocate Amanda Berry; Producer Carrie Young; News Director Andy Fishman, Fox Channel 8 News; Former Quarterback for the Cleveland Browns Bernie Kosar; Survivor and Founder Gina DeJesus, Cleveland Center for Missing Persons; Karen McHenry of the Bellefaire JCB Missing & Homeless Youth Program; and Program Administrators Kara Davis and Maureen Draye, Cuyahoga Children & Family Services, Cleveland, Ohio.

The Cubby Dorsey Award for Outstanding Service by a Wage Grade System Employee recognizes extraordinary performance and contributions by wage grade system employees, including laborers, mechanics, and skilled craft workers. This award is presented to Electrician Supervisor Dennis W. Good of the Finance and Facilities Division for the FBI.

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 Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee is presented to Trial Attorney Heather Diefenbach Call of the Washington Criminal II Section for the Antitrust Division.

The second Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee is presented to Psychology Technician Jennifer A. Samonte-Rillo of the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) Lompoc for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The third Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee is presented to Digital Investigative Analyst Matthew E. Markovich of the Criminal Section for the Civil Rights Division.

The fourth Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper for the District of the Virgin Islands.

The last award presented this year is The John Marshall Awards which are the Department’s highest awards offered to attorneys, recognizing them for their contributions and excellence in specialized areas of legal performance. Thirteen awards in nine categories are being presented this year.

The first John Marshall Award in the Trial of Litigation category is presented to Deputy Chief Kelly Pearson; Trial Attorneys Bethany Lipman, Conor M. Mulroe, and Marianne Shelvey, Organized Crime and Gang Section, Criminal Division; and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mitra Jafary-Hariri and Doug Salzenstein for the Eastern District of Michigan.

The second John Marshall Award also in the Trial of Litigation category is presented to Deputy Director Matthew T. Grady of the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit for the Criminal Section, Civil Rights Division.

The third John Marshall Award also in the Trial of Litigation category is presented to Senior Counsels Scott D. Bauer, Sean K. Carman, Myles E. Flint II, Danica Anderson Glaser, and Jerome W. MacLaughlin; Senior Attorneys Patrick B. Bryan, Richard S. Greene IV, and Laura J. Rowley, Environmental Enforcement Section; Senior Attorney Phillip R. Dupre, Environmental Defense Section; and Trial Attorney Joan M. Pepin, Appellate Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division.

The fourth John Marshall Award also in the Trial of Litigation category is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew C. Bosse, John F. Butler, and Joseph E. DePadilla for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Trial Attorney Teresa Wallbaum of the Organized Crime and Gang Section for the Criminal Division.

The fifth John Marshall Award in the Participation in Litigation category is presented to Deputy Chief Timothy J. Moran; Trial Attorneys Tamica H. Daniel, Tanya I. Kirwan, and Lauren M. Marks; Paralegal Chiquita Robertson; Equal Opportunity Specialist Ayanna A. Brown, Housing and Civil Enforcement, Civil Rights Division; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Fagan and Ron Gallegos; and Paralegal Jessica Rogers for the Western District of Oklahoma.

The sixth John Marshall Award in the Support of Litigation category is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander P. Berrang, Jonathan S. Keim, and Maya D. Song for the Eastern District of Virginia; Trial Attorneys Louisa K. Marion and Adrienne L. Rose, Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section; Deputy Chief Keith A. Becker, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Criminal Division; and Assistant General Counsel Joanne Pasquarelli, Office of the General Counsel, FBI.

The seventh John Marshall Award also in the Support of Litigation category is presented to Assistant Section Chief S. Jay Govindan; Senior Attorney Robert P. Williams, Wildlife and Marine Resources Section; Assistant Section Chief Stephen G. Bartell; Senior Attorney Thomas K. Snodgrass, Natural Resources Section; Senior Attorney for Legal Issues David W. Harder; and Trial Attorney Daron T. Carreiro, Indian Resources Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division.

The eighth John Marshall Award in the Handling of Appeals category is presented to Assistant to the Solicitor General Morgan L. Ratner of the Office of the Solicitor General.

The ninth John Marshall Award in the Preparation or Handling of Legislation category is presented to Assistant Director Aimee Lee; Supervisory Trial Attorney Tara K. Hogan; Senior Trial Counsels Meen-Geu Oh and Stephen J. Tosini; and Trial Attorneys Kyle S. Beckrich, Joshua E. Kurland, and Ann C. Motto, Commercial Litigation Branch, National Courts Section, Civil Division.

The tenth John Marshall Award also in the Preparation or Handling of Legislation category is presented to Senior Counsel Christina Giffin; Trial Attorneys Danielle L. Hickman, Christian A. Levesque, and Susan Masling, Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section; Trial Attorneys Sonja Ralston and Finnuala Kelleher Tessier, Appellate Section, Criminal Division; Counsel Anne Pings, Office of Legislative Affairs; Deputy Solicitor General Eric Feigin, Office of the Solicitor General; and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Laurence Rothenberg, Office of Legal Policy.

The eleventh John Marshall Award in the Asset Forfeiture category is presented to Principal Deputy Chief Daniel H. Claman, International Unit; Trial Attorneys Elizabeth A. Aloi and Michael W. Khoo, Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Section; and Trial Attorney Emily Siedell, Office of International Affairs, Criminal Division.

The twelfth John Marshall Award in the Alternative Dispute Resolution category is presented to Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan C. Morrissey; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shoba Pillay for the Northern District of Illinois.

The thirteenth John Marshall Award in the Interagency Cooperation category is presented to Associate Chief Counsels Laura Akowuah, Tracey Allen, Jennifer Argabright, Josh Davenport, and Jaclyn M. Resly; and Senior Counsels Tara Boland, Sonia Nath, Marci Norton, Laura Pawloski, Shannon Singleton, James Smith, Paige Taylor, and Claudia Zuckerman, Office of the Chief Counsel, U.S. Food and Drug Administration.