Attorney General Recognizes District Employees

WASHINGTON – Assistant United States Attorneys Billy J. Williams, Tim Simmons, Craig Gabriel, and Gary Sussman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Oregon, were among 243 members of the Department of Justice recognized by Attorney General Eric Holder and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director Monty Wilkinson at the 30th annual Director’s Awards Ceremony today in Washington D.C.

The District of Oregon was one of 44 districts represented at the ceremony, which was held today in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building.

In his prepared remarks to awardees, Attorney General Holder said, “Locally, nationally, and internationally, you represent the very best that this Department has to offer.  Your work embodies our ongoing commitment – not merely to win cases, but to do justice; to protect our fellow citizens from crime, violence, and terrorism; to empower the most vulnerable among us; and to uphold the rule of law.” 

EOUSA Director Monty Wilkinson echoed those sentiments, saying to the recipients, “You have persevered, and remained focused and motivated – achieving remarkable results in work that makes a difference in the lives of citizens across our great country.  The vast scope of your collective accomplishments is nothing short of exceptional.”

Assistant United States Attorneys Billy Williams, Tim Simmons, and Craig Gabriel all serve as Tribal Liaisons for the District of Oregon.  They are recognized for their achievements in promoting the safety of Indian Tribal communities, establishing trusted government-to-government relationships, and prosecuting Indian Country cases. They have instituted concrete changes in Indian Country to promote safety and improve law enforcement, with a particular emphasis on advancing the welfare of Indian youth.  They have built the partnerships necessary to have effective Indian Country law enforcement, and employed those resources to aggressively prosecute the most dangerous offenders, resulting in a dramatic increase in prosecutions and an equally dramatic reduction in Indian Country crimes and violence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Sussman has served as the Project Safe Childhood (PSC) Coordinator for over seven years, and the award recognizes the impact of his work as a leader in developing partnerships with state and local law enforcement and his success in the area of prosecuting sexual predators.  During his time as the PSC Coordinator, Sussman has worked directly with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that investigate child sexual abuse and exploitation offenses to increase the number, type, quality, and complexity of cases.  He has encouraged state and local prosecutors to refer appropriate cases for federal prosecution, and to coordinate joint federal/state prosecution of particularly serious offenders.  As a result, many dangerous sexual predators are now serving substantial federal prison sentences.  PSC prosecutions doubled between FY 2011 and FY 2012. 

“It is an honor and a privilege to work with these dedicated professionals,” said U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall.  “My Indian Country team works tirelessly to fulfill the United States’ trust responsibilities to Tribal Nations by protecting Indian treaty and ancestral rights, and by facilitating partnerships between tribal officials and both federal and state law enforcement and regulatory agencies.”  Ms. Marshall added, “Further, the phenomenal  commitment of Oregon's Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, AUSA Sussman, in changing the landscape for sexual predators in the District of Oregon by cultivating strong partnerships with state and federal law enforcement, has greatly impacted our ability to bring successful prosecutions of these cases. Enhancing safety in Indian Country and fighting child exploitation has been, and will continue to be top priorities for this office.

EOUSA provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorneys’ offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao.