United States Attorney’s Office Honors Federal, State & Local Law Enforcement Personnel For Exceptional Service

BOSTON - United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz recently recognized 152 officials from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies for exceptional service at the annual Law Enforcement Public Service Awards Ceremony.

The ceremony held at the United States Courthouse in Boston on May 8 identified 15 cases worthy of special recognition from 2012 for outstanding collaboration, investigative achievement, investigative excellence and victim assistance. The honorees were nominated by Assistant U.S. Attorneys involved in the investigation and prosecution of the cases.

During the event, US Attorney Ortiz praised law enforcement personnel or their accomplishments and recognized the demands placed upon them.

“This work can be difficult, and at times, it may seem thankless,” she said. “Please know that your efforts do not go unnoticed. What you have sacrificed - your personal safety, your precious time with your families – it is truly appreciated by our office, your agencies and the communities for which you have dedicated your esteemed service.”

Cases receiving recognition for Outstanding Collaborative Investigation were those that required exceptional efforts of investigators to overcome significant challenges and achieve a successful conclusion resulting from collaboration with multiple agencies. Cases and agencies highlighted in this category were as follows:

• U.S. v. John Alicea-Burgos, et al.
  Recipients: Drug Enforcement Administration; Easthampton Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Holyoke Police Department
  
  
• U.S. v. GlaxoSmithKline, LLC
  Recipients: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; and Office of Personnel Management, Office of Inspector General
  
  
• United States v. Luis Alberto Gonzalez, et al.
  Recipients: Drug Enforcement Administration; Fairhaven Police Department; and Massachusetts State Police through the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and Essex County Drug Task Force
  
  
• U.S. v. Thomas A. Donahue
  Recipients: Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations
  
  
• U.S. v. Emadeddin Muntasser, et al.
  Recipients: Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations; Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection; and U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation
  
  
• U.S. ex rel. Giddarie v. Sanofi-Aventis
  Recipients: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; Federal Bureau of Investigation; United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General; and Office of Personnel Management, Office of Inspector General.

Cases receiving recognition for Investigative Achievement were limited to those that substantially and significantly contributed to the mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice. Cases and agencies highlighted in this category were as follows:

• U.S. v. Owens Brown
  Recipients: Federal Bureau of Investigation; Boston Police Department; and Massachusetts State Police Gang Task Force.
  
  
• U.S. v. Ralph F. DeLeo, et al.
  Recipients: Federal Bureau of Investigation; Massachusetts Department of Correction; Boston Police Department; Medford Police Department; and U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation
  
  
• U.S. ex rel. Susan Hutcheson v. Blackstone Medical, Inc.
  Recipient: Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service
  
  
• U.S. v. Dion, et al., U.S. v. Rickaby, U.S. v. Savage, and U.S. v. Lapierre, et al.
  Recipients: U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Internal Revenue Service; and U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation
  
  
• Operation Magic Wand
  Recipients: Drug Enforcement Administration and Boston Police Department
  
  
• U.S. v. Orthofix, Inc. and U.S. v. Thomas Guerrieri
  Recipient: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations

Cases receiving recognition for Investigative Excellence were reserved for those whose actions led to the arrest of a dangerous subject or the exposure of a significant criminal conspiracy. The case need not be prosecuted in the District of Massachusetts, but related to a federal or international matter. Cases and agencies highlighted in this category were as follows:

• U.S. v. Jose L. Baez
  Recipients: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Boston Fire Department, Fire Investigation Unit; Boston Police Department; Massachusetts State Police, Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit; and Cambridge Fire Department
  
  
• U.S. v. Rezwan Ferdaus
  Recipients: Federal Bureau of Investigation and Worcester Police Department
  
  
• Operation Holitna
  Recipient: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations

The award recipients in Operation Holitna also received a Victim Service Award for their tireless efforts to rescue child victims of sexual abuse and pornography. Operation Holitna has led to the identification of about 160 child victims worldwide and arrests of 33 and 16 individuals internationally and domestically, respectively. Untold numbers of children have been saved from these predators due the exceptional efforts of those recognized.