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ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO HONORS 121

Montana Freemen Investigation and Prosecution Team

The Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Service, the Department's top honor, was presented to the 12-member Montana Freemen investigation and prosecution team. The Freemen first became nationally known when a local sheriff in Montana ordered land owned by one of the Freemen sold at auction. After leveling threats at the Sheriff and other government officials, the situation continued to escalate with the Freemen fortifying a shelter and declaring their independence from the authority of any judicial institution of the United States and instead purported to create their own "republic" and court system.

From March 1994 to November 1998, team members' participation encompassed undercover operations, successful negotiation of an 81-day armed standoff, which concluded in the peaceful surrender of the Freemen, and the detection of $15 billion in bogus checks. Their efforts culminated in the conviction of 21 defendants in three separate trials consuming fifteen weeks. In addition, the prosecution team assisted over 30 federal districts and numerous states in preparing and presenting related cases. Team members included:

Robertson T. Park, George Z. Toscas and David S. Kris, trial attorneys in the Department's Criminal Division;

Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) James E. Seykora, and Deborah Lynn Boyle, paralegal specialist, of the Montana U.S. Attorney's Office;

Daniel T. Vierthaler, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent, Special Agent Randall P. Jackson, Special Agent Timothy J. Healy, Retired Special Agent Tommie R. Canady of the FBI's Salt Lake Division;

Special Agent Loretta A. Rodriguez, Special Agent Michael J. Mayott of the Rocky Mountain District of the Internal Revenue Service; and

Agent Bryan E. Costigan of the Montana Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation.

The Department's second highest award, the Attorney General's Distinguished Service Award, was presented to 46 individuals this year. Award recipients include investigators, agents, litigators, prosecutors and administrators from within and outside the Department.

"I am pleased to be here today to personally recognize the employees of the Department of Justice who have responded to the many challenges that threaten the safety of our citizens, our children and our communities," said Reno. Their distinguished efforts all have an impact on the well being of our nation." Reno said.

Among the accomplishments honored today were:

Protecting the environment: Presented to a group of Environment Division attorneys and an AUSA from the District of Columbia, for achieving settlements with major diesel engine manufacturers addressing Clean Air Act violations. As a result, nitrogen oxide emissions will be reduced and a $83.4 million civil penalty will be paid. Protecting our borders: Presented to a team comprised of INS agents and an AUSA in the northern New York area, for their efforts in conducting an alien smuggling investigation entitled "Over the Rainbow." This investigation resulted in the breakup of the largest global alien smuggling operation on the northern border. Through their efforts, 47 individuals were identified and indicted for alien smuggling and significant organization assets were seized.

Attacking Organized Crime: Presented to a team of AUSAs, SEC Counsel, FBI agents and police detective from the New York region, for prosecution of the case, The United States v. Rosario Gangi, et al. This case broke organized crime's largest infiltration into the New York Stock Exchange, leading to prosecutions related to racketeering, securities fraud and extortion.

Curbing Drug Trafficking: Presented to a team of AUSAs from Miami, Florida, for outstanding work in a number of cases related to "Operation Cornerstone," which represented a significant and far-reaching investigation of what was reputed to be the largest cocaine-trafficking organization in the world. The investigation netted 30,000 kilos of cocaine and 125 indictments.

Prosecuting Police Corruption: Presented to a group of FBI agents and AUSA for the successful investigation and prosecution of corruption and organized crime in Northeastern Ohio. This resulted in 68 convictions and $12 million in recovered assets. Forty-four of those convicted were law enforcement officials, making this the largest police corruption case in the FBI's history.

A number of other Attorney General awards were presented today. They include: The Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Heroism was presented to Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Orlando Sanchez for his courage, bravery and heroic actions under extremely dangerous conditions during a tragic incident on July 7, 1998, when two Border Patrol agents were fatally shot while responding to a request for assistance from Sheriff's Deputies in the apprehension of Ernest L. Moore, a U.S. citizen, who had murdered two people and injured a third.

- The William French Smith Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cooperative Law Enforcement was presented to Captain Stan Cavness, Dyersburg, Tennessee, Police Department, for his leadership in the successful implementation of the law enforcement and community policing components of the Weed and Seed strategy for the Bruce Community in Dyersburg, Tennessee. This award was established to pay tribute to the memory and achievements of the late Attorney General, William French Smith, for his establishment of law enforcement coordinating committees and his efforts in promoting law enforcement cooperation throughout the nation.

- The Attorney General's Award for Meritorious Public Service was presented to Andrea Hampton, Consumer Protection and Civil Rights Counsel of the National Association for Attorneys General, for her contributions to the investigation and negotiations that led to the settlement agreement resolving Americans with Disabilities (ADA) violations at Wendy's restaurants.

"It has been a pleasure to present these awards to such well-deserving individuals in recognition of all of their efforts and accomplishments in fulfilling the Department's mission of justice," Reno said.

For more details on these awardees and additional award recipients, please contact the Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice at 202-514-2007.

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