October 28, 2008
ATTORNEY GENERAL MUKASEY HONORS SEA TURTLE PROSECUTION TEAM AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE’S ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY
DENVER – The prosecution team responsible for dismantling four wildlife smuggling rings – two based in Mexico and two in China – were honored today at the Department of Justice’s 56th Annual Awards Ceremony at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. The award was presented to the team by Attorney General Michael Mukasey. Colorado U.S. Attorney Troy Eid was present at the awards ceremony.
The sea turtle protection prosecution team was presented an award for their exceptional achievement and exemplary efforts in the prosecution of four international organizations that illegally trafficked endangered or otherwise protected sea turtles and other protected species. Recipients were, Colorado Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda A. McMahan, and 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; and Stephen J. Foster, Paralegal Specialist. These prosecutions brought greater scrutiny at home and abroad on the problem of transnational illegal wildlife trade.
“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 ‘hurt sea turtles, do time’ cases set a new standard for protecting endangered and threatened species,” said United States Attorney Troy Eid. “Working across international borders wasn’t easy. But our team never let such challenges become an excuse for failing to enforce our environmental treaty obligations.”
The Attorney General’s Annual Awards Ceremony provides an opportunity to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of a number of U.S. Department of Justice employees as well as individuals from outside the Department.
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