U. S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York Honored with Eight Director's Awards
The Department of Justice held its 22nd annual Executive Office for United States Attorneys Director's Awards Ceremony today in Washington, D.C., during which 123 award recipients were recognized for their excellence in law enforcement. Recipients included Assistant United States Attorneys, litigation and information technology support personnel, and others who have made outstanding contributions in federal, state and local law enforcement.
Eight members of the staff of ROSLYNN R. MAUSKOPF, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and four Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation received the Director's Awards.
GREG ANDRES, ROBERT HENOCH, MITRA HORMOZI, SAMANTHA WARD and FBI Special Agents JOSEPH BONAVOLONTA, GREGORY MASSA, KIMBERLY MCCAFFREY, and JEFFREY SALLET have won Director's Awards for Superior Performance by a Litigative Team for their exceptional work in convicting 35 members and associates of the Bonanno organized crime family, including Bonanno family boss JOSEPH MASSINO. In July of 2004, after a twelve -week trial, the jury returned a guilty verdict convicting MASSINO of racketeering, including seven murders/murder conspiracies, attempted murder, arson, loansharking, extortion, and money laundering as predicate acts.
SETH LEVINE and Special Assistant U. S. Attorney VALERIE A. SZCZEPANIK (Senior Counsel in the Northeast Regional Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission) have won Director's Awards for Superior Performance for their outstanding work in the prosecution of AMR I. ELGINDY, a well known leader in the Internet stock community, and JEFFREY ROYER, an ex-FBI agent, who were convicted after a twelve week trial in running a criminal enterprise that profited by stealing sensitive, non-public law enforcement information and using the information to engage in racketeering, insider trading, market manipulation, extortion, and obstruction of justice. The prosecution team also secured guilty pleas by LYNN WINGATE, an ex-FBI agent who assisted the enterprise by accessing the FBI computer database and warning ROYER (who had become a target of the investigation), and JONATHAN DAWS, a hedge fund manager, for his role in the scheme.
CHARLES KLEINBERG and DANIEL R. ALONSO received Director's Awards for Superior Performance as Assistant U. S. Attorneys for their outstanding work in the investigation and prosecution of more than 35 members and leaders of Local One of the International Union of Elevator Constructors for their involvement in a decades-long, no-show jobs scheme involving dozens of major construction sites in New York City. Their efforts resulted in the convictions of all defendants on racketeering, unlawful labor payments, and fraud charges, including that of business agent CHARLES NOVAK after a two-month trial, the forfeiture of more than $3 million in assets, and the eradication of a long-standing practice that had corrupted construction in New York and deprived honest union members of fair access to jobs.
"Today we honor some of our best and brightest, some of our most talented and most dedicated," said Attorney General ALBERTO R. GONZALES. "The men and women we honor today work tirelessly to protect the American people and to safeguard the promise of justice made to every generation. Their efforts are vital to the Justice Department and to our Nation, and I thank them for their service and the sacrifices they make every day."
While terrorism remains the top priority of the Department of Justice, the Department has continued its mission to enforce all of our nation's laws, including prosecuting civil rights violations, gang violence and drug crimes, as well as representing our client agencies, conducting civil enforcement, and assisting victims of crime. Crime has dropped to a 30-year low as the Department has employed tough tools and tough penalties against criminals who have victimized the innocent. Between 2000 and 2004, federal gun prosecutions increased 76 percent and the violent crime rate decreased 23 percent.
"I am pleased to join the Attorney General in congratulating the men and women who are being honored today," stated United States Attorney ROSLYNN R. MAUSKOPF. "Thanks to their efforts, bold initiatives, innovative strategies and teamwork, Americans are living in safer neighborhoods and stronger communities."
The Executive Office for United States Attorneys provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorneys' offices around the country.
