United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2010
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

U.S. ATTORNEY’S STAFF RECOGNIZED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER
AT ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY

DALLAS — Attorney General Eric Holder recognized 303 Department of Justice employees today for their distinguished public service at the 58th Annual Attorney General Awards Ceremony. Fifty-five additional individuals outside of the department were also honored for their work. Held at DAR Constitution Hall, this annual ceremony recognized both department employees and others for their dedication to carrying out the Department of Justice’s mission.

This year, the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service was presented to the team involved in the relentless efforts investigating and prosecuting the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF). U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks and Paralegal Specialists Sherien Fatkin and Ofelia C. Perez, from the Northern District of Texas, were among those presented the award. This award is the Justice Department’s second highest award for employee performance and its recipients exemplify the highest commitment to the department’s mission.

Other members of the team who received the award today include: Nathan Garrett, Former Assistant U.S. Attorney; from the National Security Division (NSD) Counterterrorism Section, Barry Jonas, Trial Attorney; and Laura B. Shuey, Paralegal Specialist; from the NSD Office of Intelligence, Julie L. Hamilton, Former Attorney-Advisor; and Heidi P. Bauer, Attorney-Advisor; from the Civil Division Federal Programs Branch, Elizabeth J. Shapiro, Deputy Branch Director; from the FBI’s Dallas Field Office, James S. Lewis, Supervisory Special Agent; Special Agents Lara L. Burns, Robert Miranda, Carrie C. Ward, and David Kamel; and Atef A. Shafik, Language Specialist; from the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, Anne E. Armstrong, Financial Analyst; and from the DOD Department of the Army, Task Force Officer Eric Michael Wood.

“It is my pleasure to congratulate this year’s Attorney General Award winners and to recognize their extraordinary contributions,” Attorney General Holder said. “Not only is their service to our nation inspiring, it is strengthening the work of the Justice Department at every level and making a powerful difference for people across our country, and far beyond. This year’s awardees exemplify the Department’s finest traditions, and I am privileged, and grateful, to count them as colleagues.”

HLF, while billed as the largest Muslim charity in the U.S., was actually the U.S.-based fund-raising arm of the terrorist group Hamas. The team demonstrated unparalleled dedication and teamwork for more than eight years, in spite of the disappointment of an initial mistrial and the difficulties of many being uprooted from their families. The team’s ability resulted in the unraveling of an international conspiracy and one of the most successful terrorism financing prosecutions in the department’s history.

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