Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s Office Celebrates Annual U.S. Attorney’s Awards

The United States Attorney’s Office Law Enforcement Awards Ceremony was celebrated this afternoon in New Haven.  The ceremony at the City of New Haven’s aldermanic chambers recognized approximately 140 individuals for their investigative efforts and other contributions to significant federal criminal prosecutions and civil cases in Connecticut.

“This past year has been marked by a succession of critically important prosecutions and impactful settlements that would not have been possible without the law enforcement partners recognized today, and their dedication to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery.  “Day after day, we are honored to work together with them to uphold the rule of law, safeguard civil rights, and enhance the public safety of people in all communities across Connecticut.”

In addition to criminal and civil case awards that recognized investigators of violent crime, drug trafficking, child exploitation, public corruption financial fraud, tax fraud, health care fraud, pandemic relief fraud, identity theft, and other matters, U.S. Attorney Avery presented three special awards during the ceremony.

The U.S. Attorney’s Award for Outstanding Investigator was presented to Connecticut State Police Detective Jonathan Carreiro.  Detective Carreiro, a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Task Force Officer and member of the Internet Crimes Against Children’s Task Force, has displayed an unwavering dedication to the protection of children from dangerous predators who lurk in cyberspace and our community.  He has spearheaded investigations of several individuals who were convicted of federal child exploitation offenses and are currently serving lengthy prison terms.

The U.S. Attorney’s Outstanding Community Award was presented to the founding members of FED-UP: Working Together for a Safer Community.  Created in 2021, FED-UP is run by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in conjunction with Project Longevity, local hospitals, and community-based organizations, to stop the gun violence that is destroying the lives of students and their families in Connecticut’s cities.  FED-UP sends seasoned violent crime prosecutors, law enforcement officers, medical professionals, and returning citizens into middle schools, where the program teaches students to understand that what they experience with gun violence is not normal, and that there is nothing wrong about being angry or scared by it. FED-UP has reached thousands of students in Bridgeport, Waterbury, and New Haven, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is planning to expand the program to other cities.

A Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Service, Friendship, and Humanity was presented posthumously to Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Supervisory Special Agent Nicholas “Nick” Scorza, who died in June at the age of 52.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is charged with enforcing federal criminal laws in Connecticut and representing the federal government in civil litigation.  The Office is composed of approximately 68 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 57 staff members at offices in New Haven, Bridgeport and Hartford.