U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Award Recipients

Baltimore, Maryland - Fifteen employees of the United States Attorney’s Office and three law enforcement officers were honored today with the Office’s most prestigious awards. At a ceremony held to announce the awards this morning at the U.S. Courthouse in Baltimore, the United States Attorney also welcomed 14 new Assistant U.S. Attorney and other employees who have joined the Office since last year.                   

Maryland U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III served as the keynote speaker for the event. Judge Russell was a Maryland Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1994 to 1999 and from 2002 to 2007.

“These award recipients accomplished superb results while respecting our high ethical and professional standards,” commented U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein.  “As the U.S. Attorney’s Office works with our partners to promote the rule of law, punish criminals, deter crime and protect government property, it is essential to maintain our commitment to excellence, integrity and achievement.”

During the annual ceremony, the U.S. Attorney encourages prosecutors to heed the advice of Robert H. Jackson, while serving as Attorney General in 1940: “’A sensitiveness to fair play and sportsmanship is perhaps the best protection against the abuse of power, and the citizen’s safety lies in the prosecutor who tempers zeal with human kindness, who seeks truth and not victims, who serves the law and not factional purposes, and who approaches his task with humility.’”

Annual Awards

The following awards were announced for accomplishments over the past year:

Gary Jordan Award

Recipient:        Andrea L. Smith

Gary P. Jordan served with distinction for many years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, as First Assistant from March 29, 1987 until his death on October 25, 1996, and as interim U.S. Attorney in 1993. This is an honorary award presented annually to an Assistant U.S. Attorney for exemplary performance that demonstrates the highest traditions of the office: integrity, ingenuity, dedication to public service and fairness.

Barnet D. Skolnik Award

Recipients:      Ayn B. Ducao
                         Robert H. Harding

Barnet D. (Barney) Skolnik was an Assistant U.S. Attorney who led teams that prosecuted numerous white collar criminals and corrupt public officials in the 1970s, including Vice President Spiro T. Agnew. This is an honorary award presented annually to one or more Assistant U.S. Attorneys who demonstrate outstanding professionalism, determination and creativity in a case of unusual public significance.

Employee of the Year Award

Recipient:        Christopher W. Seybolt

The Employee of the Year Award recognizes sustained superior performance and outstanding achievements by a non-attorney employee. The award also recognizes the recipient's professionalism, dedication and comprehensive knowledge in their area of expertise.

Pete Twardowicz Award

Recipients:      Carrie I. Dayton
                         Eric S. Nye
                         Julie A. Pitocchelli              

The Pete Twardowicz Award was established in honor of Eugene P. (Pete) Twardowicz, who rendered many years of outstanding service to the U.S. Attorney’s Office as an IRS criminal investigator and a Special Investigator for this Office. This award recognizes law enforcement agents or officers for outstanding cooperation and achievement while working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on a significant case.

Excellence in Civil Advocacy

Recipient:        Tarra Deshields-Minnis

The U.S. Attorney’s Award for Excellence in Civil Advocacy, established in 2007, is presented annually to an Assistant U.S. Attorney for outstanding advocacy in civil litigation.

Excellence in Prosecution of Fraud

Recipients:      Kathleen O. Gavin
                         Judson T. Mihok
                         David I. Sharfstein
                         Leo J. Wise

The U.S. Attorney’s Award for Excellence in Prosecution of Fraud, established in 2007, is presented annually to an Assistant U.S. Attorney for outstanding work in prosecuting fraud.

Excellence in Prosecution of Violent Crime

Recipient:        Daniel C. Gardner
                         William D. Moomau

The U.S. Attorney’s Award for Excellence in Prosecution of Violent Crime, established in 2007, is presented annually an Assistant U.S. Attorney for outstanding work in prosecuting violent crime.

Excellence in Prosecution of Organized Crime

Recipient:        David I. Sharfstein
                         James G. Warwick

The U.S. Attorney’s Award for Excellence in Prosecution of Organized Crime, established in 2007, is presented annually to an Assistant U.S. Attorney for outstanding work in prosecuting organized criminal activity.

Excellence in Legal Support

Recipient:        Christine M. Minor

The U.S. Attorney’s Award for Excellence in Legal Support, established in 2007, is presented annually to one or more non-attorney employees for outstanding work in support of the mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Outstanding Contributions to a Law Enforcement Initiative

Recipient:        Harvey E. Eisenberg

The U.S. Attorney’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to a Law Enforcement Initiative, established in 2007, is presented annually to one or more employees for outstanding work in support of an initiative of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Carl S. Lackl Award

Recipient:        Alison Palencia

The Carl S. Lackl Award for Exemplary Perseverance and Fortitude in Pursuit of Justice was established in 2008 in honor of Carl Stanley Lackl, Jr. Mr. Lackl witnessed a murder in Baltimore in 2006 and agreed to testify against the suspect he identified. After the suspect was arrested by police and charged in state court with the murder, he used a contraband cellular telephone to contact co-conspirators and arranged to murder Mr. Lackl, who was shot to death outside his house in front of his daughter. All of the conspirators were convicted on federal charges.

New Employees

In addition, the U.S. Attorney welcomed new employees who joined the office last year. Assistant U.S. Attorneys: Jane Andersen, Sean Delaney, Molissa Farber, Joshua Ferrentino, Daniel Gardner, Lindsay Kaplan, Rebecca Koch, Sarah Marquardt, Ray McKenzie, Patricia McLane, Michael Packard, Matthew Phelps, Matthew Sullivan, and Aaron Zelinsky.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys: Gustav Eyler, Shelly Glenn, David Kehoe, Conor Mulroe, Matthew Paeffgen, Lauren Perry and Jennifer Wine. Non-Attorney Staff: Jasmine Burnett, Allison Crandle, Adaliah Davis, Vincent DeVivo, Tiffany Dorsey, Imani Gaddy, Carrie Hannon, Joanna Huber, Rebecca Johnson, Luis Martinez, Berclyn Mitchell, Morgan Murphy, John Russo, Joshua Schnitzlein, Elizabeth Singer, Joyce Thaden, and Matthew Wells.