Law enforcement and a community member honored by U.S. Attorney at awards ceremony

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Eight law enforcement entities and one community member were recognized today for their outstanding work in the greater Clarksburg/Elkins area.

United States Attorney Bill Powell recognized U.S. Probation Officer Jill Henline, ATF Special Agent Steve Worthy, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector Ryan Amstone, several other law enforcement professionals, and a community member with U.S. Attorney Awards for their contributions to create safer communities.

“I have the great pleasure to work many law enforcement and other community based professionals.  We honor these individuals and groups today because they are “difference makers” in our communities.  They represent the best of us, and our communities are better because of their extraordinary work,” said Powell.

United States Probation Officer Jill Henline was recognized for her work to ensure that a defendant paid her restitution after committing a crime. Loretta Reckart was convicted and sentenced for defrauding WVU out of a substantial amount of money. She was ordered to pay restitution in excess of $80,000. She was sentenced to probation and Jill Henline is her probation officer. Henline has went above and beyond to ensure that Reckart’s restitution is paid sooner, rather than later. Henline was the recipient of the U.S. Attorney Award for Outstanding Financial Investigation.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent Steve Worthy has been involved in three multi-defendant Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF) cases.  Agent Worthy assisted other investigators in OCDETF’s Ice Mountain investigation, which resulted in a 2016 Elkins Division multi-defendant gun and drug trafficking indictment.  He took a leading role in OCDETF’s Shattered Glass investigation, which resulted in two 2017 Elkins Division multi-defendant gun and drug trafficking indictments.  He was the case agent at the trial of interstate drug trafficker Rocky Idleman, sentenced to life earlier this year.  And Agent Worthy took the leading role in 2018’s ICE Dragon investigation which resulted in a 2018 multi-defendant Clarksburg Division gun and drug trafficking indictment. Agent Worthy’ was the recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Investigative Effort Award.

United States Postal Inspection Service Inspector Ryan Amstone has been working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Elder Justice Initiative’s focus on money mules.  With Ryan’s assistance, the office has identified people as money mules. Ryan has done six knock-and-talks on these individuals and explained to them that they may be a victim of a scam and to stop sending money.  Amstone has been doing excellent work in this area as the Elder Justice Initiative is one of the Department’s priorities. Amstone was awarded the 2019 Outstanding Initiative Support Award for his efforts.

The case against Meylan Montalvo Gomez, et al, with an investigation conducted jointly by the FBI, the USSS, the DHS, the WVSP, and the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office, discovered what has become known as a gas station skimmer scheme.  The victim cardholders were reimbursed by their banks, causing nine banks to be owed over $100,000. Because of the substantial work on this case, the 2019 Outstanding Fraud Investigative Effort Award was given to:

• Detective William “Pete” Tennant, Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office
• Sgt. David Simmons, West Virginia State Police
• Task Force Officer Jason Webber, the FBI/Clarksburg Police Department
• Task Force Officer Jeremy Thompson, the United States Secret Service/South Charleston Police Department 
• Special Agent Scott Fell, Department of Homeland Security

A victim’s mother was also honored with the 2019 Outstanding Community Service Award for her efforts in an opioid case. 

The ceremony was held in U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Patrick M. Flatley’s courtroom and included remarks from U.S. Attorney Bill Powell and the presence of many local, state and federal law enforcement leaders from throughout West Virginia.