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Press Release

District of Oregon Assistant United States Attorneys Chosen as Recipients of 30th Annual Director's Awards

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. - Four Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) in the District of Oregon have been selected as recipients of the 2014 Director’s Awards by the Executive Office for United States Attorneys in Washington, D.C.  The Director’s Awards are awarded for distinguished service to the mission of the Department of Justice through extraordinary professional achievements and excellence. 

AUSA Gary Sussman was awarded the Director’s Award for Superior Performance as a Criminal AUSA for his work as the Project Safe Childhood Coordinator (PSC).  He has served in this capacity for over seven years.  AUSA Sussman has worked with federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutors to investigate child sexual abuse and exploitation offenses with an eye towards federal prosecution for particularly serious offenders.  PSC prosecutions doubled between 2011 and 2012. As a result of his efforts, many sexual predators are serving substantial federal prison sentences.  

AUSAs Tim Simmons, Craig Gabriel, and Billy Williams received the Director’s Awards for Superior Performance in Indian Country.  All three AUSAs serve as Tribal Liaisons to the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon. They received this award for their achievements in promoting the safety of Indian Tribal communities, establishing trusted government-to-government relationships, prosecuting Indian Country cases, and their work on jurisdictional complexities.  Their work has concentrated on fulfilling the United States’ trust responsibilities by helping to protect Indian treaty and ancestral rights, and facilitating partnerships between tribal officials and both federal and state law enforcement regulatory agencies.  They have instituted concrete changes in Indian country in promoting partnerships necessary for effective Indian Country law enforcement.  This has led to effective and aggressive prosecution strategies and a dramatic reduction in crimes and violence affecting tribal communities in Oregon.

“This recognition by the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys is a huge honor for all of the employees of the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Oregon.  Nationwide, many Department of Justice employees are nominated for these prestigious awards”, said U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall.  “I am particularly proud to have our Indian Country and Project Safe Childhood prosecutors recognized in this way as it speaks to the hard work of our office, prioritization, and continued commitment in these areas.  Having four of our AUSAs recognized for their significant contributions to the mission of the Department of Justice, and the citizens of Oregon is a testament to the commitment, dedication, and hard work of all our employees.”

Updated January 29, 2015

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