AG William Barr Recognizes Department Employees and Others for Their Service at 67th Annual Attorney General Awards

WASHINGTON – Attorney General William P. Barr recognized 295 department employees, including three from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Pennsylvania, for their distinguished public service today at the 67thAnnual Attorney General’s Awards Ceremony. Sixty-two other individuals outside of the department were also honored for their work. This annual ceremony recognizes employees and other individuals who have demonstrated exceptional achievements, leadership, and service to the Department of Justice and the American people.

"Our greatest strength in our fight for justice is our people – the thousands of men and women who have dedicated their careers, often at great personal sacrifice, to working for justice in America," said Attorney General William P. Barr. "As we reflect on the contributions of each of the 357 individuals we honor today, we should hold them up as examples of excellence that continue to inspire our own commitment, and also as reminders of the professionalism and the qualities exhibited throughout the Department."

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles A. Eberle IV and Soo C. Song, and Legal Assistant Susan E. Eichhorn, along with personnel from the National Security Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, were recognized for their extraordinary efforts in United States v. Aleksei Sergeyevich Morenets, et al. The investigation involved a criminal hacking operation based out of Moscow and the theft and public dissemination of the records of 250 athletes, including U.S. Olympians. In addition to targeting anti-doping agencies, multiple public and private agencies were targeted in retaliation to the ban of Russian athletes.

"This team skillfully facilitated the cooperation of law enforcement worldwide, which led to the indictment in Pittsburgh of seven Russian military hackers, and the successful shutdown of the websites the defendants used to disseminate the private information," said U.S. Attorney Brady. "The deterrent effect of this investigation and the resulting charges have had global implications."

This year’s program honors individuals across the department and our federal, state, local, and tribal partners for their self-less efforts, protecting our national security and our civil rights, addressing rising violent crime in our communities, going after gangs and those trafficking in dangerous narcotics and human beings. The awards also honor the work of civil and environmental litigation, which enforces the rule of law and upholds our Constitution. They also recognize employees whose ideas and efforts save taxpayer dollars and help our government operate more effectively and efficiently, among other contributions to public safety and good governance.