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Press Release

Deputy Attorney General Recognizes Two Western District of Pennsylvania Assistant U. S. Attorneys

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

WASHINGTON – Two employees of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania were among those recognized by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco and Director Monty Wilkinson of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA), at the 38th Director’s Awards Ceremony on May 3, 2023, in Washington, D.C. The ceremony was held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building.

Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Shaun E. Sweeney and AUSA Heidi M. Grogan each received the Superior Performance as an Assistant United States Attorney Award for their successful prosecution of Price Montgomery, who was convicted of murdering a federal witness as she was preparing to leave her residence to travel to the United States Attorney’s Office for an interview. Montgomery was also convicted of firearms offenses and being the leader of a significant heroin trafficking organization. Montgomery received a sentence of life imprisonment.

EOUSA Director Wilkinson said: “The recipients we honor today have shown remarkable resilience and commitment to justice through challenging times, rising to the occasion with unwavering dedication to their mission. They have worked tirelessly to protect the rights of Americans and exemplify the very best in federal service.”

“It is of paramount importance to protect the safety of government witnesses. Through their tireless efforts, AUSAs Sweeney and Grogan brought the perpetrator of this egregious murder to justice. In addition to murdering a federal witness, Montgomery also shot and grievously wounded the witness’s mother during the attack,” said Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti. “We also want to recognize the tremendous investigative work of our partner law enforcement agencies—the Western Pennsylvania Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.”

EOUSA provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorneys’ offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao.

Updated May 4, 2023

Topic
Office and Personnel Updates