Attorney General Recognizes Local Employees

Six employees of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District

of Michigan were among 163 members of the Department of Justice recognized by Attorney General Eric Holder and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys Director H. Marshall Jarrett at the 28th annual Director’s Awards Ceremony

The award ceremony was held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Lennon received an award for “Superior Performance as

an Assistant U.S. Attorney” for his work in the prosecution of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Operations Rainy Day and Holiday Express. Working-up from a local drug investigation, he took down the “source city” suppliers and dismantled the

entire regional drug trafficking organization. All told, notwithstanding a bona fide threat to his life and the safety of his family, AUSA Lennon convicted 47 defendants through these

operations and recovered and forfeited millions of dollars in cash and proceeds.

In addition, Law Enforcement Coordinator Kaye Hooker, Victim Witness Coordinators

Kathy Schuette and Janet Strahan, Intelligence Specialist Gary Gibbons, along with the Law Enforcement Coordinator from the neighboring Eastern District of Michigan, jointly received an award for “Superior Performance in a Litigation Support Role.” The group led the country in

organizing seminars state wide for over 10,000 federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement

officers in the last two years on subjects ranging from behavioral recognition, hate crimes and

prescription drug diversion to mortgage fraud and identity theft – all at no cost to the attending

agents. The Department has asked them to instruct and advise other offices at

Department-sponsored seminars on outreach on their unusual and highly successful collaborative

effort.

In his prepared remarks, Attorney General Holder told the awardees that they, “represent

the very best that this Department has to offer” and that their “work embodies our ongoing

commitment – not merely to win cases, but to do justice; to protect our fellow citizens; to

empower the most vulnerable among us; and to uphold the rule of law.”

“Each day the members of the US Attorneys’ community go to work for the citizens of this country with one goal in mind – to do everything they can to protect the rights of all Americans,” said EOUSA Director Jarrett. “I am continually humbled by their resiliency,

dedication, and unparalleled work ethic to accomplish this noble mission. The awardees exemplify what it truly means to be a patriot and it is an honor to recognize them for their extraordinary service.”

U.S. Attorney Donald A. Davis added that he was “gratified to see that our hard-working employees were recognized for their outstanding contributions. The people of Western Michigan can be assured that the Western District of Michigan U.S. Attorney’s Office includes

the very best in the country when it comes to public service and keeping our communities safe.”