U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Award Recipients

Baltimore, Maryland - Fourteen employees of the United States Attorney’s Office and five law enforcement officers were honored today with the Office’s most prestigious awards. At a ceremony held to announce the awards this morning at the U.S. Courthouse in Baltimore, the United States Attorney also welcomed new Assistant U.S. Attorneys and other employees who have joined the Office since last year. 

Former United States Attorney, U.S. District Court Judge J. Frederick Motz served as the keynote speaker for the event. Judge Motz served as U.S. Attorney from 1981 to 1985.

“The award recipients upheld the highest ethical and professional standards while pursuing justice with exceptional skill and dedication,” commented United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein.

“The Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office has earned a reputation for excellence, integrity and achievement over more than two centuries,” U.S. Attorney Rosenstein told the new prosecutors. “We are counting on you to live up to that reputation as you work to promote the rule of law, punish criminals, deter crime and protect government property.”

 

Annual Awards 

The following awards were announced for accomplishments over the past year:

            Gary Jordan Award
Recipient:         Michael Hanlon, Chief, Violent Crime Section

            Gary P. Jordan served with distinction for many years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, as First Assistant from March 29, 1987 until his death on October 25, 1996, and as interim U.S. Attorney in 1993. This is an honorary award presented annually to an Assistant U.S. Attorney for exemplary performance that demonstrates the highest traditions of the office: integrity, ingenuity, dedication to public service and fairness.

 

            Barnet D. Skolnik Award
Recipients:      Tonya N. Kelly, Assistant U.S. Attorney

            Kathleen O. Gavin, Deputy Chief, Fraud and Corruption Section

            Barnet D. (Barney) Skolnik was an Assistant U.S. Attorney who led teams that prosecuted numerous white collar criminals and corrupt public officials in the 1970s, including Vice President Spiro T. Agnew. This is an honorary award presented annually to one or more Assistant U.S. Attorneys who demonstrate outstanding professionalism, determination and creativity in a case of unusual public significance.

 

            Employee of the Year Award
Recipient:        Peter Salazar

            The Employee of the Year Award recognizes sustained superior performance and outstanding achievements by a non-attorney employee. The award also recognizes the recipient's professionalism, dedication and comprehensive knowledge in their area of expertise.

 

            Pete Twardowicz Award
Recipient:        Robert Guynn, Special Agent, Federal Bureau of  Investigation

                              Matthew Smith, Detective, Baltimore Police Department

                              Chad Ellis, Detective, Baltimore Police Department

            The Pete Twardowicz Award was established in honor of Eugene P. (Pete) Twardowicz, who rendered many years of outstanding service to the U.S. Attorney’s Office as an IRS criminal investigator and a Special Investigator for this Office. This award recognizes law enforcement agents or officers for outstanding cooperation and achievement while working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on a significant case.

 

            Excellence in Civil Advocacy 
Recipient:        Alex S. Gordon, Assistant U.S. Attorney

            The U.S. Attorney’s Award for Excellence in Civil Advocacy, established in 2007, is presented annually to an Assistant U.S. Attorney for outstanding advocacy in civil litigation.

 

            Excellence in Prosecution of Fraud 
Recipient:        Sandra Wilkinson, Chief, Major Crimes Section

                              Thomas F. Corcoran, Assistant U.S. Attorney

                              Mark W. Crooks, Assistant U.S. Attorney

                              Mary Hammond, Financial Analyst

                                                

            The U.S. Attorney’s Award for Excellence in Prosecution of Fraud, established in 2007, is presented annually to an Assistant U.S. Attorney for outstanding work in prosecuting fraud.

 

            Excellence in Prosecution of Violent Crime 
Recipient:        John F. Purcell, Assistant U.S. Attorney

                              Clinton J. Fuchs, Assistant U.S. Attorney

The U.S. Attorney’s Award for Excellence in Prosecution of Violent Crime, established in 2007, is presented annually an Assistant U.S. Attorney for outstanding work in prosecuting violent crime.

 

            Excellence in Prosecution of Organized Crime 
Recipient:        Christopher J. Romano, Deputy Chief, Narcotics Section

           

            The U.S. Attorney’s Award for Excellence in Prosecution of Organized Crime, established in 2007, is presented annually to an Assistant U.S. Attorney for outstanding work in prosecuting organized criminal activity.

           

            Excellence in Legal Support 
Recipient:        Phyllis Linnes, Supervisory Legal Assistant

            The U.S. Attorney’s Award for Excellence in Legal Support, established in 2007, is presented annually to one or more non-attorney employees for outstanding work in support of the mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

 

            Outstanding Contributions to a Law Enforcement Initiative
Recipients:      Stefan Cassella, Chief, Asset Forfeiture Section

            The U.S. Attorney’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to a Law Enforcement Initiative, established in 2007, is presented annually to one or more employees for outstanding work in support of an initiative of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

 

            Carl S. Lackl Award

            Recipient: Joseph O’Keefe, Special Agent, Drug Enforcement Administration

Christopher Lamb, Detective Sergeant, Maryland Transportation Authority Police         

The Carl S. Lackl Award for Exemplary Perseverance and Fortitude in Pursuit of Justice was established in 2008 in honor of Carl Stanley Lackl, Jr. Mr. Lackl witnessed a murder in Baltimore in 2006 and agreed to testify against the suspect he identified. After the suspect was arrested by police and charged in state court with the murder, he used a contraband cellular telephone to contact co-conspirators and arranged to murder Mr. Lackl, who was shot to death outside his house in front of his daughter. All of the conspirators were convicted on federal charges.

 

            New Employees

            In addition, the U.S. Attorney welcomed new employees who recently joined the office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys: Evan Shea, Steven Swaney.  Support Staff: Damon Gasque, Katherine Lawton, Lee McFarland, Michelle Powell II.  Students: Rachael Cheek, Alex Kim, Nicholas Paradis, Maya Suero.