U.S. Attorney’s Office Celebrates Annual United States Attorney’s Awards

On Friday, March 8, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut hosted its annual United States Attorney’s Office Law Enforcement Awards Ceremony.  The ceremony at the City of New Haven’s aldermanic chambers recognized more than 170 individuals for their investigative efforts in more than two dozen significant federal criminal prosecutions and civil cases in Connecticut over the past year.  The cases demonstrate the broad variety of work performed by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in Connecticut.  Several unit awards and special awards were also presented during the ceremony.

“The cases and individuals recognized are but a sampling of the wide variety of excellent work that has been done by law enforcement in Connecticut,” stated U.S. Attorney Fein.  “I congratulate our award recipients, each of whom has served the District and our Nation with distinction and integrity.  Their dedication to the cause of justice makes Connecticut a better and safer place to live.”

More than 50 of the award recipients are members of local police departments from across Connecticut.
The Civil Division Unit Award was presented to Andrew Freeman, who recently retired as Deputy Managing Counsel of the U.S. Postal Service’s Northeast Area Law Office.  Special Agent John Keaney of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, received the Financial Fraud and Public Corruption Unit award for his expertise during several mortgage fraud investigations.  FBI Supervisory Special Agent Jon S. Hosney received the National Security and Major Crimes Unit Award for his supervision of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the Violent Crimes and Narcotics Unit Award was presented to a team of individuals who have been instrumental in coordinating “Project Longevity,” a statewide anti-violence initiative that was launched in New Haven in 2012.  Award recipients include Assistant Chief Achilles Generoso and Sergeant Al Vasquez of the New Haven Police Department, Connecticut Parole officers Frank Viera and Levonne Perez Sutton, and Connecticut Probation Officers Brian Coco and Leonard Jahad.

U.S. Attorney Fein also presented three special awards during the ceremony.  Stamford Police Sergeant Richard Gasparino, who was shot and seriously wounded during a drug investigation in December 2010, received the U.S. Attorney’s Medal of Valor; FBI Special Agent James J. Wines, who coordinates the Connecticut Child Exploitation Task Force, received the U.S. Attorney’s Award for Outstanding Investigator, and the U.S. Marshals Service in Connecticut received the U.S. Attorney Award for Outstanding Partnership.

The United States Attorney’s Office is charged with enforcing federal criminal laws in Connecticut, and with representing the federal government in civil litigation in the District.  The District is composed of more than 60 Assistant United States Attorneys and approximately 55 staff members at offices in New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport.  Please visit www.justice.gov/usao/ct for more information.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov