U.S. Attorney Presents Law Enforcement “Awards of Excellence”

On Friday, Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah presented the 2021 United States Attorney’s Awards of Excellence, honoring law enforcement officers and agents who exceed the call of duty to keep their communities safe. 

“It’s hard to believe that COVID-19 has been raging here in north Texas for more than 14 months.  But while much of the rest of the country sheltered at home, you all continued to risk your health and safety in the pursuit of justice,” Acting. U.S. Attorney Shah said at a socially distanced ceremony at the Belo in Dallas. “You all are invaluable assets to our offices, and true heroes to our communities. You represent the best of the best in law enforcement.”

Awardees worked the following cases:

United States v. Sean DeAndrea Lewis
Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Marshals Service
This investigation led to the prosecution of aa federal inmate who fabricated a murder-for-hire plot in order to receive potential credit towards his sentence.

United States v. John Cooper
Defense Criminal Investigative Service
This investigation revealed a network of illegal kickbacks and a conspiracy to defraud TTRICARE of over $65 million. The leader of the pharmaceutical marketing company was convicted at trial and two of the marketers plead guilty to recruiting more than 2,300 patients, many of whom were on active duty at Fort Hood. More here.

United States v. Bo Jack Kelly
Texas Department of Public Safety
This investigation led to the prosecuting of a Shallowater, Texas man for using a variety of social media accounts to coerce a 14-year-old minor into sending him sexually explicit videos of herself.

United States v. Cynthia Carrasco
Drug Enforcement Administration with Amarillo Police Department
This investigation led to the prosecution of a drug dealer who sold a fatal dose of heroin killing an Amarillo woman. More here.

Operation Double Eagle
Drug Enforcement Administration
This investigation led to the prosecution of cocaine dealers connected to Car Del Noreste and the seizure of more than 55 kilograms of cocaine, 92 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 374 kilograms of marijuana.

Forest Park Medical Center
IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and U.S. Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General
This multi-year investigation resulted in the prosecution of 21 defendants in a $40 million dollar healthcare kickback scheme which caused half-a-billion dollars in tainted claims to be submitted to government and private insurances causing $80 million in losses. More here.

United States v. Marcus Anthony Braziel
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and IRS-Criminal Investigation Division
This investigation led to charges against a Lubbock Man who unlawfully sold the AR-15 style rifle used by the Midland-Odessa mass shooter in August 2019. More here.

United States v. Broussard, et al.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
This multi-year investigation resulted in the prosecution of 13 members of a violent criminal enterprise who routinely robbed customers leaving banks. More here.

United States v. Jose Linares
Federal Bureau of Investigation
This investigation led to the prosecution of a Honduran man who operated a $2.3 million Ponzi-link scheme. More here.

United States v. Jose Daniel Flores
Drug Enforcement Administration
This investigation led to the prosecution members of the Texas Syndicate gang.  As a result, 11 defendants plead guilty resulting in a combined 1,114 months in federal prison.  More here.

United States v. Yaser Said
United States v. Yassein and Islam Said
Federal Bureau of Investigation
This investigation led to the prosecution of the brother and nephew of Yaser Said, FBI’s “10 Most Wanted suspect,” for helping him evade capture for more than 12 years.  More here and here.

The staff of the United States Attorney’s Office is grateful for law enforcement officers’ sacrifices, dedication, and skill.

The U.S. Attorney and Chief U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynna also presented the “Administration of Justice” award, recognizing a staff member who consistently provides outstanding support, to Information Technology Specialist Eric Umbarger and the “Barefoot Sanders Prosecutor of the Year” award to Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Eggers, Deputy Chief of NDTX’s National Security & Cyber Division.