Attorney General Recognizes Western District Of Virginia Ausa Jeb Terrien

WASHINGTON – Assistant United States Attorney Jeb Terrien of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia was one of 243 members of the Department of Justice recognized by Attorney General Eric Holder and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director Monty Wilkinson at the 30th annual Director’s Awards Ceremony today in Washington D.C.

The Western District of Virginia was one of 44 districts represented at the ceremony which was held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building.

In his prepared remarks to awardees, Attorney General Holder said, “Locally, nationally, and internationally, you represent the very best that this Department has to offer. Your work embodies our ongoing commitment – not merely to win cases, but to do justice; to protect our fellow citizens from crime, violence, and terrorism; to empower the most vulnerable among us; and to uphold the rule of law.”

EOUSA Director Monty Wilkinson echoed those sentiments, saying to the recipients, “You have persevered, and remained focused and motivated – achieving remarkable results in work that makes a difference in the lives of citizens across our great country. The vast scope of your collective accomplishments is nothing short of exceptional.”

Assistant United States Attorney Jeb T. Terrien is recognized for his leadership in a three-year undercover investigation of a contraband cigarette trafficking network that resulted in the successful prosecution of 26 defendants and the forfeiture of over $10 million. Working with two Special Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, AUSA Terrien supervised a long-running undercover operation that involved a commercial warehouse in which agents bought and sold untaxed and contraband cigarettes.

This investigation uncovered criminal enterprises that spanned multiple states and foreign countries, and involved domestic and international money laundering, contraband and counterfeit cigarette trafficking, drug smuggling, and other offenses. When one particular defendant went to trial, AUSA Terrien and his trial team presented almost 500 exhibits to obtain a conviction. AUSA Terrien’s diligent and persistent work over the course of this long-running investigation led to the issuance of six separate indictments and numerous guilty pleas.

“AUSA Terrien and the agents who worked these cases devoted countless hours to this investigation, which resulted in numerous convictions and tens of millions of dollars in forfeited assets,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “The trafficking of counterfeit and untaxed cigarettes deprives Americans of tax revenue and will be vigorously prosecuted by this Department.”

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.