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Colorado Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Others Honored by Attorney General Holder at Annual Awards Ceremony

U.S. Attorney’s Office October 27, 2010
  • District of Colorado (303) 454-0100

WASHINGTON—Today Attorney General Eric Holder recognized three Colorado prosecutors and 13 federal agents and JTTF task force officers by giving them his highest award for exceptional service for their work in the investigation and prosecution of Najibullah Zazi. Zazi was an Aurora, Colorado resident who was charged and ultimately pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to use explosives against persons or property in the U.S., conspiracy to murder abroad, and providing material support to al Qaeda. The Colorado prosecutors are Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Gaouette, Greg Holloway, and Tim Neff. Other prosecutors and agents from New York, Washington, and elsewhere also received this award for their work on the Zazi case. The exceptional service award is the Department of Justice’s highest honor for employee performance.

Attorney General Eric Holder recognized 303 Department of Justice prosecutors, agents, and other employees for their distinguished public service at today’s 58th Annual Attorney General Awards Ceremony. Fifty-five other individuals outside of the department were also honored for their work. Held at DAR Constitution Hall, this annual ceremony recognizes both department employees and others for their dedication to carrying out the Department of Justice’s mission.

“It is my pleasure to congratulate this year’s Attorney General Award winners and to recognize their extraordinary contributions,” Attorney General Holder said. “Not only is their service to our nation inspiring, it is strengthening the work of the Justice Department at every level and making a powerful difference for people across our country, and far beyond. This year’s awardees exemplify the Department’s finest traditions, and I am privileged, and grateful, to count them as colleagues.”

“The Attorney General and the Director of the FBI both have said that the Zazi matter was one of the most serious terrorist threats to our nation since September 11, 2001,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. “All Coloradoans should be proud of Dave, Greg, and Tim, as well as the JTTF agents and officers, for their zeal and skill in the Zazi case, which led to the discovery and complete dismantling of this horrific terrorist plot. Their efforts saved lives and prevented a terrible tragedy. They deserve not only this great honor, but our profound gratitude as Americans.”

“We are honored to accept this prestigious award as recognition of the exceptional work done by all of the FBI employees and task force officers, as well as our law enforcement and intelligence community partners in successfully confronting the most serious terrorist threat our nation has faced since 9/11,” said FBI Denver Division Special Agent in Charge James Davis. “Americans should recognize that this is exemplary of how cooperation among federal, state, county and municipal agencies results in more effectively ensuring their safety.”

David Gaouette has been with the Department of Justice since 1984, working first for the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, and then the U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado. Gaouette served at various times as Chief of the Drug Task Force, Deputy Coordinator of the West Central Region of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, and U.S. Attorney. Gaouette also serves as the Anti-Terrorism Coordinator for the District of Colorado, a position he has held since the 9/11 attacks. He received his undergraduate degree from Florida State University, and his law degree from University of Denver.

Greg Holloway is an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Special Prosecutions Section. He has handled a wide variety of criminal matters, including illegal wildlife trafficking, prescription drug diversion, and organized crime matters. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2002, Holloway was a Deputy District Attorney in King County, Washington. He received his undergraduate degree from Beloit College in Wisconsin, and his law degree from the University of Washington School of Law.

Tim Neff is an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Economic Crimes Section. He has handled a wide variety of complex economic crime matters. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 1998, Neff worked in the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office and the Dade County State Attorney’s Office. He received his undergraduate degree from Princeton, where he played on the men’s basketball team. Neff then received his law degree from the University of Miami Law School.

Below you will find a list of all the award recipients.

The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service is presented to a team who dedicated themselves to preserving the safety of the United States and its citizens by preventing a deadly terrorist attack in New York City. From the Department of Justice’s National Security Division’s (NSD) Operations Section, recipients include: Gabriel R. Sanz-Rexach, Section Chief; from the NSD Counterterrorism Unit, Alexandra Doumas, Unit Chief; from the NSD Office of Intelligence, Stuart J. Evans, Deputy Section Chief; Caren E. Somerwitz, Kimberly M. Schmid and Stephen C. Eglin, Attorney Advisors; from the Counterrorism Section, Sharon E. Lever, Deputy Chief; William M. Narus, Trial Attorney; and from the NSD Lititgation Section Nancy J. Newcomb, Section Chief; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York Violent Crimes and Terrorism Section, Berit W. Berger and James P. Loonam, Assistant U.S. Attorneys; Jeffrey H. Knox, Chief; and David M. Bitkower, Deputy Chief; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, Timothy R. Neff, Greg Holloway, and David Gaouette, Assistant U.S. Attorneys; from the FBI’s Denver Field Office, Steve W. Olson, Assistant Special Agent in Charge; Special Agents Eric C. Jergenson, J. Alexander Ferguson, A. Za Smith-Berthe, F. Rhion Hiller, and Garrett V. Anderson; and Intelligence Analyst Collin Husic; from the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office, Special Agent Micheal J.L. Copeland; from the FBI’s New York Field Office, Donald F. Borelli, Assistant Special Agent in Charge; Special Agents Farbod Azad, John W. Tinning, Garrett M. Zito, and Stephanie M. Buhl; Geralyn Custode, Supervisory Intelligence Analyst; and James B. Dowling, Intelligence Analyst; from the FBI’s Newark, N.J., Field Office, Unit Chief Jay S. Tabb Jr. and Assistant Section Chief William F. Sweeney Jr.; from the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Paul M. Abbate and Supervisory Special Agent Tyrone Power; from the FBI’s Washington Field Office, C. Bryan Paarmann, Assistant Section Chief; Tara A. Bloesch, Supervisory Special Agent; and Special Agent Henry C. Heim; from the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, Supervisory Special Agent Matthew L. Goard; and Intelligence Analysts Elizabeth Nagel, David Ring, Sandra Wenglikowski and Frederick Marcks; from the FBI’s National Security Branch, Intelligence Analyst Natalie Pathwick-Paszyc; from the FBI’s Directorate of Intelligence, Section Chief Jennifer E. Ley and Lauren B. O’Brien, Intelligence Analyst; from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Christopher N. Hamilton and Kathleen Adams Veneri, Assistant General Counsels; and Alan Ciammaichella, Task Force Officer; from U.S> Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Special Agent Robert Norman Marten and Task Force Officers Jason Cassidy and Travis F. McFarren,; from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Transportation Safety Administration, Michael C. Neener, Federal Air Marshal; and from the New York Police Department, Task Force Officers Michael Carney, Angel Luis Maysonet and Jody Allan Almodovar.

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