Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Honors Department of Justice Employees and Partners for the 2022 and 2023 Attorney General’s Awards

MIAMI – Today, in Washington, D.C., Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the recipients of the 70th and 71st Attorney General’s Awards, honoring Justice Department employees and others for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation’s laws. Recipients from both 2022 and 2023 were selected from a group of more than 800 nominees.

“Each of today’s recipients has served with distinction, and in so doing, they have enabled the Justice Department to advance its work on behalf of the American people,” said Attorney General Garland. “Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people and communities across the country. 

Employees of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida were among those recognized during the 70th and 71st Attorney General’s Awards ceremony.

 “We are incredibly proud of our Southern District of Florida staff members who were recognized today with an Attorney General’s Award,” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida.  “The honorees have carried forth the Department of Justice’s mission with extraordinary skill and dedication. These distinguished employees have protected our safety and security, as well as our civil rights.  They have given a voice to the victimized, prevented crime, prosecuted fraud schemes, and litigated important appellate issues. As a community, we are incredibly grateful for their tireless efforts and commend their well-deserved accolades.”

70th Attorney General’s Awards – 2022

The Attorney General’s Award for Fraud Prevention recognizes exceptional dedication and effort to prevent, investigate, and prosecute fraud, white collar crimes, and official corruption. The award was presented to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brooke C. Watson and Nicole Grosnoff for the Southern District of Florida, alongside a Southern District of New York Assistant U.S. Attorney and other honorees, to include Special Agents and employees of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), U.S. Secret Service, Small Business Administration (SBA), Social Security Administration (SSA), FBI, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

71st Attorney General’s Awards – 2023

A Distinguished Service award was presented to Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica Harrell James for the Southern District of Florida, alongside a Deputy Chief of the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section, trial attorneys, and other personnel of the Civil Rights Division.

A John Marshall Award for Handling of Appeals was presented to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Thomas Rivero and Michael Brenner for the Southern District of Florida.

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