Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s Office employees and former AUSAs honored with Attorney General Awards

February 9, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Adam Amir, Phil Pilmar, Melissa Bennett, Ryan Harris, Huda Abouchaer, Saritha Komatireddy and Erin Reid at Attorney General Awards.Photo courtesy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the EDNY

Adam Amir, Phil Pilmar, Melissa Bennett, Ryan Harris, Huda Abouchaer, Saritha Komatireddy and Erin Reid.
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the EDNY

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Seventeen current and former members of the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) have been recognized by Attorney General Merrick Garland at the 70th and 71st Attorney General’s Awards Ceremony, recognizing their exceptional contributions to public service.

The honorees, including 14 Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs), two paralegal specialists and a special agent, were selected from more than 800 nominees for their significant achievements in a variety of critical legal areas.

“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,” Garland said. “Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people and communities across the country.”

U.S. Attorney Breon Peace echoed this sentiment, praising the EDNY team for their rigorous prosecution of complex cases ranging from economic crime and high-level drug trafficking to foreign terrorism and cybercrime.

“The outstanding work of EDNY attorneys, professional staff and our law enforcement partners in service to our district and our country has been breathtaking, prosecuting complex economic crime, high-level drug trafficking, foreign terrorism, insurrection, cybercriminals and litigating the expert defense of our cases appealed to the Second Circuit,” Peace said. “Their excellence and dedication are boundless, and as a result, they have made the world a safer place.”

Seventeen esteemed members from the Eastern District of New York, including Matt Haggans, Saritha Komatireddy, Josh Hafetz, Huda Abouchaer, David James, Alixandra Smith, Drew Rolle, Dylan Stern, Alex Mindlin, Artie McConnell, Phil Pilmar, Adam Amir, Erin Reid, Ryan Harris, George Dietz, Melissa Bennett and Ian Richardson, were recognized by Attorney General Garland for their outstanding public service in a variety of significant legal challenges.

Among the notable cases that led to these awards was the conviction of Mirsad Kandic, a high-ranking ISIS member, for his role in supporting the foreign terrorist organization. AUSAs Matt Haggans and Saritha Komatireddy, alongside former AUSA Josh Hafetz and Paralegal Specialist Huda Abouchaer, were recognized for their outstanding work in this landmark case.

AUSA David James received accolades for his 35-year tenure and remarkable representation of the government in numerous significant appeals, including cases against notorious figures like John Gotti and Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman-Loera.

The trial conviction of Roger Ng, a former Goldman Sachs managing director involved in a multi-billion dollar bribery and money laundering scheme, was another highlight. AUSAs Alixandra Smith, Drew Rolle, and Dylan Stern were commended for their exceptional work in this complex case, which also implicated major Hollywood productions.

Additionally, the innovative prosecution of foreign cybercriminals in the digital advertising industry by AUSAs Saritha Komatireddy, Alex Mindlin and Artie McConnell marked a significant achievement in combating cybercrime and protecting American economic interests.

The awards also celebrated the efforts of EDNY members in Operation Disruptive Capture and the prosecution of former Mexican cabinet official Genaro Garcia Luna.