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Yesterday, U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst recognized members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi and its partners with the presentation of the Southern District’s annual awards for superior performance in 2018.
“These individuals did extraordinary work both inside and outside the U.S. Attorney’s Office last year to further the cause of justice. I am proud not only to present them with these awards but also for the opportunity to work alongside them. Their devotion to duty and call to service have made the lives of Mississippians better, and their work has literally meant that our tax dollars have been rightfully returned and safeguarded. Every American citizen can rest easier knowing that these talented men and women are standing watch on the shores of liberty, ensuring every day that justice is done,” said U.S. Attorney Hurst.
Robert E. Hauberg Award for Distinguished Service
This award is named in honor of the achievements of former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi Robert E. Hauberg, the longest serving United States Attorney in the history of our nation. The Hauberg Award is presented annually by this District to an employee who has displayed superior achievement in their assigned duties and who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in some additional public service that makes a significant impact on the community.
The 2018 recipient of the Robert E. Hauberg Award is Assistant United States Attorney Angela Williams. Ms. Williams is a talented litigator and tireless worker. She handles affirmative and defensive cases and serves as the Civil Division’s Senior Litigation Counsel and the office’s Ethics Officer. Last year, she handled several employment discrimination cases, including a particularly complex and sensitive case brought by a doctor against the Veterans Affairs Administration.
Ms. Williams also spent considerable time on multiple False Claims Act cases, including one of the largest cases in the District. She successfully defended the United States in a collateral
attack filed by a former mayor in Mississippi, who had previously been criminally prosecuted by this office for bribery.
In her role as the Civil Division’s Senior Litigation Counsel, Ms. Williams developed a training plan for newly hired paralegals, planned and executed a joint civil training with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi, fielded numerous legal questions from colleagues, reviewed colleagues’ written work product, and updated the mentorship manual for the office.
Finally, Ms. Williams has been extensively involved in her Hattiesburg community, and she volunteers with the book buddy program at Johnson Elementary School in Jackson under our office’s Project EJECT initiative. As part of the Hattiesburg Public School District Foundation, Ms. Williams helped establish a scholarship for low income students. She is also very active in her church and she participates in a number of volunteer programs in the Hattiesburg area.
AUSA Angela Williams received the 2018 Robert E. Hauberg Award. Pictured are: Robert Hauberg, Jr., Angela Williams, and U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst.
James B. Tucker Award for Superior Prosecutorial Service in Criminal Justice
This award is named for James B .Tucker, the first person to serve as Chief of the Criminal Division in the Southern District. Mr. Tucker distinguished himself in his position and gained a national reputation as a tough but judicious prosecutor throughout the state and throughout the U.S. Department of Justice. The award is presented each year to the Criminal Assistant United States Attorney having demonstrated superior prosecutorial service in the Criminal Division throughout the year.
The 2018 recipient of the James B. Tucker Award is Assistant United States Attorney Mary Helen Wall.
Ms. Wall is receiving this award for her incredible work in prosecuting and continuing to prosecute the largest Health Care Fraud case in the history of state, which has come to be known as the “Compounding Pharmacy” case in Hattiesburg, involving close to $1 billion in fraud by defendants using pharmacies, doctors and unnecessary compounding prescriptions to drive up prices charged to TRICARE, the healthcare system for the military. In addition to prosecuting these criminals, Ms. Wall has also helped to recover approximately $29 million through forfeiture. Her work on this case has already led to eight guilty pleas, one conviction at trial, and an upcoming trial of three more defendants.
Ms. Wall also helped prosecute violent crime cases in the City of Jackson under our office’s Project EJECT initiative, being personally responsible for the prosecution of 13 Project EJECT cases.
Finally, Ms. Wall’s leadership and initiative in assisting and mentoring new AUSA’s in our office is reminiscent of former Criminal Chief James Tucker and further merits her receiving this award. Daniel E. Lynn Award for Superior Litigation Service in Civil Litigation
This award is named for Daniel E. Lynn, the first person to serve as Chief of the Civil Division in the Southern District. Mr. Lynn set the highest standards of excellence through selfless competence, integrity, and professionalism. The award is presented each year to the Assistant United States Attorney having demonstrated the most superior litigation service affecting the Civil Division throughout the year.
The 2018 recipient of the Daniel E. Lynn Award is Assistant United States Attorney Kristi Johnson for her affirmative, appellate, and defensive case work.
In her first year as the Affirmative Civil Enforcement attorney, Ms. Johnson recovered $1,056,199.00 on behalf of the United States. From the outset, she worked well with a diverse group of federal agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration’s diversion group and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Office of Inspector General.
Ms. Johnson’s largest single recovery came from a healthcare fraud case involving a group of physicians in Laurel, Mississippi, whereby the group agreed to pay $817,635.00 to resolve the claims under the Federal Claims Act. She also successfully defended two cases on appeal, one involving a medical malpractice case against the United States and one involving a suit brought by a civilian employee against Camp Shelby for wrongful termination.
Ms. Johnson defended several federal agencies against a myriad of claims, including employment actions taken by the Veteran’s Affairs Administration, the United States Air Force and United States Marshals Service. In addition to all of her civil division work, Ms. Johnson also handled three criminal cases involving violent offenders as part of Project EJECT.
AUSA Kristi Johnson received the Daniel E.Lynn Award. Pictured are Dan Lynn, Kristi Johnson, and U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst.
Paulette Womack Support Staff Award for Superior Performance
This award was named in honor Paulette Womack, a long-time, much-loved member of the office who served as Secretary to the first Criminal Division Chief and as the Victim Witness Coordinator for the Southern District. She performed her work with tenacity, persistence and professionalism. This award is presented each year to the Support Staff Employee having demonstrated the most superior efforts in support of the mission of the District, whether it be in the area of administration or legal support.
The 2018 recipient of the Paulette Womack Award is Human Resource Specialist Cindy Pittman for her work over the past year during which our office saw an unusually large number of vacancies, new hires and human resource issues.
In 2018, our office has had approximately 22 personnel vacancies. Ms. Pittman worked tirelessly to ensure that all job announcements were posted and that the process complied with all government rules, regulations and guidelines. Because of Ms. Pittman’s knowledge, proficiency, skills and abilities, almost all of these positions have been filled. Hiring this many individuals for a myriad of positions in one year is an incredible achievement and something that this office or an office of our size has probably never seen in its history.
In all interactions, Ms. Pittman conducts herself in a professional and courteous manner. When called upon to perform a task or gather information, she always performed it with lightning speed and in a detailed fashion.
For the incredible work she has done during this very unusual year of vacancies and hiring by our office, Ms. Pittman embodies the work ethic, can-do spirit and tenacious attitude of Paulette Womack and for all of these reasons, she received the 2018 Support Staff Award.
Donald R. Burkhalter Award for Exemplary Leadership
This is a new award established this year, named for longtime First Assistant United States Attorney Donald R. Burkhalter. This award seeks to recognize, via nomination throughout the office, the employee who has demonstrated extraordinary courage and leadership throughout the year, no matter their position in the office. The award seeks to honor those who lead from action, not a title, who exhibits a positive, upbeat attitude that encourages cooperation and teamwork, and who works tirelessly in advancing the mission and goals of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice.
The first ever recipient of the Donald R. Burkhalter Award for Exemplary Leadership is Criminal Division Legal Assistant Robin Fish.
Throughout the year, Ms. Fish has been a beacon of perseverance to her friends and colleagues as she bravely and tirelessly conquers both personal and professional challenges. Robin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the office along with a positive attitude that makes the work environment better for everyone. She is often seen after hours mentoring both support staff and AUSAs, simultaneously ensuring professional growth of our team and the overall advancement of the office’s mission and goals. Her excellent reputation also extends outside of our office with many members of the court staff relying on her help and expertise. Robin is conscientious, skilled, hardworking and driven. She anticipates what is necessary to ensure the office’s success and takes the initiative to get it done. Her distinctive accomplishments over the past year make her the ideal recipient of this award.
George L. Phillips Distinguished Community Support Award
This award is named for former U.S. Attorney George L. Phillips, who began his service as the youngest U.S. Attorney in the nation, went on to serve under three Presidents for 14 years, and is credited with creating DOJ’s Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee. This award seeks to recognize individuals outside the U.S. Attorney’s Office who have contributed significantly to the increased coordination of law enforcement, who have substantially advanced the goals and mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and who have exhibited genuine, consistent support of law enforcement generally and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in particular.
The 2018 recipient of the George Phillips Award is Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Marshall Fisher.
Commissioner Fisher is a longtime friend of this office, having served as the Agent in Charge of Drug Enforcement Administration operations in Mississippi for a number of years. After retiring from DEA, he served briefly as the state director for the Mississippi Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. From 2005-2014, he served as Director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and, in 2015, he was called upon again to serve his state as the Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. In January 2017, he was appointed Commissioner of the MS Department of Public Safety, where he serves today.
George Phillips was known nationally for many things as U.S. Attorney, but one of his most prominent accomplishments was creating the DOJ’s Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee. Commissioner Fisher is most deserving of this award because, throughout his career, he has coordinated joint operations involving DEA, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Mississippi Highway Patrol and numerous other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
