Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s Office Celebrates Annual U.S. Attorney’s Awards

The United States Attorney's Office annual law enforcement awards ceremony was celebrated yesterday in New Haven. The ceremony at the City of New Haven's aldermanic chambers recognized approximately 160 individuals for their investigative work and other contributions to significant federal criminal prosecutions, civil cases, and community engagement efforts in Connecticut. The majority of recipients are members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including 16 municipal police departments in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

"This celebration recognizes the many valuable contributions of law enforcement professionals from police departments in cities and towns across Connecticut, those employed by state and federal agencies, and other dedicated individuals who regularly and actively join us in achieving the Office's mission," said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery. "That singular mission is to do justice - do the right and just thing, in every circumstance. It requires us to always stand firm in furtherance of our three primary and co-equal priorities: upholding the rule of law, safeguarding civil rights, and doing all we can to keep our residents and our communities safe. We know that our law enforcement collaborations have been, and continue to be, essential to achieving that goal, and we thank each recipient for their invaluable commitment. We are stronger and safer because of them."

In addition to criminal and civil case awards that recognized investigators of violent crime, drug trafficking, national security, child exploitation, public corruption, financial fraud, health care fraud, and other matters, U.S. Attorney Avery presented three special awards during the ceremony.

The U.S. Attorney's Award for Outstanding Investigator was presented to FBI New Haven Supervisory Special Agent Wendy Bowersox for her persistence and dedication that led to many federal and state prosecutions of dangerous human traffickers, and her empathy in interacting with trafficking victims, many of whom are often suspicious of law enforcement and fearful, and traumatized by the sexual, physical, and mental abuse they have suffered. Agent Bowersox was recently promoted to the position of profiler at the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit in Quantico, Virginia.

The U.S. Attorney's Outstanding Community Award was presented to DEA Special Agent Jonah Mazzacane and several individuals who have lost family members to overdose, who have presented to thousands of students across Connecticut about the dangers of fentanyl, other opioids, and counterfeit pills, through the U.S. Attorney's Office's HEAT program.

The U.S. Attorney's Outstanding Partnership Award was presented to members of the FBI, Connecticut State Police, State's Attorneys, and Assistant State's Attorneys, who participate in United Against Hate events across the state. UAH helps raise community awareness about hate crimes, hate incidents, and discrimination, and is building bridges between law enforcement and community, ethnic, and religious groups, particularly those with members who have been reluctant to contact law enforcement for help.

U.S. Attorney Avery also recognized members of the FBI, ATF, Bridgeport Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney's Office, who recently won an Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA) Award for Superior Performance by a Litigative Team for their investigation and prosecution of 47 members and associates of three Bridgeport gangs who terrorized city residents from 2015 to 2022. The investigation solved eight murders and approximately 20 attempted murders.

The U.S. Attorney's Office is charged with enforcing federal criminal laws in Connecticut and representing the federal government in civil litigation. The Office is composed of approximately 68 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 57 staff members at offices in New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford.

For more information about the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut, please visit www.justice.gov/ct.