Today, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the recipients for the 69th Annual Attorney General’s Awards, recognizing Department of Justice employees and partners for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation’s laws. This year, 298 Justice Department employees received awards, while 54 non-department individuals are also being honored for their work.
“This year’s awardees have served selflessly to further the Department’s important work upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am proud to recognize these individuals for their professionalism, skill, and leadership, and I am grateful for their service to our Department and our nation.”
“I am proud to join Attorney General Garland in recognizing a former member of my office for this prestigious award,” stated U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. “AUSA Murray’s contribution to this case is a clear example of the great coordination and cooperation that we have with our partners here in the Middle District of Florida.”
In the Middle District of Florida, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis D. Murray was recognized for his successful prosecution of Elvis Harold Reyes (United States vs. Reyes). Reyes, who had never been a licensed attorney, posed as an immigration attorney targeting undocumented immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries, who were seeking Florida driver licenses and work authorization. As part of the scheme, Reyes gave false, inaccurate, and incomplete legal and immigration advice to victims in order to induce them to retain his services. Because of his false representations, victims retained and paid Reyes to represent them in immigration-related matters before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and other agencies, during which Reyes filed hundreds of fraudulent asylum applications. As a result of the tireless efforts of AUSA Murray, his investigative and support team, Reyes was sentenced to 20 years and 9 months in federal prison.
For details on all of today’s award recipients, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-honors-department-justice-employees-and-others-69th-annual. For additional details on the Reyes case, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/phony-immigration-attorney-who-filed-hundreds-fraudulent-asylum-applications-sentenced.