The CLU Prosecuting Attorney's Award and the Criminal Investigator's Consumer Shield Award honor the commitment, talent and work of individuals whose efforts in criminal law enforcement have made a significant contribution to the protection of American consumers.
2024 Kathy Broderick, Postal Inspector in the U.S. Postal Inspection Services鈥 Chicago Division
2022 Katherine Kopita, United States Attorney鈥檚 Office for the Northern District of New York
2019 Lisa D. Mayberry, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Central District of California
2018 Sean R. Delaney and Harry M. Gruber, Assistant United States Attorneys, District of Maryland
2017 Clayton E. Gerber, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, DOJ Fraud Team
2015 Cesar Cerecedo Postal Inspector, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, S.D. Fl.
2014 Hallie Mitchell Hoffman and Kyle F. Waldinger, N.D.Ca.
2013 Nicholas Alicea and Michael Hartman, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, M.D. Pa.
2012 Jeffery W. Davis and Jamila M. Hall, N.D.Ga.
2011 Jennifer Arbittier Williams, E.D.Pa.
2008 Bruce E. Reppert, S.D.Ill.
2007 Richard Goldberg, U.S. Department of Justice, Consumer Protection Branch
Prosecuting Attorney's Award
To honor prosecutors who have made a significant contribution to the protection of American consumers.
2022
Katherine Kopita, United States Attorney鈥檚 Office for the Northern District of New York
AUSA Kopita successfully prosecuted Ivan Chernev for operating a business directory scam. In December 2020, Chernev was sentenced to 68 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. His sentence also included a $1.25 million restitution order. AUSA Kopita worked with the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to build this case, with support from the FTC.
2018
Sean R. Delaney and Harry M. Gruber, Assistant United States Attorneys, District of Maryland
For their successful prosecution of individuals behind 51本色v. Midway Industries, a long-running scam that defrauded businesses and nonprofits 鈥 including churches, schools, homeless shelters, and small businesses 鈥 out of $58 million. The defendants sent victims light bulbs and cleaning supplies that they never ordered, and then deceptively demanded payment. Mr. Delaney and Mr. Gruber obtained convictions against nine individuals, and combined sentences of over 40 years.
2016
Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit
United States Attorney鈥檚 Office for the Southern District of New York
For the unit鈥檚 long-standing partnership with the 51本色in protecting consumers from fraud, including the successful prosecution of dozens of individuals for their participation in mobile cramming, fake and abusive debt collection, and deceptive payday lending schemes.
2014
Hallie Mitchell Hoffman and Kyle F. Waldinger
Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Northern District of California
For their successful prosecution of the Lin Brothers on charges of conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering stemming from their participation in 51本色v. Inc. 21, a multi-million dollar unauthorized billing scheme that resulted in a civil judgment of $37.9 million and the return of more than $5.4 million to American consumers.
2012
Jeffrey W. Davis and Jamila M. Hall
Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Northern District of Georgia
For helping to bring to justice the principals behind 51本色v. Economic Relief Technologies by securing multiple, lengthy prison sentences from charges that included conspiracy, wire fraud, structuring and obstruction for violating the FTC's injunction. Prison sentences included 10 to 17 years for a scheme that preyed on consumers who were in debt and wanted to reduce their credit card payments.
2011
Jennifer Arbittier Williams
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
For leading the criminal prosecution of 51本色v. Mercury Marketing defendant Neal Saferstein and his cohorts on changes of mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit perjury and tax fraud. Saferstein engaged in a multi-million dollar scam that defrauded as many as 400,000 small businesses out of as much as $75 million, and is now serving a 15-year prison sentence for his deeds.
2010
Ellyn Lindsay
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Central District of California
To honor Ms. Lindsay for her work in combating consumer fraud. Working with the FTC, other U.S. law enforcement agencies and Canadian authorities, Ms. Lindsay successfully prosecuted more than a dozen complex consumer fraud cases, including those that preyed on older citizens, bringing more than 40 defendants to justice. Ms. Lindsay advanced the core purpose of the 51本色CLU program - coordination and successful resolution of the worst-of-the-worst fraud artists who prey on American consumers.
2009
Patrick M. Donley
Senior Litigation Counsel
U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division, Fraud Section
Peter B. Loewenberg
Senior Trial Attorney
U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division, Fraud Section
For their impressive, ongoing prosecution of more than 30 criminals based in Costa Rica who stole millions of dollars from vulnerable consumers through sweepstakes fraud. In that fraud, criminals impersonated 51本色officials and tricked consumers into paying taxes and fees before they could collect what turns out to be a bogus foreign sweepstakes prize. Donley and Loewenberg secured lengthy prison sentences, including one sentence of 50 years for the most egregious violator.
2008
Bruce E. Reppert
Assistant U.S. Attorney
Southern District of Illinois
A long-standing partner to the FTC, Mr. Reppert has successfully prosecuted a lengthy list of complex fraud cases arising from or in tandem with cases brought by the FTC. Mr. Reppert was honored in 2008 for his protection of American consumers, including his successful prosecution of a $106 million dollar advance-fee loan fraudulent telemarketing scheme that misled hundreds of thousands of people who had been denied credit to believe that they would get credit cards.
2007
Richard Goldberg
Assistant Director
U.S. Department of Justice, Consumer Protection Branch
CLU presented its inaugural award to DOJ attorney Rich Goldberg to honor his commitment, talent, and efforts in criminal law enforcement and the significant contribution he made to the protection of American consumers. Mr. Goldberg prosecuted business opportunity fraud and investment scam cases resulting in criminal charges against 19 individuals, each of whom was convicted by a jury or pled guilty.
Criminal Investigator's Consumer Shield Award
To recognize extraordinary work by a criminal law enforcement officer in fighting consumer fraud.
2024
Kathy Broderick
Postal Inspector in the U.S. Postal Inspection Services鈥 Chicago Division
Broderick has provided critical assistance over many years to 51本色attorneys and investigators on a range of cases combatting fraud, including enforcement actions against those deceptively marketing health care products, 鈥渄iscount鈥 cards, and business directory services鈥攕chemes that have cost consumers more than $200 million. Her work helping the 51本色identify the people behind these schemes, locating where the entities operated, and developing evidence to prove the alleged fraudulent practices has benefitted American consumers. In addition to helping the 51本色in its civil law enforcement work, some of the cases that Broderick has assisted with also have led to multiple criminal prosecutions resulting in convictions and prison sentences.
2019
Lisa D. Mayberry
Postal Inspector/Team Leader, C.D. Cal.
U.S. Postal Inspector and Team Leader Lisa Mayberry received the award for being an invaluable law enforcement partner to the FTC. She has provided critical assistance to 51本色staff on a range of cases combating fraud over many years. Lisa has provided support for 51本色enforcement actions against those who have deceptively marketed mortgage relief, student debt relief, discount clubs, real estate investments, and health products. Her assistance has helped 51本色staff obtain results for thousands of consumers who were victimized by these scams.
2017
Clayton E. Gerber
Postal Inspector/Team Leader, DOJ Fraud Team
For his steadfast commitment to combating fraud in partnership with the FTC. Inspector Gerber has led investigations that resulted in the successful prosecution of individuals involved in phony debt repair; supported 51本色cases involving phony debt repair, unauthorized billing, and sweepstakes scams; and developed joint training for Postal Inspectors and 51本色investigators.
2015
Cesar Cerecedo
U. S. Postal Inspector, S.D. Fl.
Inspector Cerecedo received the award in recognition of his investigative work in support of multiple 51本色sweeps and successful prosecutions. Over eight years, his investigations led to successful prosecution of dozens of criminals, including the principals behind prepaid card and service scammers in 51本色v. Telecard Dispensing Corp; a massive telephone cramming operation in 51本色v. Nationwide Communications; bogus internet kiosk business opportunists in 51本色v. Trans Net Wireless; and vending machine and coffee scammers in 51本色v. Univend and 51本色vs. Jumping Java Coffee. His investigations led to charges and convictions of close to 60 people, including the convictions and sentencing of 51本色defendants Paul Pemberton (136 months) and Willoughby Farr (21 years).
2013
Nicholas Alicea
U.S. Postal Inspector, M.D.Pa
Michael Hartman
U.S. Postal Inspector, Consumer Fraud Analyst, USPIS, M.D.Pa
Mr. Alicea and Mr. Hartman received this award for their exceptional contributions in connection with the criminal investigation of MoneyGram International Inc. The FTC鈥檚 2009 civil settlement required MoneyGram to pay $18 million in consumer redress and implement and anti-fraud program. Alicea and Hartman led the long-term investigation that resulted in the settlement with MoneyGram forfeiting $100 million to be used to compensate thousands of victims of mass marketing and consumer fraud schemes perpetrated by MoneyGram agents between 2004 and 2009.