SAN FRANCISCO – LAWFUEL – The US Legal Newswire – Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey P. Geis, of San Francisco, CA, was honored yesterday at the Justice Department’s 55th Annual Awards Ceremony at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., along with 191 Justice Department employees and 26 other individuals. AUSA Geis was honored for her contribution to the prosecution of Overseas Shipholding Group Inc. (OSG). The prosecution took place in multiple districts and resulted in the largest ever penalty in a case involving deliberate vessel pollution. (See attached press release of December 19, 2006 for further details).
“Today’s award recipients are extraordinarily dedicated and talented men and women,” said Peter Keisler, Acting Attorney General. “They’ve made incredible sacrifices, and achieved great successes, working on the front lines of the Justice Department on behalf of the American people. I’m proud to have them as my colleagues as we work to advance the Department’s mission.”
OSG pleaded guilty to 33 felony counts related to deliberate vessel pollution from nine ships and false pollution log entries in three additional ships, in six U.S. ports around the nation. OSG was ordered to pay a record $37 million after pleading guilty to charges related to illegal dumping of waste oil, criminal violations of the Clean Water Act/Oil Pollution Act and the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, conspiracy, false statements and obstruction of justice. The multi-district investigation was conducted in San Francisco; Boston, Mass.; Portland, Maine; Los Angeles; Wilmington, N.C.; and Beaumont, Texas. AUSA Geis was responsible for prosecuting charges arising out of the operation of the M/T Cleliamar. As part of the guilty plea, the Northern District of California will receive $1 million, $500,000 of which will go to supporting environmental projects. Of the $500,000 going to the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation for environmental projects, $440,000 will go towards the preservation, restoration, and general protection of marine resources and ecosystems located in Northern California, including, the following three National Marine Sanctuaries: Monterey Bay, the Gulf of the Farallones, and the Cordell Banks, and $60,000 will help support the Pilot Program for Satellite Surveillance Technology, a technology designed to detect oil slicks using satellite technology. The prosecution was made possible through the combined efforts of multiple Department of Justice agencies.
United States Attorney Scott N. Schools said, “Our office is very proud of the accomplishments of Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Geis and the team that prosecuted the Overseas Shipment Group case. The award confirms the outstanding contribution of a dedicated public servant.”
Acting Deputy Attorney General Craig S. Morford joined Acting Attorney General Peter D. Keisler in presenting the Department’s highest award, the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service, to AUSA Geis for her contribution.
The Attorney General’s Annual Awards Ceremony provides an opportunity to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of a number of U.S. Department of Justice employees as well as individuals from outside the Department.
