Investigators of the Year
AUSA William Hochul
Western District of New York
AUSA Brett Harvey
Western District of New York
Special Agent (Retired) Louis Alessi
US Department of Labor/OIG/OLRFI
Special Agent Charles Argento
US Department of Labor/OIG/OLRFI
Special Agent Frank Runles
Federal Bureau Investigations
Investigator (Retired) Michael Kirkpatrick
New York State Police/SIU
Investigator Michael Messinak
Niagara County Sheriff ’s Department
Detective William Thomson
Niagara Falls Police Department
FBI Special Agent Jeffrey A. Farrar spearheaded a nationally significant Domestic Terrorism investigation into the criminal activities of Stop Huntington Animal Cruelty (SHAC). The stated goal of SHAC was to drive Huntington Life Sciences, an international animal research laboratory, out of business through direct action against HLS and the individuals that SHAC designated as targets. Acts of violence and vandalism sanctioned by SHAC included the overturning of an HLS employee’s car in their driveway, smoke-bombing of company offices, destruction of property, office invasions, and a relentless interstate stalking and harassment campaign. Victims of the SHAC campaign spanned the United States and the United Kingdom. SA Farrar began this investigation in March, 2000. This investigation ultimately led to the indictment of seven individuals and the SHAC corporation. The “SHAC 7” defendants were the first defendants ever charged under a Federal law designed to criminalize the stalking, vandalism and other tactics of militant animal-rights organizations. In March, 2006, six defendants and the SHAC corporation were tried and convicted of all charges. They were recently sentenced to significant Federal prison terms. The charges included conspiring to violate the Animal Enterprise Protection Statute, conspiring to commit interstate stalking, aiding and abetting interstate stalking and conspiring to violate the Harassing Interstate Communication Statute. This investigation proved that the activities of this type of group are not protected by the First Amendment, but are illegal and punishable under Federal law. This investigation was successful as a direct result of SA Farrar’s tenacious investigative efforts and his ability to coordinate with multiple FBI Field Offices, the commitment of the United States Attorney’s Office, and the involvement of state and local law enforcement to identify criminal acts committed by animal rights extremists.
Angelo D’Addario
Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal, Protective Investigations Unit, Southern District of New York
Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Angelo D’Addario is being nominated for this award in recognition of his outstanding professionalism and leadership over his 19-year career with the United States Marshals Service. SDUSM D’Addario’s sustained role in directing the Protective Investigations Unit has significantly impacted on the ability of the United States Marshals Service to successfully deliver its Judicial Security mission. Under SDUSM D’Addario’s leadership, this year the unit was responsible for conducting numerous Security Briefings and Training for the federal judiciary, their staff, USMS personnel and the United States Attorney’s office; maintaining the district’s COOP and NERP plans; coordinating and planning the installation of Home Intrusion Detection systems for the federal judiciary; investigating Threats and Inappropriate Communications against federal judges and prosecutors; coordinating Dignitary Protection Details for U.S. Supreme Court Justice visits to New York; coordinating security for Judicial Conferences; overseeing the Physical Security plan within the Southern District of New York; and conducting numerous Confidential Investigations.