U.S. Attorney's Office staff in the Southern District of Georgia earned top honors this week, bagging the 70th Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service, as announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. Recognized for their exceptional work in the Ahmaud Arbery case, these officials joined a select group of honorees from 2022 and 2023, chosen from over 800 nominees, according to the Justice Department's announcement.
"Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people, and communities across the country," Garland praised. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons was distinguished alongside her team: Paralegal Tracy Long, Victim Witness Coordinators Kellie Wiggins and Iverna Campbell – all were central to the case that brought justice to the murder of Brunswick resident Ahmaud Arbery.
Receiving the second-highest award from the DOJ marks not just prestige but also a significant acknowledgment of the rigorous efforts put forth by these individuals. Besides Lyons and her team, nine staff members from the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the FBI also received the award for their roles in the case. As U.S. Attorney Steinberg put it, "The trial and conviction of the three men responsible for the murder of Brunswick, Ga., resident Ahmaud Arbery was a painstaking, arduous journey for these dedicated investigators and prosecutors, and this prestigious award recognizes their accomplishments."
The diligent work of the award recipients led to the conviction of three men – Travis McMichael; his father, Gregory McMichael; and William “Roddy” Bryan, for violating Ahmaud Arbery's civil rights and targeting him because of his race. In a relentless pursuit that ended in tragedy, Arbery died after being shot by Travis McMichael. The McMichaels subsequently received life sentences in August 2022, whereas, Bryan was sentenced to 35 years behind bars. All three culprits are also serving state sentences for their heinous acts.
The critical case was a joint effort investigated by the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, while the prosecution was led by the capable hands of Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Lyons of the Southern District of Georgia, and Deputy Chief Bobbi Bernstein and Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division. This award acknowledges the relentless pursuit of justice by those who refused to see Arbery's death go in vain, ensuring that the scales of justice tipped in favor of the truth and rightfully honored his memory by law.
