U.S. Department of Justice

Office of the Inspector General


Special Tribute


The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) depends upon the assistance of other Department of Justice components and employees for its successes. We would like to take this opportunity to honor a Department employee who has had a special impact on our work.

Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Gennaco

Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Michael J. Gennaco, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, Public Corruption and Government Fraud Section, has been instrumental in providing guidance and advice to OIG investigators to assist them in developing cases with prosecutorial merit. In addition, he has worked to improve investigations of misconduct allegations at the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Terminal Island Center, and he successfully prosecuted a civil rights abuse case investigated by the Los Angeles Field Office. He also has assisted the OIG by providing civil rights training to special agents.

After learning of numerous allegations of misconduct at the INS Terminal Island Center, AUSA Gennaco recognized that a multifaceted problem, involving civil rights abuse, fraud, and theft, had developed. AUSA Gennaco initiated the creation of an OIG and INS task force to coordinate and improve the investigations of criminal and administrative complaints at the Center. He provided extensive guidance during numerous investigations and was readily available to consult with investigators on legal questions. As a result of these efforts, two detention enforcement officers (DEO) pled guilty to theft of government property. Both resigned from government service and were sentenced from 12 to 24 months' probation, and each made restitution. A third DEO was terminated by INS.

AUSA Gennaco's outstanding work on OIG cases is typified by his efforts during the successful prosecution and conviction of an INS DEO who had assaulted a detained alien on two separate occasions. AUSA Gennaco recognized the potential merit of the allegations and referred the case to the OIG for further investigation. Along with an attorney from the Civil Rights Division, AUSA Gennaco worked closely with the investigators to develop a prosecutable case. The INS officer was sentenced to 21 months' incarceration and 3 years' probation.

AUSA Gennaco's tenacity, outstanding skill, and dedication to maintaining the public trust are a tribute to the Department of Justice and to the U.S Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.