Special Tribute
| The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) depends upon the assistance of other Department of Justice components and employees. We take this opportunity to honor Department employees and others who have had a special impact on our work. |
The OIG pays special tribute to individuals involved in a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), OIG Miami Field Office, U.S. Customs Service (USCS), Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The 39-month investigation established evidence that an Immigration and Naturalization Service special operations inspector facilitated drug smuggling by the Francois-Ketant drug trafficking organization through Miami International Airport. The inspector obtained confidential criminal intelligence information to warn co-conspirators and assist them in evading detection by allowing entry into the United States without inspection.
A federal grand jury indicted the inspector and 15 other individuals, including the former Police Chief of Port-Au-Prince, the former Head of Security for Port-Au-Prince International Airport, and a former Metro-Dade County Aviation Department employee. The inspector and five co-defendants were found guilty following an 8-week trial in U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. Seven other defendents pled guilty. Three of the defendants, including the inspector, were sentenced to life in prison. Nine others received sentences ranging from 5 years to 20 years. Four individuals are fugitives, including one who was convicted.
The OIG honors Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Kastrenakes, David Weinstein, and Madeline Shirley and DEA Special Agents Gary Coffman, Donald Lessner, and John Carbonero; IRS Special Agent Joan Paigo; FDLE Special Agent Christina Royo; USCS Special Agent George Machado; and OIG Special Agent Arthur Skinner for their outstanding achievements in this case.