James Norman, Ponzi Scheme, Ohio 2023

DAYTON, OHIO – U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman announced today that Brent G. Tabacchi, a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Ohio, received the Superior Performance as an Assistant United States Attorney recognition at the 34th Director’s Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C. Tabacchi has been in the District’s Dayton office for more than 13 years and prosecuted the largest Ponzi scheme in Dayton’s history, U.S. v. Apostelos.

“Brent has handled – and continues to handle – an extremely diverse and difficult case load that includes some of the most significant prosecutions ever in Dayton, and he does so while consistently maintaining the highest standards of prosecutorial excellence,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said.

Craig A. Black, a head paralegal in the Financial Litigation Unit (FLU), was also recognized for his Superior Performance in a Litigative Support Role. Black has served the district for more than 15 years and has helped revolutionize how the District collects criminal civil monetary judgments. He has been instrumental in developing the District’s Criminal Judgment Enforcement Team, leading not only to record-setting collection efforts in the Southern District of Ohio, but improvements in FLU nationwide.

“Craig is a national leader in innovating our financial litigation program in the Southern District of Ohio, as well as those of many other U.S. Attorney’s offices throughout the country,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “Craig’s tireless dedication to the mission of FLU has established him as a behind-the-scenes champion for victims of crime.”

Jennifer Rausch, Director of the Special Victims Unit at Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien’s Office, was awarded recognition for her Superior Performance as a Special Assistant United States Attorney. Rausch has aided in the conviction of nearly two-dozen criminal defendants on human trafficking, child enticement, and child pornography offenses.

“Jen has helped build numerous major investigations into successful prosecutions, convictions, and trial victories, all the while tending the often-fragile victims and shattered families of these types of cases with exceptional sensitivity and care,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “Her years of courtroom experience have been invaluable in significant suppression hearings, a high-stakes federal jury trial resulting in convictions on all counts, and numerous contentious federal sentencings.”

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein addressed the award recipients and guests, saying, “Today’s honorees earned the esteem of their colleagues. But most importantly, they earned the gratitude of our fellow citizens — the people whose communities you made safer, whose lives you improved, and whose trust you rewarded. Today, we pause to honor and recognize a small portion of your work.”

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