U.S. Attorney's Office Presents Inaugural Awards for Investigative Excellence

OXFORD - U.S. Attorney Scott Leary presented three awards for investigative excellence to investigators relating to their work on a Homeland Security Task Force drug trafficking prosecution:

• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Josh Moore;
• DeSoto County Sheriff's Office Sergeant/DEA Task Force Officer Josh Bryant; and
• Hernando Police Department's Special Investigations Division Captain/DEA Task Force Officer Steven Markway.

The Northern District of Mississippi's Award for Investigative Excellence recognizes state, federal, and local law enforcement individuals or units that have demonstrated excellence in investigation response strategy and dedication to the cause of justice.

The 2026 award recipients facilitated a major HSTF operation involving 19 defendants, more than 25 kilograms of cocaine and $150,000 in drug proceeds and multiple vehicles seized. The recipients of this award exemplified the importance of effective use of interagency relationships to facilitate swift justice.

U.S. Attorney Scott Leary presented the award, "the HSTF initiative is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, human smuggling and drug trafficking rings. This operation exemplifies the importance of state and federal collaboration. Our local communities are the beneficiaries of such cooperation, and outstanding investigations like this should be recognized accordingly. Our office extends a hearty thank you to the DEA, the Hernando Police Department and the Desoto County Sheriff's office. And congratulations to Special Agent Moore, Task Force Officer Bryant, and Task Force Officer Markway, this was just a great job."

This operation was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating tin the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Jackson comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ICE ERO, CBP, CBP OFO, CBP USBP, CBP AMO, CGIS, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS and with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.