U.S. Attorney Employees Recognized for Superior Performance

Three members of the United States Attorney's Office were recognized by the Department of Justice for their superior performance. Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa Williams and Nicole Nagin and Budget Officer Emery Banguid each received a Director's Award from the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys at an awards ceremony held on October 28, 2026, in Washington D.C.

Williams was recognized for Excellence as an Appellate Assistant U.S. Attorney. Williams volunteered to support the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma after a Supreme Court decision affected who could prosecute members of Indian tribes. That decision inundated the office with cases, almost all of which resulted in appeals after new convictions were obtained. Williams handled dozens of those appeals and presented oral arguments to the court of appeals in a significant percentage of them. Her analysis, writing, oral advocacy, and team-first mindset were invaluable to the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

Nagin was recognized for Excellence for a Criminal Assistant U.S. Attorney. Since joining the office in 2022, she has prosecuted some of the most complex fraud cases handled by the office. She was recognized in particular for prosecuting four Congolese nationals for committing fraud directed at the Department of State's diversity visa lottery. Nagin reviewed thousands of pages of documents and interviewed dozens of witnesses and secured convictions of each defendant. The State Department's Diplomatic Security Service described the prosecution as the first of its kind and credited it for shutting down a significant portion of African visa fraud.

Banguid was recognized for Superior Performance in Administration. As budget officer for the U.S. Attorney's Office, he developed and maintained a comprehensive financial-management program during significant departmental change, leadership transitions, and unprecedented budget challenges. Banguid also took on additional duties in the absence of a contracting officer and volunteered his efforts outside of his administrative role to assist in the Congolese diversity-visa fraud case. He used his fluency in two other languages to translate documents, videos, and communications, making the investigation significantly more efficient and saving tens of thousands of dollars in expenses. His cultural expertise also proved invaluable to the agents and prosecutors in developing and presenting the evidence in the case. Banguid's work strengthened district operations, safeguarded immigrant communities, and ensured the successful prosecution of a major international fraud conspiracy.

"People are safer and America is more secure because of the work Emery, Nicole, and Lisa put in," said United States Attorney Leif Olson. "Every day, our team has the privilege to work with dedicated law enforcement officers to protect our friends and neighbors, and it's a responsibility and an honor that we never forget. I'm thrilled that these three have been nationally recognized for the extraordinary job they've done upholding that honor."

The Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, or EOUSA, under the direction of the Deputy Attorney General, provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 93 United States Attorneys' offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao.

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