Glenn T. Suddaby, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, is pleased to announce that Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent James T. Lyons, Jr., has been selected as the recipient of the “Southern Tier Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement” for calendar year 2007.

The “Southern Tier Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement” is presented annually to a federal, state, or local law enforcement member who makes an outstanding contribution to the investigation and prosecution of federal criminal offenses by the Binghamton branch of the United States Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of New York.

Special Agent Lyons is being recognized for the exceptional leadership he provided in 2007 to the newly formed and highly successful Southern Tier Cyber Predator Task Force. The mission of the task force is to investigate, identify, apprehend and successfully prosecute persons who commit crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children over the internet.

In addition, Special Agent Lyons was instrumental in the successful prosecution of Corbin Douglas Sr. who was convicted at trial and sentenced to a thirty (30) year federal prison term for, among other things, causing the death of his fourteen month old son Corbin Douglas Jr. by way of an overdose of narcotic drugs.

Special Agent Lyons received his award in a ceremony which took place today at the U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building, Binghamton, N.Y. Many local, state and federal law enforcement colleagues of Special Agent Lyons attended the event. Agent Lyons is the first repeat recipient of this prestigious award, having previously received the award in 2000.

Further inquires regarding the U.S. Attorney’s Law Enforcement Awards Program can be directed to U.S. Attorney Glenn T. Suddaby at 315-448-0672.