SPOKANE, Wash. – U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldrev today credited three members of her team: Special Assistant Attorney for the United States (SAUSA) Frieda Zimmerman and Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) Tyler Tornaveen and Dan Fractor for their work. announced that he was honored To citizens of the United States and Eastern Washington. SAUSA Zimmerman received the Distinguished Achievement Award as a Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Her Tornabene and Fruchter from AUSA received the Director’s Award for Outstanding Achievement by Civil AUSA. Each was recognized by Attorney General Merrick Garland at the annual Directors Awards ceremony held today in Washington, DC. Attorney General Garland himself has won the Commissioner’s Award in the past.
SAUSA Zimmerman serves as SAUSA in the Department of Energy’s Office of the Inspector General and was recognized for his significant contributions to the Department of Justice, including in areas such as white collar crime, false claims law cases, medical fraud and civil litigation. . rights, and her COVID-19 scam. She is widely respected throughout her department for her unique expertise in procurement fraud, and her skills, dedication, her extensive expertise, and her composure make her agents I am loved SAUSA Zimmerman not only embodies the best qualities of a federal prosecutor and her SAUSA, but also the all-important relationship between her federal attorney’s office and its law enforcement partners. .
AUSA’s Tornabene and Fruchter were recognized for their work to protect innocent patients who were defrauded by their health care providers. AUSA’s Tornabene and Fruchter have settled claims against two neurosurgeons. Two neurosurgeons performed medically unnecessary spinal surgery and made false claims to federal and state health programs in eastern Washington. AUSA’s Tornabene and Fruchter, along with state and federal partners, not only stopped the horrific act, but their team secured his $22,690,458 medical fraud settlement, the largest ever in the Eastern District of Washington. As part of the settlement, Providence Health and Services not only admitted that the doctor risked patient safety for profit, but also entered into Providence with his five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement to ensure quality of care. and patient safety obligations. Beyond this pioneering case, AUSA’s Tornabene and Fruchter prosecuted numerous fraud cases nationwide, built a successful COVID-19 relief fraud strike force, and contributed to the growing civil rights movement in the district. contributed greatly.
In announcing today’s award, U.S. Attorney Waldrev thanked SAUSA Zimmerman and AUSA’s Tornabene and Fruchter for their excellent service. “Today’s awards reflect the incredible work our entire team is doing in the Eastern District of Washington. Our school district’s AUSA often faces difficult and sometimes dangerous challenges. Frieda, Tyler, and Dan have dedicated their leadership, time, expertise, and energy to the service of our country, and they, like each member of my office, are the high risers that define our great nation. Dedicated to our ideals and deeply held values and our mission to ensure that justice is served fairly and swiftly.Each member of our office stands for the safety and strength of eastern Washington I am honored to serve alongside talented civil servants whose commitment to justice is impeccable. We are also grateful for the support and administrative staff who were unable to fulfill their mission.”
SAUSA Zimmerman is with the Department of Energy’s Office of the Inspector General and SAUSA with the US Attorney’s Office in Spokane, Washington. Through her work at the Department of Energy, SAUSA Zimmerman is able to take on additional cases at Hanford Cleanup her site to combat fraud and assist in environmental remediation.
AUSA Tornabene leads the Civil Rights Unit for the Eastern District of Washington and serves as AUSA for the Civil Sector. AUSA Fruchter heads the agency’s Fraud and White Collar Unit and serves as Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division. He handles both criminal and civil fraud matters.