HomeMy WebLinkAboutEPD_2014JusticeAwards
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Kaylin Martin, Senior Communications Coordinator
Phone 952-833-9537 • Fax 952-826-0389 • www.EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Edina Police Officers receive Justice Award
Edina, Minn., March 27, 2014 – Two Edina police officers received the Justice Award from the United
States Attorney’s Office for their hard work and dedication to a financial fraud case with international ties.
U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger presented Officers Joel Moore and Dave Lindman with the accolade on
March 25 at the U.S. Courthouse in downtown Minneapolis.
The award was given to 21 recipients who were instrumental in the success of “Operation Starburst.” The
case started locally in 2009 while Lindman was assigned to the Minnesota Financial Crimes Task Force and
Moore, who made one of the initial arrests in 2010, was assigned to the Commercial Crime Officer in the
Southdale area. In the beginning of the case, officers on the Task Force started to recognize a pattern in their
investigations. However, it wasn’t until they brought the pieces of their puzzles together that they saw they
were dealing with something much larger than they had initially thought.
Lindman said his team discovered an organized crime ring that involved “dirty” bankers who would sell
account information to criminals. Since 2006, more than 10,000 people have been victimized by king pin Julian
Okeayainneh’s crime ring and, so far, more than 30 people connected with Operation Starburst are in prison.
Since the case began, Lindman and his team’s efforts have paid off. In August 2012, Okeayainneh was
sentenced to 27 years in prison, the longest punishment handed down in the United States for an identity
theft case. While Operation Starburst, a case that amounted to more than $58 million in fraudulent activity, is
no longer active, federal and local agents, including Moore who took over Lindman’s position on the Task
Force, are still working to charge others who were involved.
“I am very honored to receive the award and the show of support from coworkers and the leadership of the
Edina Police Department. I had the opportunity to be a part of something very special,” said Moore. “In a case
like Operation Starburst, you need investigators, agents and analysts who are able to remember a lot of
details to make connections in such a large conspiracy and who are willing to make sacrifices in their personal
lives just to make sure everything gets done properly.”
The Justice Award recognizes outstanding achievement by investigative teams in individual civil and criminal
cases. The investigative team must have performed above and beyond the normal high standards set for these
cases and their efforts must be of a distinctive character.
“One of the things that makes me most proud as the new U.S. Attorney here, is not just the size of the case
and the complexity of the case, but that law enforcement worked so well together and our office worked so
well with you,” said Luger, at the award presentation. “I want to congratulate all of you on an extraordinarily
well put together case and amazing work on behalf of the people of Minnesota. Thank you.”
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Others echoed those comments.
“[Lindman] is one of the finest law enforcement professionals I have met in my
career. … I so enjoyed working with him because he is exceptionally kind, courteous,
always fair and humble,” said previous Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Anaya. “It is a
pleasure and a honor to work with an officer that displays an absolute commitment to
protect and serve Edina, the Task Force and justice.”
For more information, contact the Edina Police Department at 952-826-1610.
-30-