HSI Baltimore special agents recognized for outstanding law enforcement work at biennial OCDETF award ceremony

BALTIMORE — The U.S. attorney’s office recognized three special agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore for their outstanding work with the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) at the biennial National OCDETF Director’s Awards Ceremony June 13 at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

Special Agent Kimmesia Sampson, Special Agent Robert Frounfelker and a third HSI Baltimore special agent were officially recognized for their work with OCDETF. The third special agent currently works undercover cases, and his identity is being withheld.

The agents received the OCDETF Director’s Special Group Achievement Award, which recognizes a group of people who demonstrate commitment to OCDETF’s mission and goals, including its principle of strength in partnership through multiagency coordination.

Frounfelker passed away prior to the ceremony; his wife, Sandy, received the award in his place.

HSI Baltimore was recognized for its work with the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. attorney’s office, the Anne Arundel Police Department, the Frederick County Police Department, and the Montgomery County Police Department.

“Having Mrs. Frounfelker and her daughters present to accept her late husband’s award was not only touching, but also significant,” Harris said. “It displayed the true strength of the HSI Baltimore family. Our connection is not only to our agents, but to our families as well. This was a tremendous gesture on their part, and we are all grateful for their attendance.”

The OCDETF Director’s Awards are given out biennially and recognize the highest level of commitment to dedicated service of the U.S. attorney general’s strategy to combat transnational organized crime and reduce the availability of illicit narcotics in the United States through OCDETF’s prosecutor-led, multiagency approach to identifying, targeting, disrupting and dismantling priority transnational organized crime networks.

The awards recognize individuals and groups for their hard work and leadership in OCDETF’s collaborative mission — a formula proven for success. Their efforts prove that OCDETF is one of the most compelling anti-crime tools at the attorney general’s disposal. This year marks the OCDETF awards’ 40th anniversary.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.