ATF's Travis Moran Takes National Retail Federation LP Award

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent Travis Moran received the National Retail Federation (NRF) Law Enforcement Retail Partnership award today at a ceremony in San Diego, Calif.

Moran, the first ATF agent to receive the award, was nominated by Clifford Bennett, regional loss prevention manager, Zales Corp., for performing above and beyond the call of duty in his pursuit of a ring of violent criminals who were robbing Zales Jewelry Outlet Stores.

Moran, who serves in ATF's Washington Field Division, initiated the investigation in January 2002 after a second armed robbery of a Zale's Jewelry store in Leesburg, Va. Moran learned that the robberies actually began in July 2001, and that five prior armed robberies had occurred in Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Williamsburg, Va.

Moran met with the law enforcement agencies involved in the string of robberies, interviewed dozens of victims and witnesses, and met with forensic sketch artists to develop sketches of the suspects, which were subsequently distributed throughout the Southeast. He was able to develop successful working partnerships with police officers in Georgia, Virginia, and North and South Carolina over the three-year course of the investigation.

Moran's efforts ultimately led to the identification and arrest of seven career violent criminals involved in the string of jewelry store robberies, and uncovered an underground black market jewelry operation that used "fences" to supply the black market with the goods from the thefts and robberies of legitimate jewelry retailers. This group committed more than 15 jewelry store robberies and a pawnshop robbery, which resulted in the loss of $6.6 million in cash, jewelry and firearms. In addition, the criminals left behind more than 30 victims of their crimes whose lives have been permanently impacted by their violence.

Moran's leadership resulted in the arrest of the seven violent criminals who were charged with a variety of federal crimes, including conspiracy to obstruct commerce by robbery, use of a firearm during a crime of violence, interstate travel in aid of racketeering, and money laundering.

The evidence gathered in the case and the efforts of prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newport News, Va., resulted in guilty pleas by six of the subjects in U.S. District Court in Virginia. The subjects have received sentences ranging from 17 to 34 years in federal prison. They have also been ordered to pay $1 million each in restitution. A seventh subject is awaiting trial.

John P. Malone, ATF special agent in charge of the Washington Field Division, stated, "Agent Moran epitomizes the work ethic of the special agents in ATF. Due to his dedication and tireless efforts in this investigation, six dangerous and violent criminals are behind bars, no longer free to victimize other innocent citizens."