BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash received the Top Prosecutor Award from Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE). AUSA Tokash was nominated by the Buffalo Office of Homeland Security Investigations for her tireless efforts fighting against human trafficking and advocating on behalf of victims.
AUSA Tokash was a commissioned officer and decorated Veteran in the U.S. Army where she specialized in prosecutions involving victims of sexual crimes before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2019. AUSA Tokash is head of the Special Victims Unit, which is focused on human trafficking, child exploitation and sexual assaults. She also leads the U.S. Attorney’s Office Human Trafficking Task Force, coordinating efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement and non-governmental organizations in human trafficking investigations. One of those investigations involved defendant Valentino Shine, Sr., who was convicted following a jury trial of five counts of sex trafficking, and one count each of sex trafficking conspiracy, narcotics conspiracy, using and maintaining a drug-involved premises, and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, and was sentenced to serve 30 years in prison.
AUSA Tokash is currently completing a 90-day commission on President Biden's Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military. #
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
