Clayton Hester Named 2024 Southeast Region Line Officer of the Year

Special Offender Specialist Clayton Hester of the Middle District of Georgia was presented FPPOA’s 2024 Southeast Line Officer of the Year award and the 2024 Richard F. Doyle National Line Officer of the Year award on March 5, 2025, during the Centennial Celebration of the Federal Probation Act held in Washington, DC. Officer Hester was recognized for his efforts immediately following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in the Valdosta, Georgia, area, in September 2024. He secured food, water, tarps, and a generator for clients, going above and beyond to help those under supervision during a difficult time. Additionally, Officer Hester serves as a resource for the district by assisting with issues related to sex offenders. He has proven to be a conscientious officer with each case he supervises and routinely demonstrates a commitment to excellence.

The Middle District of Georgia court family gathered with Officer Hester’s family for an in-district award ceremony and reception on May 22, 2025. The ceremony was presided over by Chief Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner who noted pride in Officer Hester’s efforts as they represent commitment to service and support to the community of the Middle District of Georgia.

Congratulations and special thanks to Officer Hester for his dedication to our system and to those we serve.

Vertical Picture: Left to right: FPPOA National Vice President Shannon Webber, USPO Clayton Hester, FPPOA National President Amy Denise Kord at award presentation in Washington, DC.

Horizontal Picture: Left to right: DCUSPO Jimmy Ham, SUSPO Vernon Bronner, FPPOA Southeast Region President Erica Simpson, FPPOA National Treasurer Jimmy Poe, USPO Clayton Hester, Chief Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner, SUSPO Todd Garrett, CUSPO Bob Long, USPO Shawn Bostick at in-district award ceremony.

Jordan Spadafore Named 2024 Great Lakes Region Line Officer of the Year

On December 4, 2024, Northern District of Ohio, Probation Officer Jordan Spadafore was presented the Federal Probation Pretrial Officers Association (FPPOA) Great Lakes Region Line Officer of the Year (LOY) award. Officer Spadafore was selected for his contributions to the Northern District of Ohio and our national system. Officer Spadafore was assigned to the court services unit and served as the primary point of contact for location monitoring supervision and inventory management in his divisional office. In addition to being an exceptional officer, he is a district firearms instructor and also is a leading member of his district’s officer safety team. Congratulations and Thank You Officer Jordan Spadafore for your continued contributions and a job well done!

Left to Right: Northern District of Ohio, District Judge Jeffrey Helmick, FPPOA Great Lakes Region Line Officer of the Year Probation Officer Jordan Spadafore, Northern District of Ohio Magistrate Judge Darrell Clay, Eastern District of Michigan Pretrial Services Agency Deputy Chief Justina Phillips Mann.

Laura Gialanella Named 2024 Northeast Region Line Officer of the Year

On January 17, 2025, the Federal Probation and Pretrial Officers Association (FPPOA) presented the 2022 Charles Lionel Chute Northeast Region Line Officer of the Year award in the Southern District of New York’s Pretrial Services Office. Intensive Supervision Officer Laura Gialanella received the award in front U.S. Pretrial Services colleagues and staff. The presentation was the final item at a staff meeting and was a pleasant surprise to ISO Gialanella. Chief Pretrial Services Officer Scott Kowal and FPPOA Northeast Region President Josh Rothman, who is also a Supervisory Pretrial Services Officer in the district, presented the award.

ISO Gialanella transferred to the Southern District of New York in 2021 after starting her federal career in the Northern District of Illinois and seamlessly adapted to the district. She is always willing to give a helping hand and has been an integral part of the district’s Treatment Services Team (TST). While a member of the TST, Laura has begun supervising individuals subject to location monitoring conditions. This involves handling cases that have serious substance abuse histories and mental health issues while also navigating the often-demanding LM conditions. ISO Gialanella always finds a way to make herself available, even on days when she is on leave, to ensure officers are provided with the guidance needed to make informed decisions with mental health and substance abuse cases. 

Laura also serves as the district’s internship coordinator and is truly invested in the volunteer students' career growth. She works hard to put together a meaningful program every semester so that the district’s interns can have the best possible experience. She displays great pride in the agency during interactions with college faculty and students at career fairs. In this role, she is the main point of contact for interns and their schools, as well as other Court stakeholders. ISO Gialanella has also served as a mentor for newer officers and officer assistants while also recently becoming certified as a STARR coach for the district.

One clear example of Laura going above and beyond her normal duties occurred on July 7, 2024, when Pretrial Services received notification that a defendant being supervised in another district had booked a one-way flight to China that evening without any court approval and just prior to his upcoming surrender date. Immediately after finishing a bail report, Laura worked with her supervisor to obtain an arrest warrant from the Court. Understanding the urgency of the matter, Laura jumped into action and took every necessary measure to get the warrant signed by the assigned Judge (who was on the bench for a high-profile trial). The warrant was in the hands of the US Marshals Service to be placed in the NCIC system so that CBP officers could arrest the defendant when he attempted to board his flight that evening. This is a clear demonstration of Laura being flexible and demonstrating a high level of teamwork and commitment to the job and what we stand for as outlined in the Charter of Excellence.



Danielle Becerra Named 2024 Central Region Line Officer of the Year

Sentencing Guideline Specialist Danielle Becerra of the Southern District of Texas received the 2024 Central Region Line Officer of the Year award on February 19, 2025, at the United States Courthouse in McAllen, Texas. The award was presented during a special ceremony combined with the District Clerks Office, with several U.S. District Judges, U.S. Magistrate Judges, and U.S. Probation Executives in attendance.

Danielle began her career as an Administrative Assistant to Probation Officer in the McAllen Division in 2011. She was appointed as a U.S. Probation Officer in 2020 and is assigned to writing Presentence Reports. In December 2024, she was promoted to Sentencing Guideline Specialist.

Danielle was recently named the Wellness District Lead as she was instrumental in the development of the program since 2021. She also completed the Southern District's Leadership Development Program in 2023. But most notably, and the basis for the nomination, is that she was appointed the District Lead for the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team in 2024. As CISM Lead, she expanded the program by gathering talented officers and providing them essential and intensive training. In this role, she provided guidance and support during periods of grief. When her district experienced a crisis, she filled in where needed to fulfill roles in other divisions while maintaining her workload in McAllen. She took on a tremendous number of responsibilities to meet the needs of the district and even received special acknowledgement from the Court for her efforts. Her efforts were monumental in the serving the needs of her peers and associated stakeholders.

Danielle is an enthusiastic and dedicated officer. She regularly puts the needs of other officers before her own, and she showed unmatched compassion for her peers during their time of need. For these reasons, Danielle was selected as the Central Region Line Officer of the Year for 2024.

Top picture (left to right): Carlos Solis, Jr., Deputy CUSPO, Victor Alvarez, ADCUSPO, Giselle Garcia, ADCUSPO, Jennifer Morris, FPPOA Central Region President & Danielle Becerra, Sentencing Guideline Specialist

Middle picture: (left to right): Jennifer Morris, FPPOA Central Region President & Danielle Becerra, Sentencing Guideline Specialist

Bottom picture (left to right): Nadia S. Medrano, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Randy Crane, Chief U.S. District Judge, Jennifer Morris, FPPOA Central Region President, Danielle Becerra, Sentencing Guideline Specialist, Ricardo H. Hinojosa, Senior U.S. District Judge, Micaela Alvarez, Senior U.S. District Judge & Teresa I. Brewster, Chief U.S. Probation Officer

Erika Ball Named 2024 Great Lakes Region Line Officer of the Year

Special Offender Specialist Erika Ball was presented with the Federal Probation and Pretrial Officers Association (FPPOA) 2024 Charles Venz Western Region Line Officer of the Year award April 23, 2025, in Durango, Colorado. The award was presented to Officer Ball by The Honorable Gordon P. Gallagher, U.S. District Judge, with several others participating to include, The Honorable Robert E. Blackburn, Senior U.S. District Judge, The Honorable James M. Candelaria, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Chief U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officer Elizabeth Russell, Deputy Chief U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officer Kyla Hamilton, Assistant Deputy Chief Probation and Pretrial Services Officer Amber Dunn, and Assistant Deputy Chief U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officer Sharie Lutt (District of Arizona and FPPOA Western Regional President), along with various staff members, friends, and family present virtually and in person.

Erika Ball was appointed a U.S. Probation Officer (USPO) in September 2008. In November 2022, she was promoted to her current position as a Special Offender Specialist, Evidence-Based Programs focus. Throughout her federal career, Erika has worked in the Durango divisional office. She has worked in all disciplines but primarily supervises a post-conviction caseload consisting of individuals with a high risk of recidivism, many of whom live on American Indian reservations.

During her career, Erika has become an expert in evidence-based practices (EBP) and cognitive-based supervision skills. She was selected as Co-Lead Coach of Colorado's STARR program and serves as a National STARR Coach. Erika travels to FPPA four times annually to provide STARR training to new users and coaches. The entire nation benefits from her knowledge and enthusiasm.

Additionally, Erika took part in a three-year TDY for the Criminogenic Needs and Violence Curriculum (CNVC). In 2018, she was certified as a CNVC National Trainer and has traveled across the country to assist districts with training and CNVC implementation.

Erika is highly skilled in EBP and continues utilizing these strategies throughout supervision. After certifying in CNVC, Erika began facilitating CNVC lesson plans with those she supervised, including individual sessions and groups on the American Indian reservations. She selflessly gives her time in the evenings each week so persons under supervision can attend groups without interrupting their daily lives or work schedules. Erika also works one on one with group participants who are struggling. Her CNVC groups are tailored to focus on risk factors including cognitions, employment, and substance use.

Erika is committed to utilizing EBP to ensure effective supervision aimed at reducing recidivism. She exudes a passion for risk-based supervision and cognitive behavioral interventions, and her enthusiasm is contagious as she coaches USPOs throughout the nation and contributes to their personal and professional growth. Erika demonstrates dedication, compassion, perseverance, and integrity in her work as a USPO and coach. She unselfishly gives her time, talent, and expertise to enrich the lives of those under supervision and enhance the EBP skills of USPOs in-district and around the country. USPOs and CNVC participants have expressed respect, gratitude, and praise for the energy she invests in those under supervision. Erika perpetuates the ideals of outstanding performance in the field of Federal Probation and Pretrial Services.

Top photo from left to right: Kyla Hamilton, Deputy Chief U.S. Probation Officer, Amber Dunn, Assistant Deputy Chief U.S. Probation Officer, Erika Ball, Senior U.S. Probation Officer, Elizabeth Russell, and Chief U.S. Probation Officer

Bottom photo from left to right: Elizabeth Russell, Chief U.S. Probation Officer, Honorable Robert E. Blackburn, Senior U.S. District Judge, Erika Ball, Senior U.S. Probation Officer, Honorable Gordon P. Gallagher, U.S. District Judge, Sharie Lutt, Assistant Deputy Chief, and Honorable James M. Candelaria, U.S. Magistrate Judge

Patrick Fidler Named 2024 Mid-Atlantic Regional Line Officer of the Year

In January 2025, Senior U.S. Probation Officer Patrick Fidler (West Virginia Southern) was awarded the Federal Probation and Pretrial Officer Association’s (FPPOA) 2024 Mid-Atlantic Line Officer the Year Award. Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presented Patrick with this distinguished award during a small ceremony at the U.S. Courthouse in Charleston, West Virginia.

Chief Judge Volk said, “Patrick is an experienced and extremely well-rounded officer. Importantly, his work is always excellent, and he has earned the respect and trust of his colleagues and the Court. This recognition reflects Patrick’s ongoing commitment to excellence in the Southern District of West Virginia.”

Patrick currently serves as an Intensive Investigations Specialist for the Court Services Unit, handling a variety of complex investigations, including sex offense, financial, and high publicity cases. Since starting his career as a U.S. Probation Officer nearly 18 years ago, Patrick has worked every facet of the job, including pretrial, post-conviction supervision, and presentence. Patrick has always been a leader in the district, holding previous titles of Drug and Alcohol Treatment Specialist and Intensive Supervision Specialist. In these roles, Patrick was instrumental in developing and managing inpatient contracting for treatment services, and he helped establish the district’s first Alternative Treatment Court. All while managing a complex caseload and taking care of his team and peers, Patrick has remained a loving husband, father, and son.

Chief U.S. Probation Officer Troy Lanham concluded, “Patrick is an exceptional employee and ideal team player. As an experienced master of his craft, he is natural a leader among his teammates. I cannot think of a better accolade for all of Patrick’s hard work and dedication to the judiciary.”