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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1129-E1130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN RECOGNITION OF MR. STEVEN S. SMITH
______
HON. JENNIFER WEXTON
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Ms. WEXTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, Mr.
Steven S. Smith, who is retiring from the Drug Enforcement
Administration, after 24 years of law enforcement service, culminating
as Supervisory Special Agent assigned to the Pharmaceutical
Investigations Section as the Group Supervisor for Mobile Diversion
Team One (MDT-1) based in Springfield, Virginia.
Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) Steven Smith entered on duty with the
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on March 15, 1995 in Miami,
Florida. SSA Smith was first assigned to the Los Angeles Field
Division. During his fifteen-year tenure in Los Angeles, then Special
Agent (SA) Smith worked in enforcement groups targeting methamphetamine
production and trafficking, and Asian heroin distribution. Working in a
multi-agency environment at the Southern California Drug Task Force and
LAX Group Three, SA Smith coordinated surveillance operations with over
a dozen different law enforcement agencies while supporting Title III
investigations. While investigating narcotics and money couriers
passing through LAX airport, SA Smith's intelligence background in both
law enforcement and the military enabled him to rapidly link detained
suspects to active federal, state, and local criminal investigations
around the country and build partnerships which enhanced the quality of
the LAX-G3 cases.
In August 2010, SA Smith transferred to the Las Vegas District Office
as a member of the Tactical Diversion Squad (TDS). While assigned to
the Las Vegas TDS, SA Smith led an investigation targeting a doctor and
an international organized crime ring responsible for the distribution
of tens of thousands of prescription tablets. This investigation
resulted in the seizure of over 8000 d.u. of oxycodone, $58,000 U.S.
currency, and evidence identifying a local pharmacy as a significant
[[Page E1130]]
oxycodone and hydrocodone source of supply. During his tenure at the
Las Vegas TDS, SA Smith's investigations brought money laundering
charges, substantial monetary civil penalties, and regulatory sanctions
to bear along with Title 21 violations against DEA registrants and
diversion drug trafficking organizations (DTOs).
In November 2012, SA Smith was promoted to Group Supervisor (GS) of
the Oakland Resident Office TDS with an area of responsibility which
included over 50,000 DEA registrants in 15 counties of northern coastal
California. GS Smith enhanced the mission effectiveness of the group by
directing major enforcement initiatives at high value targets within
the TDS Area of Responsibility (AoR). Asset seizures from his group
increased nearly four-fold from $510,180 to $1,989,741, which enabled
GS Smith to persuade local agencies to double the number of
investigators assigned as Task Force Officers to the TDS. Under SA
Smith's leadership, Oakland TDS investigations charged eight doctors
and three physician's assistants with criminal offenses and put them
out of business for good.
Prior to employment with the DEA, Supervisory Special Agent (SSA)
Smith served on Active Duty as an Army Reserve Military Intelligence
Officer at the South Florida Investigative Support Center (now the
South Florida HIDTA Intelligence Center). SSA Smith served in Iraq
under the U.S. Army V.Corps during the 2003 invasion. SSA Smith
maintained staff oversight of all tactical human intelligence
operations in theatre while serving as the CJTF-7 Task Force
Counterintelligence Coordination Authority charged with the de-
confliction of all counterintelligence operations in the Iraqi Theatre
of Operations. SSA Smith holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal
Justice from Florida International University and currently resides in
Loudoun County with his wife and two children.
I am proud to represent Mr. Smith in Congress and I thank him and his
family for their honorable service to our nation with the United States
Army. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating
Mr. Smith as he concludes a distinguished career in public service.
____________________