Madeline O’Connor, an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of
New York (EDNY), has been named the recipient of the 2026 J. Michael Bradford
Memorial Award. The national honor recognizes exceptional performance by an
Assistant United States Attorney whose work on a significant investigation, prosecution
or series of prosecutions has made a substantial impact and merits special recognition.

The award commemorates J. Michael Bradford, who served as U.S. Attorney for the
Eastern District of Texas from 1994 to 2001. Each year, current U.S. Attorneys are
invited to nominate distinguished federal prosecutors whose work reflects the highest
standards of federal service. The award will be presented by the National Association of
Former United States Attorneys on October 16 during the annual conference in St.
Louis.

Madeline has served as an AUSA in the EDNY since 2015, including serving as Deputy
Chief of the Asset Forfeiture Section of the Criminal Division and Chief of the Financial
Litigation Program. She has prosecuted many of EDNY’s most complex and
challenging forfeiture cases, including cases involving forfeiture of property owned by a
sanctioned Russian oligarch; millions of dollars in assets seized and forfeited from the
operator of a pill mill; millions of dollars in properties stolen from an NFL quarterback
and others in a nationwide fencing operation; and forfeiture of millions of dollars
invested by NHL players and others in a complex Ponzi scheme. The nomination
submitted by EDNY includes details of her extraordinary efforts in legal proceedings
before a district court to strike the claims of nominee entities controlled by the fugitive
Russian oligarch, Andrii Derkach, a Russian intelligence officer. The successful
outcome was affirmed by the Second Circuit.

Madeline graduated magna cum laude from St. Joseph’s University and first in her class
from Touro University Law Center. While in law school, she was appointed to the Moot
Court Honors Board and served as Articles Editor for the Law Review. She clerked for
the Honorable Denis R. Hurley in the Eastern District of New York following law school
and practiced at the firm Meyer, Suozzi, English and Klein before joining the EDNY.

The 2026 honor places O’Connor among a distinguished group of federal prosecutors
recognized for consequential work and sustained commitment to justice.