Montgomery McCracken is pleased to announce Scott Coffina has been named 2022 Prosecutor of the Year by New Jersey Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association (NJNEOA). The award was presented at NJNEOA’s annual awards luncheon at the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City on Thursday, June 9, 2022.
The NJNEOA was organized to encourage mutual cooperation, discussion and interest in the problems of enforcement concerning drug abuse; and to exchange ideas, conduct seminars and conferences to educate those involved in the abatement of the illegal narcotic trade. As of today, the NJNEOA has more than 2000 members who have joined the association, representing Federal, State, County and Municipal law enforcement, as well as private industry, the professions, education and government. The non-profit organization strives to recognize individuals who have exhibited a high degree of professionalism, integrity, and dedication above and beyond the call of duty.
Scott, who departed from the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office after a five-year term and returned to Montgomery McCracken earlier this month, was selected as NJNEOA’s Prosecutor of the Year based upon his enforcement efforts in prosecuting drug dealers under New Jersey’s first-degree, drug-induced-death statute in connection with fatal overdoses, and also for his leadership in initiating and spearheading Burlington County’s Straight . . . to Treatment and Operation Helping Hand outreach programs, through which more than 600 people facing Substance Use Disorder have been helped into treatment since 2018. Scott dedicated his award to the law enforcement officers in the Prosecutor’s Office and throughout Burlington County, who are indispensable to the enforcement and outreach initiatives for which Scott was recognized.
Scott is a partner in Montgomery McCracken’s Litigation Department and a member of the firm’s White Collar and Government Investigations Practice. He is a trial lawyer and former federal and state prosecutor who represents corporate, university and individual clients in internal investigations, litigation, crisis management, political-legal controversies, and other enforcement actions. Scott draws on his extensive prosecution, high-level government, and private practice experience to advise clients in both the private and public sectors facing criminal or civil allegations of fraud and other misconduct.
Having previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney, senior deputy chief counsel to the Governor, associate counsel to the President of the United States, and most recently as the County Prosecutor of Burlington County, New Jersey, Scott brings a 360° approach to clients’ situations, addressing legal implications, and also potential collateral consequences, such as reputational harm and impact on the organizational culture. As the Burlington County Prosecutor, Scott oversaw investigations and prosecutions for all indictable offenses committed in the county. He oversaw the investigation of members of a street gang responsible for murder and other violent crimes, as well as a Paycheck Protection Plan fraud scheme, and brought charges against them under New Jersey’s racketeering statute. He also oversaw the investigation and successful prosecution of three individuals responsible for a fraudulent “GoFundMe” fundraising scheme that garnered national attention based upon a fake “feel-good” story concocted by the three defendants. And, responding to a dramatic increase in fatal overdoses in Burlington County, Scott resurrected New Jersey’s rarely-used drug-induced-death statute to investigate and charge over thirty drug dealers with first-degree crimes to raise the consequences when their customers died from the drugs they sold them. In other significant matters, he directed the investigation of a physician who allegedly was indiscriminately prescribing opioids to his patients, and a narcotics investigation resulting in money laundering charges against the suspects.
Coffina received his J.D from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He graduated with a B.A. from Cornell University.
Original source can be found here.